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An Incredible Base and Network of Colleagues

I was first introduced to the Fieldstone Leadership Network when I accepted the position of Executive Director for HomeAid Orange County in 1998.  One of the first things that Mike Lennon (my predecessor and founder of HomeAid) said I needed to do, was to get involved with Fieldstone.  He said it would be a base of people that would help me as a new executive director. I dove right in, not only did I join a peer learning group, but I also ultimately became a coach and participated in as many programs and retreats as I could.  Fieldstone gave me an incredible base and network of colleagues that to this day are a part of my professional career. However, nothing could have prepared me for the indescribable and life (and organization) changing gift it was for being chosen as one of four executive directors, awarded the Fieldstone Clare Rose Sabbatical in 2019.

It was truly a priceless gift of time to reflect, renew, and build into myself personally and professionally that in turn, helped me build into others.  I could not have asked for a more effective use of the opportunity and the lessons that I have learned along the way.  In the end, I have grown as an individual and as a leader, and so has (at the time) my interim executive director and long-term colleague Gina Cunningham and the board of directors and staff of HomeAid Orange County. As I reflect on my Fieldstone Clare Rose Sabbatical and look at the program Logic Model and desired Outcomes, I clearly see movement in the key areas outlined.  The Clare Rose Sabbatical strengthened me as well as Gina Cunningham and HomeAid overall. An unexpected outcome is that I am the Chief Executive Officer of HomeAid America, and Gina Cunningham is the Executive Director of HomeAid Orange County. The purpose and intent of the sabbatical was fulfilled and truly multiplied its initial impact and I could not be more thankful for the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego.

I was renewed physically and emotionally as well as in my mental health.  I understood, pursued, and experienced a work/life balance and I clearly improved my personal relationships with my wife and three daughters. The ability to intentionally take a break from work and even household tasks and other responsibilities allowed me to connect with my family members in meaningful ways of rest, relaxation and to engage and be present with them in activities that bring them joy and fulfillment. The sabbatical offered me the chance to disconnect from external distractions, focus on each other, and engage in meaningful conversations, meals, and other activities that strengthened our relationship as a family ultimately creating a sense of belonging and support.

Organizationally, I saw an increase in HomeAid’s capacity.  Human capital was increased not only with staff but the board of directors through this process in their decision-making as having a broader understanding of the organization.  We saw an increase in social capital as leadership was not only shared but passed on and there was an increase in communication and collaboration between staff, the board of directors, and the interim executive director.  As a result, there was a stronger commitment to the organization by not only myself but everyone involved.

In the end, there was an increase in structural capital (intangible assets and resources such as infrastructure, systems, processes, and intellectual property) as a result of my pursuing and accepting the position of CEO of HomeAid America and Gina being offered and accepting the position of Executive Director of HomeAid Orange County.

I am truly humbled and will forever be grateful for this opportunity and the gift of the Fieldstone Clare Rose Sabbatical and all that the Fieldstone Leadership Network has built into my life.

Scott Larson, CEO, HomeAid America

 

Scott Larson, has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years.  He serves as the CEO of HomeAid America, a role he took after completing his Clare Rose Sabbatical.  Prior to this role, Scott was the Executive Director of HomeAid Orange County for 21 years.  Leading the founding chapter, Scott is credited with uniting builders, community leaders, service providers and government officials to lead the development of 33 housing projects, valued at $64 million, and adding 975 beds to the region.  Scott earned his Bachelor of Science at Biola University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  He has participated in learning groups, served as a Fieldstone coach, participated in our leadership retreats and taken a Clare Rose Sabbatical.  

 

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

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Grateful I Said “Yes”

What if I hadn’t said yes? What if I hadn’t been asked? How would my leadership story be different?

I’m honored to claim a long, deep history with the Fieldstone Leadership Network spanning the past 35 years. Janine Mason and I met in 1987 when she was a program officer for the Fieldstone Foundation, and I was a new CEO at Home Start. At that time Fieldstone was a corporate grant maker with an elegant philosophy and genuine cash support. It was my first experience with a funder that respected nonprofit leaders as much as corporate ones. Even today, this regard is rare.

Fast forward to 1993, when Fieldstone offered me a year of free coaching services from Levasis Ministries. I didn’t know what coaching would offer but I said yes, and quickly realized the pivotal value of coaching when Home Start lost an essential contract that year. With coaching support, we took a deep dive into Home Start’s mission. Driven by new energy and purpose, Home Start grew to serve even more families, recouping its financial losses within a year. Looking back, I believe having a coach was key to the success and speed of Home Start’s recovery. Thank goodness I’d said yes!

