Managing Leadership Transition for Nonprofits (PDF)

healthcare, children's issues, the arts, and in organizations fighting hunger and poverty. Susan's passion is excellence in nonprofit management and matching vital organizations with effective leaders. Her clients include foundations, academic institutions, peace and justice organizations, socially responsible investment companies and nonprofits, human service groups, community health providers, environmental coalitions, arts organizations, education reform efforts, and other nonprofits. In addition to executive transition work, Susan has consulted extensively with nonprofit organizations in board development, strategic planning, human resource issues, and program development.



Susan was formerly Executive Director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts' foundation for children's health and Deputy Director of the Boston Private Industry Council. She was the director of a contemporary dance company and spent eleven years in management at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.



Susan holds an MBA from Emory University and is a Certified Association Executive and Certified Fund Raising Executive. She served on the founding boards of directors of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, the national professional association for nonprofit consultants and management assistance centers, Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, the statewide association, and Atlanta's Nonprofit Resource Center (now Georgia Center for Nonprofits).



Laura Watkins is principal of Dovetail Associates, a consulting firm that provides integrated services to nonprofit organizations with a focus on strategic planning and organizational development, senior leadership transition, and executive coaching. Laura's passion is to build a nonprofit sector to sustain a healthy democracy. Her clients include organizations of all sizes, regional and national coalitions, and nonprofit boards of directors seeking to reorganize operations to achieve their mission.



Dr. Watkins works with organizations to develop coalitions around shared strategic visions. The outcomes of these strategic alliances have ranged from shared facilities and administrative staff to collective purchasing, and integrated programming and training to developing joint grants and fundraising initiatives.



Laura was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Patriots' Trail Girl Scout Council in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years. She has served on the board of directors of Leadership America, the Children's Trust Fund, the Chamber of Commerce, Charles River Museum, and the National and Community and Service Commission.



Dr. Watkins received her B.S. from the University of Missouri, MPA from George Williams College, MBA from Illinois Benedictine College, and Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Development from the Union Institute. She has directed nonprofit organizations across the country during her career. Dr. Watkins has given innumerable seminars to nonprofit organizations and taught courses in Non-Profit Management at Suffolk University and Northeastern University.