My name is Stephannie DeLong and currently I am the Member Services Director for the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Winfield, Kansas. I received my undergraduate degree in History from Southwestern College. While attending Southwestern College I served as the President of the Student Law Association, I worked in the financial aid office of the college and I also worked part time at the Cowley County Historical Museum. My interests during my undergraduate studies led me towards a graduate school path of either law school or pursuing my MBA. My work during my undergraduate studies and my involvement with the Student Law Association, as well as my research into law studies led me to realize that pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration was the right choice for me.
In my current position as the Member Services Director for the Winfield Chamber I coordinate membership recruitment and retention, accounts receivable and payable, payroll, preparing and presenting budgets and financial statements as well as assisting in determining each year’s program of work. In addition, I am the lead staff person assigned to certain committees including the membership, ambassadors and newly formed Young Professionals initiative. Currently our organization is undergoing some staff turnover and I am pursuing the option of adding new responsibilities to my job and assuming a more permanent leadership role within the organization. I believe as this portfolio unfolds I can demonstrate more evidence of that leadership role and its implications for not only this project but my overall career.
This portfolio project is meant to demonstrate my abilities, skills and goals as an MBA student, lifelong learner as well as what I have accomplished and hope to accomplish within my career. I believe that the most important thing I gained from the MBA program was empowerment and the knowledge that I can accomplish any goal in business with a clear plan, a strong will and a solid support team with which to work. In addition, the MBA program has enabled me to synthesize and summarize my knowledge of business and to provide an overall synopsis within this portfolio of what I have to offer my employer, my community and my family as a person. Key business concepts including: budgeting, ethics, understanding of business law theory, strategic management skills, human resources management, quality control and statistical analysis have all helped me to strengthen my skills as a business leader and given me insight into my overall future career path. They have helped me more clearly define my career and life goals as well as help me to understand and apply my abilities and strengths within my current position. Overall, this document will serve as an example of where I have been within my MBA studies and where I hope to be as a result of taking this journey. I believe that pursuing my MBA has made me a better employee, a better spouse and parent and a better leader as well.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Outcome 1 - Possess breadth and depth of understanding of key business concepts and theories.
My artifacts demonstrating mastery of this outcome (What?)
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_AccountingOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_FinancialAnalysisOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_FinancialAnalysisOutcome1.xls
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_MarketingOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_Org.ChangeOutcome1.doc
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The Accounting Outcome document allowed me to demonstrate not only that I understand the role of accountants and accounting in business, but it also enabled me to see my role as the accounting administrator within my current profession. My understanding of accounting has allowed me to better shape the budget, communicate with board members and to adjust our financial goals as needed. Understanding and applying the principles in this portion of my MBA career has enabled me to be more successful in my job. In fact, it proved extremely useful when my organization needed to adjust the 2008 budget in mid-year. By demonstrating my understanding of the budget, accounting practices and our organization's needs I was able to prepare and present a mid-year corrected budget which was unanimously approved.
The financial analysis documents demonstrate my ability to understand the financial tools available to business leaders and when it is applicable to utilize each of them within my own career. While I work in non-profit and have found limited use for some tools such as debt ratings and the net advantage to leasing, this document allows me to refer back to such tools as they become necessary within my career. Understanding cash budgeting and opportunity costs are applicable within my current profession. We utilize them frequently in the Chamber and have had to make adjustments to our budget based on our cash forecasting and changing opportunity costs.
The marketing document serves as an example of an overall marketing plan for any potential business. Marketing products and services to potential customers is an essential business function. Successful marketing involves understanding the customer, the market and the competition. The marketing plan not only serves as a tool for planning the year's activities, but it also helps determine the budget. This tool is an essential business function which we refer to monthly within my current job.
The organizational change document serves as an example of implementing a new customer relations program which results from a customer complaint. This document further serves to demonstrate a situation in which I am the leader who must make a change that will affect not only my customers but my staff as well. After working through this assignment I recently had a similar situation occur within my organization. A recent customer (member) complaint resulted in my need to change the way we handle new member orientations. Not only did the change affect our staff, but it affected the way our board members and committee members interact with new members. I believe that working through this scenario helped provide the framework for my solution to this issue.
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My immediate future goals in relation to this outcome are to take on more of a leadership role within my organization. I am attempting to re-structure the staff make-up of the Chamber and assume the role of the President/CEO, while maintaining some of my current duties. I am utilizing my skills with accounting, organizational behavior, marketing and financial analysis to demonstrate not only my ability to serve as a leader, but the need for the re-structuring of our current staff. This is an ongoing aspect of my current job and a goal that I feel has been made attainable by my work within the MBA program.
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_AccountingOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_FinancialAnalysisOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_FinancialAnalysisOutcome1.xls
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_MarketingOutcome1.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_Org.ChangeOutcome1.doc
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The Accounting Outcome document allowed me to demonstrate not only that I understand the role of accountants and accounting in business, but it also enabled me to see my role as the accounting administrator within my current profession. My understanding of accounting has allowed me to better shape the budget, communicate with board members and to adjust our financial goals as needed. Understanding and applying the principles in this portion of my MBA career has enabled me to be more successful in my job. In fact, it proved extremely useful when my organization needed to adjust the 2008 budget in mid-year. By demonstrating my understanding of the budget, accounting practices and our organization's needs I was able to prepare and present a mid-year corrected budget which was unanimously approved.