I said yes again when Fieldstone invited me to join its first executive learning group. I decided first to finish my coaching year and then joined the 2^nd group in 1995. That’s when the ground shifted under my career-climbing feet. Maybe I wasn’t an imposter after all and maybe all that instinctual, visceral stuff I’d been saying and doing at work, had a genuine basis in the field? I found my passion in leadership work and was so impressed with the peer-learning model that I asked if I could become a facilitator. Thankfully her answer was yes and for the next 22 years, I facilitated more than 35 executive and emerging nonprofit learning groups in Newport Beach, Salt Lake City and San Diego. I felt then, now, and always that this work was the deepest privilege of my career. For the small part I played in developing nonprofit leaders, I received fundamentally more…the benefit of their wisdom, experiences and humanity, and the opportunity to fully live and give my passion.

If you’ve experienced a learning group, you know their special nature, and if you’ve read the evaluations, you know their efficacy. But what stands out about the learning groups is what drew me to the work to begin with. Over the decades I’ve come to know the learning groups as unique, exquisite and magical experiences for most who participate. Unique always because the constellation of every group is different, yielding different dynamics…exquisite because of the sacred space, and the lack of politics and outside pressures…and magical because the problem-solving process used by the groups worked 90% of the time even if the solutions didn’t. There was something about being a learning group participant…the universe would tag you for success.

Yes was the answer again in 2021 when Janine asked me to help update the learning group curriculums. It was the opportunity to infuse two decades of experience into the curriculum design along with today’s most relevant content. In a nutshell, it was legacy work…an unexpected gift and another great privilege in my career.

I can’t finish my Fieldstone reflection without a few words about its leadership, namely Janine, who has become a cherished colleague and friend over the years. I’ve watched her mature from a young program officer to the graceful visionary who leads this worthy organization. Under her stewardship, FLNSD has become a deeply relevant leadership organization garnering both local and national recognition.

As I said on Fieldstone’s 20^th anniversary, “it was my lucky day when Janine Mason visited me at Home Start in the late 1980’s. We talked in my dilapidated storefront for hours and made a true connection that altered my life and career. That connection was the catalyst of my leadership story, and it has led to the discovery of my best self through leadership exploration and practice. Thank goodness I said yes!

With deep appreciation,

Laura Spiegel

Laura Spiegel began her career doing youth development work in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. After earning an MSW from Arizona State University in 1979, Laura moved to San Diego to start her career in earnest. For the next 30 years, Laura worked progressively upstream to prevent childhood adversity. For 6 years, Laura worked in delinquency prevention at SAY San Diego before taking a job with the City of Escondido in child abuse prevention. In 1987, Laura became the CEO of Home Start, Inc., serving 16 years before becoming the director of the First 5 Commission of San Diego, where she served for 6 years.

Affiliated with the Fieldstone since the late 1980’s, Laura  participated in an Executive Learning Group in 1995 and the Advanced Learning Group in 2000, she served as a coach from 1996-1998 and, between 1999 and 2021 has facilitated more than 35 executive and emerging leadership learning groups for the Network. After a move to Flagstaff, Arizona, Laura became the manager of education initiatives for United Way of Northern Arizona, where she served for several years before becoming a full-time organizational consultant for the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, conducting organizational assessments and providing technical assistance to children’s organizations throughout northern Arizona. Laura continues to consult with nonprofit organizations in Arizona and southern California.

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

 

 

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Unique Support and Genuine Investment

Being a nonprofit leader is fulfilling, exciting, challenging and honestly, sometimes lonely.  I first “met” Fieldstone in its previous role as a community grantmaker.  I quickly saw the unique value they added to the overall nonprofit network and the leaders of these organizations.

I joined the Fieldstone Executive Learning Group as a new CEO who was juggling staff engagement, board development, program implementation, fundraising and strategic planning.  The Executive Learning Group provided a dedicated space for me to focus on my own learning and growth as a leader, as well as an opportunity to make connections with fellow nonprofit leaders.

As a CEO, it can be hard to find a thought partner that can help you think things through.  Your partner is probably tired of hearing about it, other friends or colleagues may not understand the nuances of the nonprofit world, you can’t talk to your staff and you are nervous to share too much with your Board.  The Executive Learning Group was a place that I could be vulnerable about challenges I was facing.  I received candid feedback, suggestions of questions to consider and offers to support even deeper.  It was also a space where my day-to-day was normalized, as I met on a monthly basis with 12 other people who were in the same position and could relate.  This Network, the facilitation (thank you Tom Hall), Janine Mason’s leadership and the intentional space for self-reflection helped me grow as a leader, and helped my organization grow.

More than five years later, I still call on some of the relationships I made during the program.  I have recommended Fieldstone to other nonprofit leaders at various levels, as an incredible resource to help them in their own career and their impact in the community.

Now, as a Fieldstone Coach, I continue to see the value that Fieldstone provides to our sector.  Beyond the group setting, having a system that provides 360 reviews, guided goal setting, and a year of individual coaching is such a gift!  I learned new skills and techniques during my coach training and have been honored to be a sounding board for my coachee.

I have spent my entire career in the nonprofit space and have been able to develop relationships with other nonprofit executives across the nation.  Very few of them have the unique support and genuine investment that Fieldstone makes in the San Diego region.  We are lucky to have Fieldstone supporting our sector for the last 40 years and I know that countless more individuals and organizations will continue to benefit from their dedication to, and passion, for the nonprofit community.

