Positive Reactions

Commend

From the foundation of character, we build and maintain Win/Win relationships.
-- Stephen Covey

You will find here comments on my work from A (Allisyn) to Z (Zelda) and East (New York) to West (Los Angeles). I am grateful to these individuals for taking time out of busy schedules to offer their feedback and for allowing me to share their words with you. The professional contexts in which they worked with me are listed under Quote Sources.
David Norgard

Board Training
"Our board of directors had never had a board retreat and we needed help understanding the nuts and bolts of our responsibilities as board members. David provided solid and practical information about what it means to function as a healthy and productive board for our organization. He is extremely professional in the best sense of the word. He conducted extensive interviews with key individuals prior to the board retreat. The front-end work that he did really came through during our retreat: he had a very clear understanding of our organization, current issues the board was grappling with and for which we needed guidance. His manner is relaxed and informal; his knowledge base is extensive. He was able to deliver more than we expected within our time frame. At the end of the retreat, our entire board was energized, excited and extremely positive about the work we are doing for our organization. David helped us see where we needed more clarity and focus while also helping us celebrate the good work we have done so far. The feedback after the retreat was 100% positive; we intend to work with David again to move us through some next steps in our board development."
The Rev. Dr. Diana Akiyama, Los Angeles CA

Board Training
“David Norgard’s work with the board of our new nonprofit corporation was invaluable. He helped us understand the role of a board, and their responsibility to provide a vision for the organization rather than micromanage its operations. His influence also helped the board understand its vital role in the transition to new leadership.”
The Rev. J. Barrington Bates, Oradell NJ

Special Appeal
"OD180's guidance has been a key factor in Integrity's recent growth. For example, we set of goal of raising $40,000 for our witness at the 2008 Lambeth Conference. Thanks to David Norgard's expertise, we received more than twice that amount in donations – which enabled us to do twice as much as we planned!"
John Clinton Bradley, Rochester NY

General Organizational Leadership
“David is the most insightful and inspirational leader I’ve had the honor to work with. His ability to identify barriers to programmatic or organizational success in a thoughtful and precise way is truly a gift. His keen observations and individual strategies for more effective practice made my seemingly insurmountable tasks obtainable. David’s guidance made a world of difference to me, my staff and the clients we serve everyday.”
Camey Christenson, Oceanside CA

Special Appeal
“I have found that working with David Norgard is a very rewarding experience in that he guided us through a recent fund appeal that was very well planned and guided. David provided advice, direction, and a warm presence through a process that produced great results for our organization.”
R. Bruce Colburn, Rochester NY

Capital Campaign
“Our small parish was faced with the monumental task of raising $1M for the restoration of the church buildings, neglected due to years of deferred maintenance. David's leadership motivated the congregation to contribute beyond their individual monetary means – to give of their time and talents – to think and act outside of their checkbook. The successful results were twofold, meeting the funding goal while strengthening the community and setting the foundation for the future.”
Gary Dickinson, San Francisco CA

Church Stewardship Program Design
“David Norgard single-handedly changed our stewardship program from one of despair and loneliness to one of ‘Open House, Open Hearts, Open to God.’ We went from a couple of us dragging ourselves through pledge season to a cast of fifty looking forward to the abundant life of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. We will forever be grateful to David for his dedication and understanding.”
James Franklin, Palm Springs CA

Strategic Planning
“OD180—under the leadership of David Norgard—produced strategic planning events and major development campaigns for Integrity USA while I was a member of the organization’s national board. The collaborations were custom-tailored to our unique organizational profile and the work was innovative but always backed by analytical ‘reality checks.’ The results of working with od180 and David Norgard invariably exceeded expectations and helped put us on an entirely new path to organizational reinvention.”
John Gibson, New York NY

Strategic Planning
“David understands the workings of complex organizations and he effectively engages leaders in board development and strategic planning.He’s a very fine presenter and he has an intuitive sense of how to move with the group he’s working with.When David’s involved, we know the results will be excellent.”
Canon Gary Gleason, Minneapolis MN

Church Stewardship Program Design
"I contacted David to help us move beyond "business as usual" in our approach to Stewardship. He was able to assist a process that had been developing for a year. His task was to lead us in professionalizing our infrastructure, developing a credible year-round model, and significantly increasing lay ownership of Stewardship. "
The Rev. Andrew Green, Palm Springs CA

Development Leadership Training
“Working with David has proven to be an amazing growth experience. He has that marvelous ability to guide you into discovering your own talents and thereby setting and achieving goals far beyond your original expectations. David has mastered the fine art of helping you discover your own hidden reservoir of talents and turning those talents into tangible and workable projects.”
Jan Heller, Palm Springs CA