The financial analysis documents demonstrate my ability to understand the financial tools available to business leaders and when it is applicable to utilize each of them within my own career. While I work in non-profit and have found limited use for some tools such as debt ratings and the net advantage to leasing, this document allows me to refer back to such tools as they become necessary within my career. Understanding cash budgeting and opportunity costs are applicable within my current profession. We utilize them frequently in the Chamber and have had to make adjustments to our budget based on our cash forecasting and changing opportunity costs.
The marketing document serves as an example of an overall marketing plan for any potential business. Marketing products and services to potential customers is an essential business function. Successful marketing involves understanding the customer, the market and the competition. The marketing plan not only serves as a tool for planning the year's activities, but it also helps determine the budget. This tool is an essential business function which we refer to monthly within my current job.
The organizational change document serves as an example of implementing a new customer relations program which results from a customer complaint. This document further serves to demonstrate a situation in which I am the leader who must make a change that will affect not only my customers but my staff as well. After working through this assignment I recently had a similar situation occur within my organization. A recent customer (member) complaint resulted in my need to change the way we handle new member orientations. Not only did the change affect our staff, but it affected the way our board members and committee members interact with new members. I believe that working through this scenario helped provide the framework for my solution to this issue.
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My immediate future goals in relation to this outcome are to take on more of a leadership role within my organization. I am attempting to re-structure the staff make-up of the Chamber and assume the role of the President/CEO, while maintaining some of my current duties. I am utilizing my skills with accounting, organizational behavior, marketing and financial analysis to demonstrate not only my ability to serve as a leader, but the need for the re-structuring of our current staff. This is an ongoing aspect of my current job and a goal that I feel has been made attainable by my work within the MBA program.
Outcome 2 - Be recognized by their current employers as excellent employees who contribute to their organization and are candidates for advancement.
My artifacts demonstrating mastery of this outcome (What?)
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&EventID=7491&SectionID=0&SubSectionID=5&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24359&SectionID=27&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24717&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/StephannieDeLongResume.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/WinterStudentPressRelease2008.doc
http://www.winfieldks.org/documents/Chamber%20of%20Commerce/Leadership%20CC%202008/With%20Lt%20Gov0001.jpg
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first document is a calendar posting from our local paper that gives the date and time of a Young Professionals presentation that my co-workers and I gave for our local Rotary Club. This presentation was important for me as a professional because it demonstrated my ability to lead a discussion in front of peers and community leaders on a very important topic. It also introduced me to new community leaders and enabled me to network with other professionals in an effort to increase visibility for our organization and myself
The next Winfield Courier article discusses a meeting in which the Young Professionals met to re-align our goals and objectives late in 2008. As stated in my Leadership Project proposal, our YPO underwent many changes during the year and has now been turned back over to the Chamber staff to further develop and flesh out. This meeting with community leaders, Young Professional members and chamber staff allowed me to better understand what direction our Young Professionals Organization should take and how I can lead it into the future. As the article states the purpose of the meeting included clarifying "the group's goals and objectives as well as the benefits and services YP Winfield could provide to the community and its members" (Courier, 2008).
The third artifact is an interview that I, along with our 2008 Chamber Board Chairperson, Kristen Pettey gave during our Young Professionals Kick-Off Party. We discuss the opportunities for young professionals in and around the Winfield area, as well as our goals for the group and our hopes for future growth. This interview allowed me to step up as the lead staff member for our YP initative and has also allowed me to take a more active role with our local media in other areas of my career as well.
My resume serves as a testament to where I am currently in my career and what I hope to achieve in my future. My education at Southwestern College, as well as my professional experience thus far has led me to being promoted Member Services Director at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce in December 2007. I believe that my continuting education as well as particiaption in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored Institute for Organizational Management Program are preparing me for a leadership role within the Chamber. In addition to my Chamber affiliated training opportunities, I was also a graduate of Leadership Cowley County in 2008. These experiences and my work record as referenced in my resume have been integral parts of preparing me for a more active leadership role in my career and in my community.
The Winter Institute Press Release cites my involvement in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management Program. This four year program brings Chamber Executives together for one week each year to learn industry tips and strategy, share best practices with like-sized Chambers and to network with other key professionals in our industry. Although I have only completed one-fourth of the program thus far, the knowledge I gained and the connections that I made during my first year at Institute proved invaluable during the remainder of 2008. I utilized not only the information gained through this experience, but also had opportunities to contact fellow class members and seek as well as offer assistance throughout the year. This important ongoing training will be very valuable to me in my future with the Chamber.