Shaina Gross

Most recently, Shaina Gross served as the Vice President of Client Services at the San Diego Workforce Partnership.  She provided strategic vision and implementation for a portfolio of over $30 million in workforce funding, helping Youth and Adults with education attainment, skill development and job placement.  This included managing six job center locations across the county, serving 100k customers annually, as well as serving specific populations such as individuals experiencing homelessness, opportunity youth, individuals with disabilities, and justice-involved individuals.  Prior to coming to the Workforce Partnership, she served as the President & CEO of Susan G. Komen San Diego and the Senior Vice President & Chief Impact Officer at United Way of San Diego County.  She has spent her career designing programs, developing partnerships, and creating policy to address the social determinants of health, including education, income, and opportunity. 

Born and raised in New York, Shaina received her BA in Sociology and her master’s degree in Public Health, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   She is a LEAD San Diego Graduate, a nominee for the Herb Klein Visionary Award, was recognized as a 40 under 40 business professional in San Diego, and was a winner of the San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business award.  She serves a board member for the Continuum of Care, the City Commission on Gang Violence and Prevention and the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Board.  She is also the Secretary of Catalyst San Diego and the grants co-chair of Women Give San Diego. 

Outside of work, you can find her spending time with her family, seeking out live music, watching Tar Heel basketball, and enjoying the many great restaurants San Diego has to offer. 

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

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Creating Space for Us to Grow Together

Leadership is a critical aspect of any organization, and effective leadership skills can make all the difference in the success of a team or company. But where do we learn these skills? While some people learn exclusively through experience and trial and error, others are fortunate enough to participate in leadership programs like Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego that provide the invaluable tools, resources, and connections that better equip effective leaders. For forty years, I have been one of those fortunate individuals, having had the opportunity to be part of the inaugural Fieldstone Executive Learning Group and many of the Network’s programs since.

I feel like Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego  and I have grown up together over the years. When I joined the Network at its inception I ran a small nonprofit out of the South Bay in San Diego and as Fieldstone has grown in expertise and impact so have I and the organization I lead. SBCS now serves more than 50,000 people per year all across San Diego County through innovative, transformative programs. I have no doubt that the relationships and knowledge I gained through Fieldstone made this growth possible.

I’ve taken part in various training programs and events, which have equipped me with the necessary tools to excel in my career, but I think the most valuable part of the Network is relationships I’ve built with other local leaders. Being part of a growing community has allowed me to network and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries, providing me with valuable insights and perspectives. There is a sense of mutual understanding and mutual respect that creates a space for us to grow together, even after all of these years!

In fact, the very first thing I learned when I was part of Fieldstone’s first Learning Group cohort, was that each one of us, no matter how many years of experience we had or how big, small, old, or new our organization was, is that we all questioned if we were qualified for our jobs. What a revelation it was to gain insight into best practices and learn from my peers’ successes and failures knowing that we were all growing alongside one another, on the same team.

One of the best things about Fieldstone is its focus on the individual rather than the organization. The program aims to develop the person as a whole, helping them acquire new skills, make valuable connections, and gain deeper insights. The lessons learned and experiences gained through this program remain with the individual, regardless of their career path. Through Fieldstone, leaders invest in themselves, and the organization(s) that they work with benefit as well.

I thank everyone who has made Fieldstone such an asset to our region over the years. Cheers to many more anniversaries!

 

Kathryn Lembo, President and CEO of SBCS

Kathryn Lembo is President & CEO of SBCS, a nonprofit organization which transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of more than 50,000 San Diego children, youth and families annually. The organization employs over 400 individuals with a budget over $35 million and maintains over 400 units of affordable housing, yet remains both community owned and operated, from its local Board of Directors to the community-based Promotoras. 

It is under Kathie’s leadership that SBCS has become one of only two organizations with multiple Promise Neighborhood Programs.  She has also been instrumental in policy reform, resulting in the County of San Diego’s reallocation of Juvenile Justice Detention dollars to community prevention programs. Kathie is an innovative leader and her forward-thinking has contributed to the success of SBCS over the years, shown most recently by the success of the Unaccompanied Youth Shelter at the San Diego Convention Center, which became the gold standard for other shelters and programs across the country.

In 2021 Kathie was recognized as Non-Profit CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal. Under her leadership, SBCS has recently received honors including the inaugural “Inspire and Enable” award from The San Diego Foundation, being named a “Community Hero” by the San Diego Union Tribune, and the Live Well San Diego Annual Public Health Champion award.

Kathie has been part of the Fieldstone Network since its inception and has taken part in many of its programs. She currently helps match coaches to coachees.

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

 

 

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The Venue for Attaining the Artistry of Leadership.

The first time I met Janine Mason some 14-15 years ago, I didn’t realize how impactful she and the then Fieldstone Leadership Network (now Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego) would have on my organization and for my own professional growth. As it has with many leaders and their organizations, Fieldstone, is valued resource for Mama’s Kitchen, the organization I’ve had the privilege of leading for over 20 years.

