Find out who we’re celebrating as this month’s Community Champion
Our featured champions are dedicated leaders working in nonprofits who have been nominated for their innovation, resilience, dedication and empathy in the face of a complex and ever-changing world. Carissa Burgett is recognized this month as a Community Champion.
Would you like to nominate someone for our Diligent Community Champions? Nominate them here!
April’s Community Champion
Name: Carissa Burgett
Title: Executive Assistant to the President and Board Administrator
Organization: Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
About our Community Champion
Carissa is a dynamic and dedicated C-suite assistant and board administrator with a passion for board governance and a relentless drive for excellence. As an active member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), she proudly serves as a director-at-large on the IAAP Foundation Board, contributing to the advancement of administrative professionals worldwide. In recognition of her outstanding contributions within her organization and across her profession, she was honored to be a finalist for three prestigious administrative awards, two of which were international, including the Assistant of the Year and Strategic Partnership awards. A significant focus of her work is dedicated to board governance and managing a board of 65 directors. As an ambassador for her profession and in her quest to empower others, she has been interviewed for multiple podcasts and magazines and actively trains and speaks on behalf of the admin community, board secretaries and administrators across the world.
We are delighted to announce Carissa as one of our Community Champions, for her unwavering commitment to excellence and her exceptional contributions to the realm of board governance and administrative professionalism. Her dedication to managing a board of 65 directors showcases her capacity to lead with grace. Carissa’s passion for empowering her peers, coupled with her contributions to the profession through speaking engagements, podcasts and articles, embody the spirit of Diligent Community Champions.
March’s Community Champion
Name: Ericka Rodriguez
Title: Executive Assistant to the CEO
Organization: YMCA of the USA
About our Community Champion
Ericka Rodriguez is an experienced and highly motivated administrative professional with advanced skills in project management, board governance and best practice implementation. She enjoys managing large projects within innovative, community-based organizations, using her skills to effect positive change.
Ericka received her BA in Social and Cultural Analysis from New York University and has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a concentration in Non Profit Management. She has worked at YMCA of the USA for eight years supporting its national governance system, particularly as it involves the Y-USA National Board of Directors, its standing committees, advisory committees and task forces.
Good governance means creating an atmosphere where board volunteers are fully equipped with the resources and information necessary to lead the strategic vision of the organization – Ericka Rodriguez, Executive Assistant to the CEO, YMCA of the USA
Ericka’s motivation, advanced skills and dedication to bettering the communities served by YMCA are an inspiration to other nonprofit leaders. Ericka exemplifies the qualities of a true community champion. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
February’s Community Champion
Name: Elizabeth Thompson
Title: Executive Assistant, Corporate Secretary & Corporate Compliance Officer
Organization: Presbyterian SeniorCare Network
About our Community Champion
Elizabeth Thompson is an executive assistant with over 38 years of experience in corporate, nonprofit, foundation, and healthcare environments. She is skilled in board governance and support, C-level executive assistance, supervision, office management, project coordination, presentation design and meeting planning. Since October 1999, she has been the Executive Assistant to the President of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, she was appointed Secretary to the Board of Directors in May 2019, and she became the Corporate Compliance Officer in April 2022. She holds certification as an Officer of Healthcare Compliance by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance, Inc. Elizabeth previously worked at The Pittsburgh Foundation and Federated Investors, and is a graduate of Bradford School of Business, Pittsburgh, PA.
Elizabeth is being recognized as we believe she embodies the true spirit of a Community Champion. She has been a pillar of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network for 25 years. After she took on the crucial role of Corporate Compliance Officer, she has demonstrated her unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible practices. Elizabeth is always happy to share her experience for the benefit of others, including speaking and sharing tips at Diligent’s 2023 user conference.
We celebrate Elizabeth as a true champion who embodies excellence, dedication and a commitment to positive impact. Thank you for being a shining example of leadership and community spirit!
January’s Community Champion
Name: Kara Klement
Title: Director, Governance Services
Organization: Texas Health Resources
About our Community Champion
Kara Klement is a corporate governance professional with over ten years of experience working with nonprofit boards and committees. She currently serves as the Director of Governance Services for Texas Health Resources, a large nonprofit health system in North Texas, overseeing over 40 boards and committees. Kara holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Baylor University and resides in the Dallas metroplex with her husband and two active children.
Kara is being recognized for her dedication to her role but also, we particularly love that Kara is keen to share best practices with other nonprofits, often speaking at events to share her experience. For the BoardEffect team, Kara models good governance and is integral to the success of her organization and delivering its mission.
We are a large healthcare system. We have about 29,000 employees and 14 wholly owned hospitals with around 400 points of service for our consumers, and we are invested in improving the lives of people in the communities we serve. Our mission is always to improve people’s health and wellbeing. And I support our boards and entities that do that. – Kara Klements.
Congratulations Kara!
Would you like to nominate someone for our Diligent Community Champions? Nominate them here!