The final artifact I have presented in this Outcome is a photograph of my Leadership Cowley County class with Lt. Governor Mark Parksinson. Our class had the opportunity to address the Lt. Governor during our trip to Topeka; we asked questions about our local economy, the governor's plans in relation to Cowley County and what we could do to be more involved in state-wide government efforts. Our meeting with Lt. Governor Parkinson and our other elected officials in Topeka allowed me an opportunity to make important connections and contacts which I have utilized ever since. This was an important trip not only for my Leadership training, but for my career as well.
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My future goals include attending the remainder of my Institute for Organizational Management sessions and continuing to learn and grow as a Chamber Executive. I believe this program not only provides Chamber exectuvies with the tools necessary to succeed in our non-profit environment, but also the important networking opportunities that can help us reach out to other communities.
My future learning goals for Young Professionals include attending the 2009 International Young Professionals Summit, a three day conference for Young Professionals Organizations designed to help learn best practices, implementation of YP policies and how to best reach out to community leaders and other local organizations. In addition to attending Summit, I also plan to work with our local YP organizations to learn about their programs and initiatives. We have previously met with Young Professionals of Wichita staff and volunteers and attended some of their events, which helped us plan our first Personal and Professional Development Series: "Financial Fitness for YPs." I believe that by working with and networking with as many other YP Organizations as possible, we can learn how our own YP organization can benefit not only our community, but our members as well.
My future learning goals with the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce include continuting my Institute for Organizational Management training this summer. I will attend the Midwest Institute in Madison, Wisconsin in June to complete my second year of training. This program has been vital to my work with the Chamber thus far, as it has enabled me to work with my fellow Chamber executives across the country on the various challenges I faced in 2008.
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&EventID=7491&SectionID=0&SubSectionID=5&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24359&SectionID=27&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24717&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/StephannieDeLongResume.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/WinterStudentPressRelease2008.doc
http://www.winfieldks.org/documents/Chamber%20of%20Commerce/Leadership%20CC%202008/With%20Lt%20Gov0001.jpg
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first document is a calendar posting from our local paper that gives the date and time of a Young Professionals presentation that my co-workers and I gave for our local Rotary Club. This presentation was important for me as a professional because it demonstrated my ability to lead a discussion in front of peers and community leaders on a very important topic. It also introduced me to new community leaders and enabled me to network with other professionals in an effort to increase visibility for our organization and myself
The next Winfield Courier article discusses a meeting in which the Young Professionals met to re-align our goals and objectives late in 2008. As stated in my Leadership Project proposal, our YPO underwent many changes during the year and has now been turned back over to the Chamber staff to further develop and flesh out. This meeting with community leaders, Young Professional members and chamber staff allowed me to better understand what direction our Young Professionals Organization should take and how I can lead it into the future. As the article states the purpose of the meeting included clarifying "the group's goals and objectives as well as the benefits and services YP Winfield could provide to the community and its members" (Courier, 2008).
The third artifact is an interview that I, along with our 2008 Chamber Board Chairperson, Kristen Pettey gave during our Young Professionals Kick-Off Party. We discuss the opportunities for young professionals in and around the Winfield area, as well as our goals for the group and our hopes for future growth. This interview allowed me to step up as the lead staff member for our YP initative and has also allowed me to take a more active role with our local media in other areas of my career as well.
My resume serves as a testament to where I am currently in my career and what I hope to achieve in my future. My education at Southwestern College, as well as my professional experience thus far has led me to being promoted Member Services Director at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce in December 2007. I believe that my continuting education as well as particiaption in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored Institute for Organizational Management Program are preparing me for a leadership role within the Chamber. In addition to my Chamber affiliated training opportunities, I was also a graduate of Leadership Cowley County in 2008. These experiences and my work record as referenced in my resume have been integral parts of preparing me for a more active leadership role in my career and in my community.
The Winter Institute Press Release cites my involvement in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management Program. This four year program brings Chamber Executives together for one week each year to learn industry tips and strategy, share best practices with like-sized Chambers and to network with other key professionals in our industry. Although I have only completed one-fourth of the program thus far, the knowledge I gained and the connections that I made during my first year at Institute proved invaluable during the remainder of 2008. I utilized not only the information gained through this experience, but also had opportunities to contact fellow class members and seek as well as offer assistance throughout the year. This important ongoing training will be very valuable to me in my future with the Chamber.
The final artifact I have presented in this Outcome is a photograph of my Leadership Cowley County class with Lt. Governor Mark Parksinson. Our class had the opportunity to address the Lt. Governor during our trip to Topeka; we asked questions about our local economy, the governor's plans in relation to Cowley County and what we could do to be more involved in state-wide government efforts. Our meeting with Lt. Governor Parkinson and our other elected officials in Topeka allowed me an opportunity to make important connections and contacts which I have utilized ever since. This was an important trip not only for my Leadership training, but for my career as well.
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My future goals include attending the remainder of my Institute for Organizational Management sessions and continuing to learn and grow as a Chamber Executive. I believe this program not only provides Chamber exectuvies with the tools necessary to succeed in our non-profit environment, but also the important networking opportunities that can help us reach out to other communities.