Most of our leadership team has participated in one or more of Fieldstone’s programs. Consistently, their leadership growth/evolution has been palpable: how they approach their role in the organization, their leadership evolution, and even interacting skills, like tone and cadence, that may otherwise go unnoticed. As a result, our work environment is imbued with inquiry, listening, and creating safe spaces for fuller engagement and commitment.

My years of participation in the Network have increased my awareness of what it truly means to be a leadership in the nonprofit sector. It has simultaneously been an exercise in growth and humility. My definition of success has been altered: the journey has become as important as the outcome.  Consistent with our core values, we achieve our mission with integrity; in a manner that dignifies and respects those engaged in the expression of our mission: staff, volunteers, donors, service recipients, board of directors, and the broader community of collaborators.

There are aspects of the nonprofit sector that both distract and define us as leaders. Critical components like strategic planning, financials, the management of government grants, human resources management, and fundraising, are some that come to mind. There is no dismissing of the importance of these components in organizational management. The insight of understanding and deciphering these components is critical for the work that we do. And beyond that, executing with grace, patience, kindness, humility and confidence is the art of leadership. And Fieldstone provides the venue for attaining the artistry of leadership.

Alberto Cortés, CEO, Mama’s Kitchen

Alberto Cortés has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. He serves as CEO of Mama’s Kitchen. Alberto also serves on the board of directors of San Diego Pride, has been coaching nonprofit leaders for close to 10 years as part of the Fieldstone coaching program, serves on the San Diego HIV Planning Group. Alberto has participated in the following Fieldstone Programs: Executive Learning Group, the Coaching Program, the Leadership Reading Group. Additionally, he had the privilege of being in the first cohort of participants in the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program in 2014.

 

 

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

 

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A Celebration 40 Years in the Making!

VISION COMING TO FRUITION AS NETWORK MARKS RUBY ANNIVERSARY

Gathering at the nonprofit Thursday Club, more than 200 nonprofit and community leaders joined Fieldstone in celebrating its 40th anniversary.  The energy was palpable as learning groups, coaches, funders, supporters and community leaders had mini reunions throughout the space.  Photo booths and selfie-stations provided activities for friends and colleagues to have fun together.  Many members said the event had the feeling of a “family wedding in all of the best ways”.

 

The celebration event was catered by Toast and included custom cupcakes featuring the 40th anniversary theme of BUILD, LEAD, SUSTAIN and AMPLIFY.

Fieldstones engraved with CELBRATE were given to each guest as a souvenir but also as a reminder that “leaders understand the value of celebrating people and milestones and everyday moments of success and good effort”.

 

 

City and Congressional Proclamations

June 29th, 2023 was declared Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego Day by the San Diego City Council as a proclamation was presented by Councilmember Kent Lee from the 6th District.  Lee is a graduate of Fieldstone’s Learning Group program and spoke eloquently on the impact Fieldstone has had on his career and his life, “leading him to where he is today”. FLNSD also received a proclamation from Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, District 51, which was presented by Matt D’Arrigo.

   

Achieving Our Vision

Using a quote from Mother Theresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.”  Mason shared with her guests how “Fieldstones” (our members) are constantly cast throughout our community and, that the impact of those stones, their personal impact, continues to reverberate throughout our community, making their way to others and transforming lives in ways we could never have imagined.  She went on to say, “Whether these ripples are seen or unseen, they represent the dramatic consequences of being part of our Network. A ripple can take many shapes: increased confidence, a new collaboration, a shared resource, a friendship, a dream job, or a renewed store of energy. While a ripple may seem secondary, it has great power to impact the quality of our lives and our leadership. This is the real magic of Fieldstone.”

 

“Words” from the Members

As part of the festivities, Mason was surprised by a presentation from Network Members.   Lee Ann Kim produced a video for her with members sharing words that described her and gifts she had given them.  A handcrafted piece by Michelle Schneider featuring all of the words, four hearts to represent the four decades and a ruby to mark the 40th anniversary was gifted to Janine.  Lee Ann Kim and Michael Carr also spoke as part of the presentation.  Kim, self-identifying as a Fieldstone Super Fan, introduced the video saying that “words are Janine’s superpower”  – “we know how much she values words and how much they mean to her because of how she shares them with us through meaningful conversations, blessings, poetry, and inspirational writings.  Kim expressed love to Mason for allowing Members “to live out their life purpose and live our best lives”.   Carr shared that each of those words describe the fundamental uniqueness of what Mason has done to hold a vision over many decades.   Carr went on to point out that Janine manages all of us for the” sake of the mission without any formal authority and pointed out that they are all there (as part of the Network), not because they are paid to be there, but because everyone is a direct recipient of the Fieldstone mission.  He said, “our leadership has been supported and enhanced” by Mason’s work and “as a result our organizations and our sector are vastly more effective and our organizations and sector have been enhanced”.  Carr called Mason an “absolute champion of the nobility and importance of our work and our organizations.”  Watch Michael’s Presentation Here

After the event, Mason reflected, “as we gathered to celebrate our 40^th year and I looked out on all of the faces in the ballroom, I could see our vision of a well-developed, highly effective, deeply connected nonprofit sector was coming to fruition!  Here was a large group of skilled and successful leaders who were in relationship to each other, enjoying being together.  I knew it was happening, but this anniversary drew me up to 30,000 feet and showed me in a new way how we are accomplishing exactly what we set out to do!  It is quite a feeling.  Of course, we will never put ourselves out of business as there will always be more to learn and new people to get to know. But we have reached a tipping point and its matters and it is a magnificent feeling!”  Mason was grateful for the surprise tribute.

