Mary Schlitt Email & Phone Number

Ann Arbor

At the Barger Leadership Institute, we believe the leadership can be learned. In my role as AD, I have the opportunity to work with some of Michigan's most promising student leaders and engaged professional staff. Our team of staff, a faculty director and student leaders work to create a productive and inclusive space for any Michigan undergraduate student to discover their own capacity for leadership through hands-on engagement, leadership learning, and access to our rich base of alumni and their experiences. Our work is accomplished through collaboration (people), positive engagement (purpose) and a systematic approach to action, thought and reflection (systems performance).

Ann Arbor, Mi

As a strategic relationship builder in the non-profit sector, I have worked to advance the missions of four successful and respected nonprofit organizations by creating content, events and campaigns that bring community stakeholders together for a common cause. One of my favorite collaborations involved the students and staff from Community High School who set an ambitious fundraising goal that then inspired a community to raise 1 million meals for local hunger relief. You can read more about that effort below.In my role as chief development officer at Food Gatherers, I managed a team of four professionals who created compelling, effective, multi-channel fundraising and marketing campaigns to grow annual fundraising to more than $3M and successfully complete a $1M capital campaign. As part of the organization's leadership team, I gave formal reports to the board of directors and helped manage the day-to-day operations, including work on: strategic planning, community coordination, program development, budgeting, policy and procedural review, and staffing. I also wrote and supervised the production of all external communications and was a frequent public speaker at community events.At the Ford School of Public Policy, I worked to deepen my analytical and leadership skills by studying the costs and benefits of public, nonprofit, and private sector collaboration. I also spent time inside and outside the classroom learning how I can listen and contribute to the rich discussions on topics of diversity, equity and inclusivity. As a +Lab Fellow at the Ross School of Business, I learned about new ways that managers can coach employees and how organizations can create sustainable practices that nurture a positive, caring and increasingly efficient workplace.

Ann Arbor, Mi

As a +LAB fellow, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Center for Positive Organizations' (CPO) faculty and staff to deepen my knowledge of Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS). As a fellow I took MO455/555, a 7-week course taught by Jane Dutton,Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Emerita Professor of Business Administration and Psychology and co-founder of CPO. I also attended various huddles that connected students with visiting leaders and researchers during informal small group sessions across a wide-variety of positive organizing topics for generative discussions related to emerging practices and research. Highlights include sessions with David Cooperrider, Chris Murchinson, Monica Worline and Bob Quinn and emerging practices highlighted by Root, Herman Miller and KPMG.I extended my time with CPO through a Spring/Summer and then Summer independent Study. My first project focused on facilitating increased communication between Ross Business School Magnify student teams and their partner organizations. My second project involved the research and development of a coaching manual to help teaching team members coach student teams in the Magnify program.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

At Food Gatherers, I enjoyed working in a servant-leadership culture that valued organizational efficiency, clients, community stakeholders and fun in equal measure. As part of the organization’s senior leadership team (and co-interim CEO June-Oct. 2011), I was able to interface with the board of directors and work on macro-level operational issues such as: strategic planning, community coordination, program development, budgeting, policy/procedural review, and staffing. In the course of seven years, my team grew fundraising revenue from $1.86M to $3.6M, completed a successful $2M capital campaign, and organized two of Food Gatherers’ highest grossing special events. As my team grew from 1.5 to 4 full-time employees, I found the exercise of managing and developing talented individuals to be just as fulfilling as meeting fundraising goals.

New York, New York

Working for the worlds largest museum and research complex was an amazing opportunity that elevated my experience in board relations, communications and event management. Based in the Archives' satellite office and research center/gallery, I worked to facilitate meetings, committees and special projects for the organization's Board of Trustees (who were largely based in New York) for our main office in Washington,D.C. I managed the creation and distribution of press materials for our division, including the launch of a monthly e-newsletter and marketing campaign, which resulted in a 56% increase in email subscribers. In an effort to leverage resources and gain management experience, I initiated a summer internship program for the development office in 2005 and supervised five interns. I produced four 200+ guest black-tie benefit galas and one symposium honoring American art dealers, artists and collectors. From Jan. to July 2007 acted as interim director of development; promoted from associate to officer, Sept. 2007.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

During my time at the Girl Scout Council, I had the opportunity to support a cause that I'm very passionate about, the development of leadership skills in young girls. Thanks to high-turnover in my department and a generous training stipend, I was able to build substantial skills in event planning, corporate sponsorship, data management, and grant writing. Eager to capitalize on the popularity of the Iron Chef television show, I elevated our special event offerings by producing an inaugural culinary competition in collaboration with Art Institutes International Culinary School in Minnesota. The event drew local celebratory judges and guests to see the culinary students create inventive savory and sweet dishes using the key ingredient, girl scout cookies. I also had early exposure to the Raising More Money (now Benevon) model that secured over $300,000 for the organization during my tenure. Promoted from Development Associate in Feb. 2004.

Assisted in the planning and logistics of the 2000 and 2001 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, which serves over 500,000 visitors annually.

Master Of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

Activities and Societies: Center for Positive Organizations +LABThe MPA degree at the Ford School of Public Policy helped me further.

Bachelor Of Arts, Psychology