My future learning goals for Young Professionals include attending the 2009 International Young Professionals Summit, a three day conference for Young Professionals Organizations designed to help learn best practices, implementation of YP policies and how to best reach out to community leaders and other local organizations. In addition to attending Summit, I also plan to work with our local YP organizations to learn about their programs and initiatives. We have previously met with Young Professionals of Wichita staff and volunteers and attended some of their events, which helped us plan our first Personal and Professional Development Series: "Financial Fitness for YPs." I believe that by working with and networking with as many other YP Organizations as possible, we can learn how our own YP organization can benefit not only our community, but our members as well.
My future learning goals with the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce include continuting my Institute for Organizational Management training this summer. I will attend the Midwest Institute in Madison, Wisconsin in June to complete my second year of training. This program has been vital to my work with the Chamber thus far, as it has enabled me to work with my fellow Chamber executives across the country on the various challenges I faced in 2008.
Outcome 3 - Exhibit an understanding and appreciation of the legal and ethical implications of conducting business in a global environment.
My artifacts demonstrating mastery of this outcome (What?)
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_Global_Ethics.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_BusinessLawOutcomeThree.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/WinterInstituteOutcome3.doc
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first artifact represents the knowledge I gained through Ethics in a Global Marketplace. Not only does this document demonstrate my understanding of the many issues that major corporations have faced, but also the core dilemma of balancing the need in business to earn profits with the responsibility of doing so ethically:
“One key to the survival of any business is its ability to generate income and earn profits. The utilitarian theory of business ethics (Parhizgar, 2006, p.167) would dictate that since the goal of business is to maximize profits that if a business is making money, it is acting in the most ethical manner possible. This is not always the case. Many businesses generate billions of dollars in income and earn millions of dollars in revenue for their shareholders, yet they do so in an unethical manner. Maximizing profits cannot be the only measure of a company’s success or commitment to ethics. Companies must also evaluate their success on other factors such as employee retention and satisfaction, customer satisfaction and loyalty, state and federal regulations and guidelines as well as comparing themselves to other industry leaders” (DeLong, p. 2-3 2008).
It is especially important for me to be able to balance the need to earn money through fundraisers and chamber dues with the need to be fiscally responsible with our Chamber members’ funds and to utilize them in the manner that most benefits our businesses, our community and fits within our mission. Through our budgeting process, strategic planning and local economic issues that have arisen in the past year, I have had a chance to implement the knowledge and strategies I learned in this course.
The second artifact represents not only my understanding of the theory of legal implications of conducting business in a global economy, but also provides examples within my own career. This document provides an opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge of the responsibilities of conducting background checks when hiring new candidates as well as what I feel are the most important policies and procedures to have in place to protect not only my organization, but myself as well. Hiring new employees places a significant burden on the organization to ensure that it is getting the best candidate possible, which often means conducting background checks. If I were in a position of conducting a background check which came back negative, I would take the following measures:
1. “I would have first made sure that the prospective employee signed written notice and authorization of the credit check as required by FCRA.
2. I would then need to give the prospective employee second notice since I intend to take an adverse employment action based upon the consumer credit report I obtained.
3. Finally, I must provide the prospective employee with written notice of the adverse action taken. The notice will include the name, address and phone number of the agency who supplied the report; a statement that the agency which supplied the report did not make the decision to take the adverse action; a notice of the person’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report and to obtain a free credit report from the agency within the next sixty days” (DeLong, p. 1 2008).
This document also provides me an opportunity to share a situation in which I was confronted with a potentially illegal and unethical activity in a job and the manner in which I handled it:
“‘Establish and disseminate a written policy regarding workplace investigations, searches, employee surveillance, etc. The policy should set forth the boundaries of investigations and searches that may be conducted. The policy should also state that employees who refuse to cooperate in company investigations or searches will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.’
I believe that this is the most important thing to do because a company that I have worked for did not currently do this, and I have personally had to deal with the fallout of not having such procedures and safeguards in place. When I started at this company, the person who left the position which I was taking had left many questionable (sexually explicit) items on the computer which I was to use for my work. I knew that the person who left the position was a good friend of my boss and that said person was coming back in to train me, so I did not want to immediately speak up. However, I realized that if I did not speak up and left the items on my computer that they could eventually be considered ‘my’ items. So, ultimately I spoke up to my boss, who had the items removed from my computer. I believe that had the company had a policy about workplace investigations, which outlined the fact that there was no reasonable right to privacy that such material (and behavior) would not have occurred at the company” (DeLong, p. 2, 2008).