A Communal Story

The story of Fieldstone is one which has always been communal and to celebrate this milestone, it made sense that these chapters would be written collectively.   As a result, Fieldstone created an anniversary blog which features the experience of a Network member.  It is produced each Monday on the Network’s website.  Each post uniquely captures the depth and breadth of Fieldstone’s impact on our nonprofit leaders and the ripples that have been created as a result of our leadership community.  The blog will continue through 2023 and then each post will be included in a bound book.

Thank You

Fieldstone’s anniversary event was sponsored by Clare Rose Foundation, Alliant Educational Foundation, Blair Search Partners, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation and United Way of San Diego.  Viewpoint Brewing was the beverage partner for the anniversary event.

 

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A Powerful Collective

It is hard to believe it’s been almost 20 years since I first heard about Fieldstone at a social gathering. I still remember the conversation vividly, listening to a San Diego nonprofit ED describe feeling so supported, talk fondly about the community she was part of, and how Fieldstone had recently helped her navigate a significant expansion at her organization  I remember driving home that evening and in true When Harry Met Sally fashion (I’m dating myself here, I know), thinking ‘I want what she has’ as someone who was both fairly new to San Diego and a new executive director – not an easy undertaking at the same time, especially without a support system.

Still, I wondered if Fieldstone was one of those exclusive, invite-only networking kind of groups that was not for me. It took one call with Janine to realize Fieldstone was anything but that; I could not believe there was an organization whose mission was to support my development, build the capacity of my organization, and strengthen our sector.

I always tell people that I have been fortunate to wear so many Fieldstone hats over the years. While in my role as an ED, I participated in an executive learning group, had two coaches, attended Courage to Lead retreats, was a regular at Fieldstone at 4s, and provided my team with the same opportunities. After leaving my ED role and going back to school, I continued to be involved through the book club and serving as an evaluator for the Clare Rose Sabbatical program. As anyone might imagine, over the last 20 years, I have worked through significant professional celebrations, challenges, losses and transitions, as well very personal ones. And, in looking back, there is one constant thread that has run throughout that time and that’s Fieldstone. And I cannot name Fieldstone without naming Janine. Truly, I do not know how I would have gotten through some of those challenges without support from my colleagues and support from Janine.

There are so many leadership lessons I have learned over the years from being involved with Fieldstone but in this moment, I am particularly grateful to Fieldstone for helping me learn how to do the following:

1. Lead in the both/and: Sure, I’ll always be a work in progress, but being introduced to the work of Parker Palmer and life on the mobius strip helped me understand just how stuck I used to be either/or thinking. I am grateful to live and lead now as a more whole person, drawing from my many skills, experiences, values, and identities. In fact, I still carry a letter I wrote to myself in 2007 at a Fieldstone retreat as an artifact and reminder of my values.
2. Rest in community:  Until coming to Fieldstone, I did not realize how little time I had for thinking and how tired so many of my colleagues were, including me. Having the opportunity to be vulnerable and to learn and reflect together in learning groups and retreats made me realize the restorative power of community. All these years later, I know that when I make time to rest in my trusted Fieldstone community (some of whom, I’ve known for 10+ years), I am more aligned with my values, bring a better version of myself to my work, and generate some of my best ideas.
3. Communicate beyond talking:  I can still remember hearing a colleague read William Stafford’s poem ‘The Way it Is’ at a Fieldstone event and the hair standing up on my arms because the poem helped click into place a better understanding of my purpose and the challenges I was facing.  Fieldstone’s additional offerings to leaders in the form of music, nature walks, and mindful practice have become my antidotes when talking is not enough to navigate paradox, sit with complexity, and not get paralyzed. I have realized these things plus my love for making are not hobbies, they are inextricably linked to who I am as a leader and the work I want to do in the world.
4. Deepen my commitment to the nonprofit sector: Although I chose to leave my ED role 10 years ago, my work in our sector is far from over. Having the opportunity to serve as an evaluator for the Clare Rose Sabbatical program gave me a sightline into the deep need and desire to advocate for greater investments in all nonprofit leaders – which has led to the focus of my dissertation and my role at the Center for Creative Leadership supporting the research and evaluation needs of current nonprofit clients and partners.