General Organizational Leadership
“I have known David personally and professionally during his tenure in Minnesota and since. His attention to detail, ability to "put a face" on issues and problems that transcend words, and attention to the human condition makes him a successful leader for fund raising and developing new or refreshing old organizations both secular and religious.He is a very skilled leader for organizational development.”
James Huber, Woodbury MN

Personnel Management Counsel
“David is professionally passionate about his work, which translates into an uncanny sense of knowing what an organization needs to be it’s most effective. His style and approach are engaging. He listens with a discerning ear and provides recommendations and guidance that lead to transformation within an organization.”
The Rev. Zelda Kennedy, Pasadena CA

Board Training
“David Norgard led the directors of my organization through a spirited retreat focused on the fundamentals of board operations and responsibilities. He got everyone participating enthusiastically, and our board's functioning improved noticeably in the wake of this experience. He facilitates with humor, insight, and sensitivity. Highly recommended.”
The Rev. Peter Laarman, Los Angeles CA

General Organizational Leadership
“Our small parish was facing multiple challenges: a congregation devastated by AIDS; urban issues of poverty and drugs combined with the benefits and dislocations of gentrification; and finally, a report that we were at serious risk of losing our building to long-deferred maintenance needs and seismic problems. David Norgard challenged us in turn to rebuild the congregation and to raise the money we needed. Under his leadership, we nearly doubled our Sunday attendance and raised $1.2 million dollars (our original goal was $300,000) to fix the building and make it useful. David led us with grace, humor and a very pragmatic understanding of what was needed to get it done.”
Sarah Lawton, San Francisco CA 

General Management Counsel
"David's broad knowledge and experiences in strategic planning, fundraising and overall strong management practices allows him to shine in leading a profit or non-profit organization to realize their true potential. His ability to listen and hear what the client needs, even when they are not completely sure, brings balance and success in all endeavors."
Marsha Lietz, Minneapolis MN

Church Stewardship Program Design
“OD180 brought an innovative approach to stewardship in our parish. David Norgard guided us through a customized, step-by-step plan, giving our parish leadership the tools to create and reinvent thinking about stewardship. Parishioners enthusiastically responded through a significant increase in the giving of their time, talent, and treasure.”
Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie, Community of the Gospel, Cathedral City CA

Organizational Assessment
“David's strength lies in his ability to evaluate a problem/situation from a multi-dimensional perspective and to develop solutions that utilize his client's greatest assets while nurturing additional skills that will ensure their success now and in the future."
Cheryl Notari, Ph.D., Westfield NJ

Church Stewardship Program Design
“Working with David Norgard through OD180 was a wonderful experience. We had a new vision for what Stewardship could be and it was David who provided the focus and structure that helped bring that vision to reality. His attention to detail and follow-through were superb. He listened to what we were saying and helped us build a ministry that has given new life to our Parish.”
The Rev. Stephanie Parker, Palm Springs CA

Annual Campaign
“I worked with David Norgard for one year while I was the Treasurer at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert in Palm Springs, California. During this period David directed the implementation of a pledge program. David was very knowledgeable and beneficial to the church and was always very professional and attentive to our needs and concerns. I highly recommend David for his professionalism and witty nature.”
Joe Sappio, Coconut Creek FL

Capital Campaign Feasibility Study
“David’s clear thinking and careful planning helped make our capital campaign a reality and not just a pipe dream. Launching a capital campaign can be a somewhat stressful and time-consuming endeavor. David has been able to not just to guide us through the planning process but also to help us be clear about our goals and best ways to achieve them.”
The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas, San Diego CA

Organization Assessment
“David's considerable experience leading organizations day-to-day, combined with his working knowledge of strategic planning on both theoretical and practical levels, gives him unique tools to assist in organizational development. His passion for excellence is a driver in all he does. While others may talk, David gets it done.”
The Rev. Mark Thompson, Minneapolis MN

Marketing Planning
“David helped us get some clarity about our challenges around marketing our program. David has enormous capability in strategic planning and it does not stop there. He helps you drill all the way down to the tiniest action items. He's definitely results driven.”
The Rev. Ernest “Bud” Williams, Los Angeles CA

Annual Campaign
“David had creative ways of communicating with our parishioners that hadn’t been attempted in the past. With his profound organizational skills, he provided a direct time-line to follow with a listing of the collateral pieces that I needed to produce. That was extremely time and cost effective. We always met our deadlines and produced energetic material for the parishioners to get excited about.”
Valerie Winters, Palm Springs CA