The final artifact of this outcome is a copy of a post-Institute assessment which was sent to my President/CEO after I returned from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management in 2008. This opportunity not only provided me with a better understanding of the Chamber industry, but it allowed me to put my skills to use with practical break-out sessions and assessments. This post-assessment allows me to demonstrate how I would ethically handle taking on the responsibilities of being the newly appointed President/CEO of the Chamber in an environment that had been lacking strong leadership for the past several years and how I would plan to build a strong governance structure with the Chamber:
“As the new CEO I would begin by holding two retreats: one for the staff and one for the board. I would begin both by writing our current mission statement and asking each staff/board member to identify three key goals that they would like to accomplish which directly relate to the mission statement. I would take these lists and help the staff and board make one year, three year and five year goals in relation to membership, financial fitness, community support and governance. The goals would help determine not only the new strategic vision statement, but also the program of work. The staff would be an integral part of the new strategic vision for the Chamber and in order to lead my staff through the planning process, I would also invite them to participate in the Board Retreat. I think it is imperative that the board understand what the staff really does and how much staff time goes into each part of the program of work. The program of work must be directly related to the mission statement and governance would be one of the most important issues. In a Chamber that had not had strong leadership, I would imagine that financial audits would be an important process during the first year. The audit process would help us to examine which internal financial controls needed to be altered and also what the strengths of the Chamber have been. It is important to work from the strengths that we have and to also move forward from our weaknesses (whether they be in membership, financial fitness, or governance) in order to build a more cohesive organization. Finally, I would also like to schedule quarterly staff and board meetings related directly to the material outlined in the retreats to check our progress” (DeLong, p. 1, 2008).
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My future learning goals in relation to the legal and ethical implications of conducting business in a global environment include continuing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, working with our executive committee and board of directors to ensure governance and maintaining open lines of communication with our legal counsel and insurance professional. Institute will not only continue to provide me with the most current industry related standards and best practices, but it will also provide me with a network, resources and tools to help solve any issues as they arise. I believe that by working closely with the executive committee and board of directors on our program of work and ensuring it closely aligns to our mission, vision and enhances the community we can establish a checks and balances system which will maintain legal and ethical compliance. I also think that by maintaining open lines of communication with our legal counsel and insurance agent we can proactively prevent legal and ethical issues before they arise.
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_Global_Ethics.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_BusinessLawOutcomeThree.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/WinterInstituteOutcome3.doc
My reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first artifact represents the knowledge I gained through Ethics in a Global Marketplace. Not only does this document demonstrate my understanding of the many issues that major corporations have faced, but also the core dilemma of balancing the need in business to earn profits with the responsibility of doing so ethically:
“One key to the survival of any business is its ability to generate income and earn profits. The utilitarian theory of business ethics (Parhizgar, 2006, p.167) would dictate that since the goal of business is to maximize profits that if a business is making money, it is acting in the most ethical manner possible. This is not always the case. Many businesses generate billions of dollars in income and earn millions of dollars in revenue for their shareholders, yet they do so in an unethical manner. Maximizing profits cannot be the only measure of a company’s success or commitment to ethics. Companies must also evaluate their success on other factors such as employee retention and satisfaction, customer satisfaction and loyalty, state and federal regulations and guidelines as well as comparing themselves to other industry leaders” (DeLong, p. 2-3 2008).
It is especially important for me to be able to balance the need to earn money through fundraisers and chamber dues with the need to be fiscally responsible with our Chamber members’ funds and to utilize them in the manner that most benefits our businesses, our community and fits within our mission. Through our budgeting process, strategic planning and local economic issues that have arisen in the past year, I have had a chance to implement the knowledge and strategies I learned in this course.
The second artifact represents not only my understanding of the theory of legal implications of conducting business in a global economy, but also provides examples within my own career. This document provides an opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge of the responsibilities of conducting background checks when hiring new candidates as well as what I feel are the most important policies and procedures to have in place to protect not only my organization, but myself as well. Hiring new employees places a significant burden on the organization to ensure that it is getting the best candidate possible, which often means conducting background checks. If I were in a position of conducting a background check which came back negative, I would take the following measures:
1. “I would have first made sure that the prospective employee signed written notice and authorization of the credit check as required by FCRA.
2. I would then need to give the prospective employee second notice since I intend to take an adverse employment action based upon the consumer credit report I obtained.
3. Finally, I must provide the prospective employee with written notice of the adverse action taken. The notice will include the name, address and phone number of the agency who supplied the report; a statement that the agency which supplied the report did not make the decision to take the adverse action; a notice of the person’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report and to obtain a free credit report from the agency within the next sixty days” (DeLong, p. 1 2008).
This document also provides me an opportunity to share a situation in which I was confronted with a potentially illegal and unethical activity in a job and the manner in which I handled it:
“‘Establish and disseminate a written policy regarding workplace investigations, searches, employee surveillance, etc. The policy should set forth the boundaries of investigations and searches that may be conducted. The policy should also state that employees who refuse to cooperate in company investigations or searches will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.’
I believe that this is the most important thing to do because a company that I have worked for did not currently do this, and I have personally had to deal with the fallout of not having such procedures and safeguards in place. When I started at this company, the person who left the position which I was taking had left many questionable (sexually explicit) items on the computer which I was to use for my work. I knew that the person who left the position was a good friend of my boss and that said person was coming back in to train me, so I did not want to immediately speak up. However, I realized that if I did not speak up and left the items on my computer that they could eventually be considered ‘my’ items. So, ultimately I spoke up to my boss, who had the items removed from my computer. I believe that had the company had a policy about workplace investigations, which outlined the fact that there was no reasonable right to privacy that such material (and behavior) would not have occurred at the company” (DeLong, p. 2, 2008).