So, in the spirit of lesson #3, I have folded forty cranes for Fieldstone’s 40^th as part of my mindful practice that my Japanese/Ainu grandmother taught me when I was a young girl. When I zoom in and look at each crane, I think of each of us Fieldstone leaders and the organizations we represent and how we lead better, and our organizations are stronger in part, because of Fieldstone.

But when I zoom out, I realize what is happening at our individual level and organizational level, ripples out. And I can see an even more beautiful and complete picture. I see a network that is not always visible – a powerful collective, and ultimately a stronger community that can better make lasting change for everyone.

 

To my fellow Fieldstone colleagues, I invite you to both zoom in and zoom out. What do you see? What connections do you make?

 

Michelle Q. Schneider, Center for Creative Leadership

Michelle has 20+ years of academic and practitioner experience in nonprofit leadership and management, leader development, research and evaluation. She served the nonprofit sector in various leadership capacities, including as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, donor, program coordinator, program director, board member, consultant, and ten years as an executive director for a San Diego-based national nonprofit organization. She is currently a PhD candidate in Leadership Studies with a focus on Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership and her research examines how developmental experiences on-the-job impact leadership development. While completing her doctoral coursework, she served as a Doctoral Research Assistant at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, where she provided client-focused research and evaluation services for leading-edge nonprofits in the San Diego and Orange County regions. She is also a certified leadership coach and maintains a small coaching practice working specifically with nonprofit women leaders. She has presented her own research at both academic conferences and practitioner events, and has presented multiple workshops on Investing in People is a Win-Win-Win for Funders, Nonprofit Leaders, and their Organizations. She currently works for the Center for Creative Leadership, whose mission is to advance the understanding, practice, and development of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.  There, she works in the Societal Impact group where she serves as a Senior Evaluation Associate, specifically leading the evaluation design, data collection, analysis and reporting/visualization for nonprofit clients who are interested in understanding the impact of leadership development initiatives. She is also very passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion internally and externally, and as such, also serve as a co-lead for CCL’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG).   

She earned her bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego, where she is also a PhD candidate in a Leadership Studies doctoral program with a focus on Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership. 

 

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

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Celebrating the Life of Barbara Mannino Harris

Barbara served as the CEO of Vista Community Clinic for 30 years. During her tenure, she grew the organization from a staff of 30 with a $500,000 budget and one site to a $35 million budget with 530 employees and five state of the art medical facilities.  Barbara was an inaugural member of the Fieldstone Leadership Network and served as a coach for us for over 25 years. She passed away on April 20, 2023 after a devastatingly fast battle with lung cancer.  A celebration of her life was held at Vista’s Civic Center on July 15th.  Janine was honored to be part of the team of people to offer a eulogy as part of the service.  Her tribute is below.  The family invites anyone wanting to honor Barbara by supporting one of her passions to consider a gift to the San Diego Humane  Society www.sdhumane.org 

Remembering Barbara

Good afternoon. My name is Janine Mason and I am the founder of the Fieldstone Leadership Network.  An organization with a mission to support nonprofit professionals in developing their personal leadership capacity and to building trusted relationships throughout the sector. Barbara and I met in the late 80s, early in her tenure at VCC and early in my career at Fieldstone. We quickly became friends and met together regularly. We shared family photos and I watched her daughter, and then grandchildren, grow up and she watched my son too. Our special place was Pacifica Del Mar and I can’t go there without thinking back to those seemingly ordinary lunches that have now become treasured memories. Barbara was there when I became the Executive Director of Fieldstone Foundation and was always at the ready to be a sounding board and give me sage advice – advice that I still think back on decades later.

Barbara was a member of Fieldstone’s first Executive Learning Group. Shortly after that program ended, I asked her if she would serve as a Fieldstone Coach and to mentor other nonprofit leaders by sharing her knowledge and experience.  Now you have to remember, in the early 90s, coaching was mainly a sports term.  But, she graciously agreed, trained to become a Fieldstone Coach and had served continuously in this role with us since those very early days of the program. She blessed her coachees, she had over 25 of them, with her time and wisdom and they were better leaders because of her investment in them. And our Network was better.  But most importantly, so was, is, our community.  To give you a sampling of her reach, in her time with us, Barbara worked with leaders of

• Regional Taskforce on the Homeless
• San Diego Public Library Foundation
• Seuss Foundation
• New Village Arts
• BIPOC Support Foundation and
• Habitat for Humanity.

Her reach was deep and touches almost every part of our community infrastructure.  Every day, as these organizations, and other, carry out their missions, Barbara is there.

John Buchan said, “the task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to illicit it because it is already there”. This quote has a hallowed place on each leadership certificate we give out because we believe it to be true.  Barbara did too, that is why she committed so diligently to supporting others.  She had the title and the skills of a leader  but most importantly, she had the heart of a leader which called her to serve people and help them to learn to become the best version of themselves- To illicit the greatness that she knew they processed and that she recognized in them.  And she was generous, as she did this in her organization, in her community and in our sector.  She cheered us on, believed in us until we believed in ourselves, helped us succeed and realize our visions.   And in between, she sometimes got us to adopt a new furry family member.

It can be hard to remember the early days of creating the Network, mainly because we didn’t know at the time that it would grow into a Network at all.  It was simply a series of individual programs and an additional activity to accompany our grantmaking.  It grew into a Network and to date, we have served thousands of nonprofit professionals across our region with critical and affordable leadership support.  I have always believed our success was due to the early adopters who trusted us and said “yes” to our invitation to join us and then helped us create what we now understand the Network to be. Barbara was one of these early adopters and she was foundational in this work and her participation helped to give us credibility at an important time. This natural act for her to join and contribute, led to a huge ripple effect throughout San Diego County that continues to this day. Every time Fieldstone helps a nonprofit leader and their organization, Barbara’s fingerprints are there.  I will always be grateful to her for her investment in and commitment to us.

Even after she retired from VCC. She continued to coach through December of last year. She had every intention to coach this year, but life had other plans for us. Thank goodness we had the chance to celebrate together at our gathering last December. I trust Barbara felt appreciated by me and her fellow Fieldstone coaches.  I trust she knew she was a critical part of our family and that we loved her. Because we did.

American writer Brian Andreas once said, “It is still so new and all we see is the empty space, but that is not how it is in the landscape of the heart. There, there is no empty space and she still laughs and grapples with ideas and plans and nods wisely with each of us in turn. We are proud to have known her. We are proud to have called her friend.” I know Barbara will remain with me, with the Network, and with those she coached on Fieldstone’s behalf. I believe she will be with us as we grapple and make plans for what comes next. And I know she will be nodding and cheering us on as we continue to support each other in answering the call to lead and to help each other to do it well.

Thank you, Barbara.  May the blessing that you were to so many be returned to you as eternal peace.

 

 

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Contributed To My Ability To Be Successful

 

I have been a non-profit leader for almost 25 years. Professional development has been a cornerstone of my career. I have learned so many important lessons. Lessons that were useful at one point and time, and lessons that have served me for many years and continue to serve me and those I interact with daily. My Fieldstone experience is one that I have leaned on since the day I joined the Network.

In 2011, I had the opportunity to provide leadership to a new team in Arizona. I knew my role was expanding and I needed clarity on how to lead this new team in a long-distance relationship where I had to lead through influence and service rather than a direct reporting relationship. Although I had the privilege of having many mentors, coaches, friends, and colleagues invest in me over the years, at this important career juncture I found myself overwhelmed and unsure how to best lead. I was introduced to the opportunity to join the Fieldstone Emerging Leaders Program. I began the program in January of 2012, and this program significantly influenced my career journey since.

First, I had the opportunity interact with two fantastic, seasoned professional facilitators, who gave their heads and hearts to this work. Second, I had the opportunity to have an all-female cohort of other strong non-profit leaders in our community. Servant leaders who cared deeply about being of service. We grew a close relationship and leaned on each other.  I am still in touch with several of these women today over ten years later.

I grew as a leader in profound ways during my participation in the Fieldstone program. I have many important learnings from that first 6-month program.

• I learned that you do not always have to be the first person to speak to be heard.
• I learned that sometimes sitting back and observing can be the most powerful way to participate.
• I learned that we often see a problem we think is the problem, but through a thoughtful series of inquiries, reflection, and processing, we can clearly see the problem we are trying to solve.
• I learned that solutions could come in all forms and through a lot of challenging work, but solutions are possible.
• I learned that we need to know our worth and show it to others.
• I learned to put my mask on first.
• I learned that sometimes leaders do not know how to lead and that being surrounded by smart, resolute people helps us all grow.
• I learned that it’s ok to be vulnerable and ask for help
• I learned that nobody should tolerate being treated badly and that there are many bad apples out there, but we do not have to be one or be led by one.
• I learned that a group of smart women can solve any problem.

In 2012, I was promoted to an executive role reporting to a CEO of a local chapter of a national health non-profit. What I learned in Fieldstone contributed to my ability to be successful in that role and go onto 3 significant leadership roles from then, including my current role as Chief Strategy and Implementation Officer at Curebound where I have the total privilege to put those lessons learned over a decade ago to work daily with the most impressive team and the most critical mission.

During Covid I reconnected with Janine Mason and shared with her what Fieldstone had meant to me. She has continually supported me and my leadership growth. This year I was invited to join the Fieldstone Coaching Program. It is now my turn to give back to leaders in our community who are facing tough challenges as they work to solve significant community needs. I feel grateful to have been invested in and to now be able to learn and grow again from the coaching network and to pay it forward.

 

Fieldstone has meant so much to me and I am honored to have the ability to share what I have learned with hundreds of colleagues, friends, and leaders along the way.

Thank You Janine Mason and Fieldstone! Congratulations on 40 years of impact and cheers to 40 more!