The final artifact of this outcome is a copy of a post-Institute assessment which was sent to my President/CEO after I returned from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management in 2008. This opportunity not only provided me with a better understanding of the Chamber industry, but it allowed me to put my skills to use with practical break-out sessions and assessments. This post-assessment allows me to demonstrate how I would ethically handle taking on the responsibilities of being the newly appointed President/CEO of the Chamber in an environment that had been lacking strong leadership for the past several years and how I would plan to build a strong governance structure with the Chamber:
“As the new CEO I would begin by holding two retreats: one for the staff and one for the board. I would begin both by writing our current mission statement and asking each staff/board member to identify three key goals that they would like to accomplish which directly relate to the mission statement. I would take these lists and help the staff and board make one year, three year and five year goals in relation to membership, financial fitness, community support and governance. The goals would help determine not only the new strategic vision statement, but also the program of work. The staff would be an integral part of the new strategic vision for the Chamber and in order to lead my staff through the planning process, I would also invite them to participate in the Board Retreat. I think it is imperative that the board understand what the staff really does and how much staff time goes into each part of the program of work. The program of work must be directly related to the mission statement and governance would be one of the most important issues. In a Chamber that had not had strong leadership, I would imagine that financial audits would be an important process during the first year. The audit process would help us to examine which internal financial controls needed to be altered and also what the strengths of the Chamber have been. It is important to work from the strengths that we have and to also move forward from our weaknesses (whether they be in membership, financial fitness, or governance) in order to build a more cohesive organization. Finally, I would also like to schedule quarterly staff and board meetings related directly to the material outlined in the retreats to check our progress” (DeLong, p. 1, 2008).
My future learning goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My future learning goals in relation to the legal and ethical implications of conducting business in a global environment include continuing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, working with our executive committee and board of directors to ensure governance and maintaining open lines of communication with our legal counsel and insurance professional. Institute will not only continue to provide me with the most current industry related standards and best practices, but it will also provide me with a network, resources and tools to help solve any issues as they arise. I believe that by working closely with the executive committee and board of directors on our program of work and ensuring it closely aligns to our mission, vision and enhances the community we can establish a checks and balances system which will maintain legal and ethical compliance. I also think that by maintaining open lines of communication with our legal counsel and insurance agent we can proactively prevent legal and ethical issues before they arise.
Outcome 4 - Exhibit poise and confidence in verbal, interpersonal and written communication
My artifacts demonstrating this outcome (What?)
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&EventID=7491&SectionID=0&SubSectionID=5&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24717&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/StephannieDeLongResume.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLongScalesJusticeOutcome4.doc
My reflections on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first artifact is a calendar posting from the Winfield Daily Courier for a Rotary Presentation that I gave with my co-workers on the need for a Young Professionals Organization in our community. This artifact demonstrates mastery of verbal communication not only in presenting new and potentially controversial information to community and business leaders, but in my ability to confidentally present the information and answer questions afterwards. The presentation went even better than I imagined and the questions the audience asked centered more on how they could engage and recruit young professionals; they were truly interested in community sustainability and wanted to be a part of the future or the young professionals organization.
The second artifact demonstrates poise and confidence in interpersonal communication; this interview was recorded during our YP Kick-off party and I was asked to speak on behalf of the Chamber. I believe that being able to convey our message without preparation and being willing to speak to the media and engage potential new members via the internet is an important part of not only my job, but our goals with young professionals. As I continue to grow in my career it will be increasingly important to be able to communicate with community members, business leaders and the media as well.
The third artifact demonstrates my ability to work within my organization, community events and projects such as Leadership Cowley County and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management as well as Chamber sponsored events and meetings. Communicating via email, written records such as newsletters, proposals, grant applications and generaly correspondance as well as working with community members at events, ribbon cuttings and meetings are all important aspects of my job. Representing the Chamber in this capacity is one of the most vital aspects of this outcome as well.
The fourth artifact represents my ability to communicate effectively in a written format. Having the ability to speak on a subject, offer opinions, support and reach a solid conclusion are essential in business. I am often called upon to gather information, compare solutions or options and present it to the board or executive committee with reccommendations. This outcome is essential to my career and personal growth.
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
Communication is an essential part of my career and personal life. Not only do I represent the Chamber during business hours, but in a small community such as Winfield I also represent the Chamber anytime I am in public. It is essential for me to be poised, confident, friendly and open to people at all times. Being able to answer questions, help direct people, represent the community and work with community members, business leaders and visitors alike are just part of my daily routine. Not only will it be important for me to continue learning about media relations, presentation skills and written communication during my upcoming years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, it will be important to continue to hone my interpersonal communication skills as well.
I believe that working between different generations as I do that interpersonal communication skills are essential. I plan to pick up as much information related to communicating between generations as I can while attending the YP Summit this year. This annual conference will help me not only with my Chamber duties, but with our Young Professionals Organization as well. Although I have already worked with the media, given interviews and presentations related to this aspect of my career, I think there are always new opportunities to learn and grow. For example, I believe that I learned a lot after watching the Winfield Daily Courier interview and I plan to continue to work to be more succinct and speak slowly. I must admit that during this interview my nerves got the better of my as I was surprised to be asked to speak on camera. This is just one of the things that I will have to learn to overcome in my career.
The most important future goal I have in relation to exhibiting poise and confidence when communicating is to continue to work with as many different committees, businesses and groups as possible to hone my skills. While attending classes and seminars can provide excellent resources and tips, I really learn by doing. I think that working with community members and taking new opportunities to be the spokesperson for the Chamber will enhance this skill more than anything.
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&EventID=7491&SectionID=0&SubSectionID=5&S=1
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=24717&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/StephannieDeLongResume.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLongScalesJusticeOutcome4.doc
My reflections on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The first artifact is a calendar posting from the Winfield Daily Courier for a Rotary Presentation that I gave with my co-workers on the need for a Young Professionals Organization in our community. This artifact demonstrates mastery of verbal communication not only in presenting new and potentially controversial information to community and business leaders, but in my ability to confidentally present the information and answer questions afterwards. The presentation went even better than I imagined and the questions the audience asked centered more on how they could engage and recruit young professionals; they were truly interested in community sustainability and wanted to be a part of the future or the young professionals organization.
The second artifact demonstrates poise and confidence in interpersonal communication; this interview was recorded during our YP Kick-off party and I was asked to speak on behalf of the Chamber. I believe that being able to convey our message without preparation and being willing to speak to the media and engage potential new members via the internet is an important part of not only my job, but our goals with young professionals. As I continue to grow in my career it will be increasingly important to be able to communicate with community members, business leaders and the media as well.
The third artifact demonstrates my ability to work within my organization, community events and projects such as Leadership Cowley County and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management as well as Chamber sponsored events and meetings. Communicating via email, written records such as newsletters, proposals, grant applications and generaly correspondance as well as working with community members at events, ribbon cuttings and meetings are all important aspects of my job. Representing the Chamber in this capacity is one of the most vital aspects of this outcome as well.
The fourth artifact represents my ability to communicate effectively in a written format. Having the ability to speak on a subject, offer opinions, support and reach a solid conclusion are essential in business. I am often called upon to gather information, compare solutions or options and present it to the board or executive committee with reccommendations. This outcome is essential to my career and personal growth.
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
Communication is an essential part of my career and personal life. Not only do I represent the Chamber during business hours, but in a small community such as Winfield I also represent the Chamber anytime I am in public. It is essential for me to be poised, confident, friendly and open to people at all times. Being able to answer questions, help direct people, represent the community and work with community members, business leaders and visitors alike are just part of my daily routine. Not only will it be important for me to continue learning about media relations, presentation skills and written communication during my upcoming years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, it will be important to continue to hone my interpersonal communication skills as well.
I believe that working between different generations as I do that interpersonal communication skills are essential. I plan to pick up as much information related to communicating between generations as I can while attending the YP Summit this year. This annual conference will help me not only with my Chamber duties, but with our Young Professionals Organization as well. Although I have already worked with the media, given interviews and presentations related to this aspect of my career, I think there are always new opportunities to learn and grow. For example, I believe that I learned a lot after watching the Winfield Daily Courier interview and I plan to continue to work to be more succinct and speak slowly. I must admit that during this interview my nerves got the better of my as I was surprised to be asked to speak on camera. This is just one of the things that I will have to learn to overcome in my career.
The most important future goal I have in relation to exhibiting poise and confidence when communicating is to continue to work with as many different committees, businesses and groups as possible to hone my skills. While attending classes and seminars can provide excellent resources and tips, I really learn by doing. I think that working with community members and taking new opportunities to be the spokesperson for the Chamber will enhance this skill more than anything.
Outcome 5 - Demonstrate that they have been and will continue to be a lifelong learner.
My artifacts demonstrating this outcome (What?)
The second artifact demonstrates my attendance at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management in 2008. This four year program trains chamber executives on non-profit management, budgeting, committee management, community relations and other essential functions of chamber work. Upon completing my first year at Institute I brought back information, best practices and implemented important changes to two of my committees at the Chamber. I also continued to correspond with my classmates, both offering and accepting help on common issues and situations throughout the year.
The third artifact represents my attendance and graduation from Leadership Cowley County 2008. This three month program brings together community members, business professionals and up and coming young professionals to help hone their leadership skills. We attended legislative sessions, met state representatives, worked through real life situations and attended lectures all related to leadership. This program is an essential part of our community leadership development and an important step in my career.
My fourth artifact represents the culmination of my undergraduate studies at Southwestern College. This paper demonstrates two years of work as a history major. My research on Esther Morris, female suffragette, produced surprising results even to my professors. We learned that the layers of her story were intermingled with politics, sexism and even a certain amount of racism. The many layers of this story unfolded in such a way that I realized that sometimes there are more than even two sides to every tale. Though the research and paper have been finalized for some time now, I continue to remain fascinated and interested in her story and in the study of the past. Understanding where we have been in history not only teaches us how we have gotten to the present, but where we plan to go in the future. This artifact will continue to be an important representation of my educational experience.