Karen Hooper, Curebound, Chief Strategy & Implementation Officer

Karen Hooper brings 25 years of non-profit leadership experience to Curebound as Chief Strategy and Implementation Officer.  She has served in various non-profit leadership roles at the local, regional and national levels. In her current role, she shares her expertise in building lifetime relationships, developing high performing teams and creating and achieving strategic priorities through operational excellence. As the CSIO, Karen is responsible for organizational infrastructure, staff and community engagement and strategic planning. She is passionate about serving the community and is thrilled to be part of the Curebound family.

Prior to Curebound, Karen served as the Executive Director with a Diabetes Research organization where she led significant community engagement efforts resulting in a 90% increase in research applications, exceeding revenue goals and mission delivery investment. Previously, she had a twenty-four year career with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, serving as the Vice President of Program Development and Engagement for four years and creating a nationwide programmatic approach for mission delivery.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Karen now lives in Rancho Bernardo with her husband Ron, their daughter Karli and niece Bella. She holds a marketing degree from San Diego State University. Go Aztecs!

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

 

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Coming Home To The Place I Was Meant To Be

On January 13, 1997, I walked into the Superior Court offices of Voices for Children as the new CEO—full of hope, scared to death, and overwhelmed with the challenges confronting this organization which recruits, trains, and supervises Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for foster children. I was the fourth CEO in four years, and faced a disgruntled Juvenile Court Presiding Judge, a looming budget deficit, an exhausted, overworked staff, and a Board of Directors who wanted us to serve more children with CASA volunteers but had no idea how to make that happen.  And it was only my first day!  The brightest spot:  on my desk sat a note from Janine Mason, welcoming me to my new job.  I can’t begin to express how much that meant to me, especially since we did not know each other and I had never heard of Fieldstone.

A few months later, Janine and I finally met in person at the Fieldstone CEO Learning Group.  I quickly learned that my compatriots in the group were brilliant leaders in their own fields, and I had a lot to learn from them.  They were so open about sharing their problems and offering to help me adjust from life as an attorney to life as a nonprofit CEO. There, I met Sue Schaffner, now a dear friend for 26 years.  Sue’s superior leadership skills, great mind, and huge heart are a big reason I’m still in this field.  She helped me work through many crises and problems over the years, and to face them with courage.

At the first Fieldstone out-of-town leadership retreat I attended, in Borrego Springs, this wisdom from Janet Hagberg resonated with me: “Leading from your soul involves things like meaning, passion, calling, courage, wholeness, vulnerability, spirituality, community. When we begin to lead from our souls, we feel as if we are coming home, coming to the place in which we were meant to be.”  Without question, Fieldstone helped me to come to a place I was meant to be, and I will be forever grateful.

The Fieldstone coaching program has had big impact, first as a coachee and since 2004 as a coach myself.  Tom Hall and Shirley Cole pushed me to consider new, bold ideas for Voices for Children – ideas that ultimately transformed the agency.  I now coach others, in part to give back but mostly because I learn so much from my coachees as they share their challenges and, together, we brainstorm solutions. I have loved attending quarterly meetings with my fellow coaches and seeing friends at Fieldstone@4.  Seven years ago, I joined the first Fieldstone Book Club, still going strong today. I adore my Book Club friends, and so enjoy the discussions and debates we have about a variety of books as well as professional and personal issues.

What have I learned from Fieldstone? I’ve learned that sometimes we don’t know all of the answers; that a CEO job can be overwhelming, frustrating, and difficult; that we need to seek out trusted opinions from respected colleagues; that vulnerability is OK and that courage is often required; that service to others is a privilege and an honor and that being a nonprofit leader is one of the most important things we will ever do.  I’m deeply grateful to the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego for teaching me more than I ever knew I needed to learn.  Each colleague has become an important, cherished person in my life, and I so appreciate Fieldstone for bringing us together. To the Network: congratulations on your 40^th Anniversary – here’s to the next 40!

Sharon M. Lawrence, Esq., CEO, California CASA Association

Since 2017, Sharon M. Lawrence, Esq., has been CEO of the California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, and in that time, has seen the organization grow significantly. She was able to secure more than $5,700,000 annually for distribution to the local CASA network through federal VOCA funds, and in 2022, secured a 3-year State appropriation of $60,000,000 to spur expansion of CASA services statewide.  Sharon has assembled a team of experienced professionals to help CA CASA achieve an aspirational goal to provide every California foster child with a CASA if they need one.  For 20 years (1997-2017), Sharon was President/CEO of Voices for Children, the CASA program for San Diego and Riverside counties.  During her time at VFC, the organization grew exponentially, from $400,000 in 1997 to $6.3 million when she left to join CA CASA.  Prior to VFC, she was an attorney and litigator in San Diego, and has been a member of the California State Bar and the San Diego County Bar Association from 1988 to the present.  Recognized statewide and nationally for her expertise in child welfare, she has served on many committees dealing with foster care, dependency, the courts, and juvenile law. For the past 19 years, she has served as a Coach for CEOs and Emerging Leaders for the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego.  Sharon received her B.A. (Psychology, Speech Communications, and Political Science) from the University of Denver and her J.D. from the University of Texas. She is an alumna of the Harvard Business School executive program in Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management (2006).

Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.

If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.

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