My final artifact demonstrates what I have learned as a result of my Leadership Project for my final MBA Course. Young Professionals of Winfield is the project I chose to utilize for this project and I believe that it not only represents a prior learning goal but since it is a continuing project it is also part of my future learning goals and demonstrates that I plan to be a lifelong learner. I believe that every project presents a learning opportunity and that if I take what I learned from a prior project and apply it to each new situation or scenario I can enhance the results of future projects as well. The applications I learned from The Leadership Challenge Workbook have not only enhanced the Young Professionals of Winfield project but they have also enhanced my relationship with my co-worker and my overall leadership skills as well.
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My immediate future learning goals include attending the 2009 session of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management and the 2009 YP Summit. In addition to attending these seminars I also plan to take on new challenges within my organization. Having lost our CEO to a new opportunity I have chosen to apply for her job. I feel that I have the experience and education to do the job well, but also that I can bring a fresh perspective to the position. As a young professional I believe that I can bridge the generation gap between some of our community leaders and our up and coming young business professionals, leading to enhanced community involvement and sustainability. Working with business leaders and community leaders in this new role would provide an excellent opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally as well. I also hope that my fresh perspective can provide the Chamber with new revenue opportunities and community outreach activities.
My long-term goals for being a lifelong learner include taking any opportunities for career training and advancement as they come as well as hopefully fulfilling the CEO role for the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce. I do not currently have plans to continue my formal education and complete a PhD, but I am open to the possibility if it arises. I think that the most important thing I can do to remain a lifelong learner is to be open to new experiences and opportunities. Some of the best things that have happened in my life have come out of my willingness to try something new and uncharted. They have provided excellent learning and growth and I hope to continue both personally and professionally.
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/StephannieDeLongResume.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/WinterStudentPressRelease2008.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLongUndergradThesisOutcome5.doc
http://www.geocities.com/stephannie.delong/DeLong_LeadershipProject2009.doc
My Reflection on meeting this outcome (So What?)
The second artifact demonstrates my attendance at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management in 2008. This four year program trains chamber executives on non-profit management, budgeting, committee management, community relations and other essential functions of chamber work. Upon completing my first year at Institute I brought back information, best practices and implemented important changes to two of my committees at the Chamber. I also continued to correspond with my classmates, both offering and accepting help on common issues and situations throughout the year.
The third artifact represents my attendance and graduation from Leadership Cowley County 2008. This three month program brings together community members, business professionals and up and coming young professionals to help hone their leadership skills. We attended legislative sessions, met state representatives, worked through real life situations and attended lectures all related to leadership. This program is an essential part of our community leadership development and an important step in my career.
My fourth artifact represents the culmination of my undergraduate studies at Southwestern College. This paper demonstrates two years of work as a history major. My research on Esther Morris, female suffragette, produced surprising results even to my professors. We learned that the layers of her story were intermingled with politics, sexism and even a certain amount of racism. The many layers of this story unfolded in such a way that I realized that sometimes there are more than even two sides to every tale. Though the research and paper have been finalized for some time now, I continue to remain fascinated and interested in her story and in the study of the past. Understanding where we have been in history not only teaches us how we have gotten to the present, but where we plan to go in the future. This artifact will continue to be an important representation of my educational experience.
My final artifact demonstrates what I have learned as a result of my Leadership Project for my final MBA Course. Young Professionals of Winfield is the project I chose to utilize for this project and I believe that it not only represents a prior learning goal but since it is a continuing project it is also part of my future learning goals and demonstrates that I plan to be a lifelong learner. I believe that every project presents a learning opportunity and that if I take what I learned from a prior project and apply it to each new situation or scenario I can enhance the results of future projects as well. The applications I learned from The Leadership Challenge Workbook have not only enhanced the Young Professionals of Winfield project but they have also enhanced my relationship with my co-worker and my overall leadership skills as well.
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome (Now What?)
My immediate future learning goals include attending the 2009 session of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management and the 2009 YP Summit. In addition to attending these seminars I also plan to take on new challenges within my organization. Having lost our CEO to a new opportunity I have chosen to apply for her job. I feel that I have the experience and education to do the job well, but also that I can bring a fresh perspective to the position. As a young professional I believe that I can bridge the generation gap between some of our community leaders and our up and coming young business professionals, leading to enhanced community involvement and sustainability. Working with business leaders and community leaders in this new role would provide an excellent opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally as well. I also hope that my fresh perspective can provide the Chamber with new revenue opportunities and community outreach activities.
My long-term goals for being a lifelong learner include taking any opportunities for career training and advancement as they come as well as hopefully fulfilling the CEO role for the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce. I do not currently have plans to continue my formal education and complete a PhD, but I am open to the possibility if it arises. I think that the most important thing I can do to remain a lifelong learner is to be open to new experiences and opportunities. Some of the best things that have happened in my life have come out of my willingness to try something new and uncharted. They have provided excellent learning and growth and I hope to continue both personally and professionally.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)