2023 Nonprofit OpCon

The 9th annual Nonprofit OpCon focuses on streamlining processes and operations for nonprofits in New York. How do we make things easier and more pleasant for executive leadership, operations, IT, risk, finance, HR and more? There are new industry standards to consider, and new guidelines around applying for public funds to learn. Bring your organization into the 21st century and abandon old practices that are depleting your valuable resources! It’s a new day in the nonprofit industry;join us as we explore these insights and strategies.

8:00 AM	Doors Open, Breakfast & Registration
8:30 AM	Welcome and Opening Remarks by Emcee Marcella McKoy, Director of Team Experience & Engagement, Graham Windham
8:35 AM	Streamlining Processes, Operations, Finances & Investments through Strategy Successful organizations use many different strategies when developing their mission in both administrative and strategic ways. The key to this process is developing a focused, purposeful strategy that includes systems, resource allocation, data management, finances, and more. This panel will explain how well thought out operations and processes will enhance your nonprofit’s administrative efficiency, streamline monetary functions, and create operational stability so you can focus more of your energy on your mission. Victoria Coker, Executive Director, New York, Bottom Line (Moderator) Emerald Garner, Founder & Executive Director, We Can't Breathe Inc. Eleanor Coufos, President, Bronx Science Foundation Kirthi Mani, Managing Principal, NYC Office, CLA Sibi B. Thomas, Managing Director, CBIZ Marks Paneth Phyllis Jackson, Vice President, Employee Benefits, USI Insurance Services
9:20 AM	Demystifying Compliance for Nonprofits Each year, thousands of nonprofits across New York City set their sights on Albany and the City Council to advocate for mission-critical funding and request policy changes. For nonprofits who engage government relations professionals, these firms provide one-half of the lobbying compliance equation. Each nonprofit organization, however, is also responsible for key reporting expectations. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from experts on all sides of the compliance conversation to demystify the process and ensure your organization is asking the right questions. Lauren Bush, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Government Relations, The Parkside Group (Moderator) Andrew Celli, Partner, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP Damaris B. Acosta, Deputy City Clerk, Office of the City Clerk/Clerk of the Council Carol C. Quinn, Director of Lobbying, NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
10:05 AM	Refreshment Break
10:20 AM	Optimizing and Developing a Sustainable Board of Directors One of the central challenges that far too many boards struggle with is understanding board member roles and responsibilities and how to fulfill them. While boards are doing well with the more basic board responsibilities, understanding the organization’s purpose and mission and providing financial oversight, they struggle most with the more implied, vague responsibilities, including fundraising, advocacy, and community-building and outreach.What is most important is for board members to have a strong understanding of all of their roles and responsibilities. Dr. Darlene Williams, President & CEO of Union Settlement (Moderator) Ebony Young, Deputy Queens Borough President Ted Hopper, Board Chair, LSA Family Health Service Shibani Gambhir, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts Phillip M. Cappadora Jr.,Founder, Astoria Filmmakers Club
11:05 AM	December 29,2022 Congress Approves a 403b Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) With the passing of Secure Act 2.0 501© (3) non profit organizations can now join a single 403(b) retirement plan, known as a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP). This program will provide the organization maximum fiduciary protection offered by the regulations, less administrative burden on employers, the potential for reduced plan expenses, and a better participant experience. The panel will discuss the advantages of this new concept in detail during this session. Mark Rubinstein, President, Incline Pension Consulting (Moderator) Jeff Atwell, President, TRG Fiduciary Services Scott Holechek, 2nd Vice President Institutional of Sales, Ameritas Wes Schevers, Vice President of Sales, Leafhouse
11:45 AM	Navigating Real Estate and Workspace as a Nonprofit As a nonprofit organization, you have a unique set of criteria for carefully choosing workplaces that support the important work and mission while balancing the operational and budgetary challenges faced by organizations. The panel will address topics such as understanding rental leases, exploring the hybrid work model, maximizing space in terms of efficiency and finances, alleviating cost increased from the landlords as well as creating safe, resilient, and inclusive workspaces. What does the future of work look like and how does that impact your space? Amy West, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AHRC NYC (Moderator) Ann Marie Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer, Part of the Solution Yasmin Dwedar, Supervising Attorney, Crime Victims Treatment Center Radical Synergy Jodi Warren, Partner, Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP Christopher D. Turner, Managing Director of Transactions Services, Denham Wolf Real Estate Services Stephen Powers, Co-Founder, OPEN Impact Real Estate
12:30 PM	Lunch
1:35 PM	Best Practices for Hiring at Your Nonprofit Hiring is always a challenge, but nonprofit organizations face additional hurdles when searching for great employees. The most important priority is to find people with the right skills and a commitment to your organization’s mission. Once you have people in place organizations need to create policies and procedures, so everyone is treated fairly. Equally essential is to create a work environment where everyone can thrive and support all kinds and types of workers in a multi-faceted way. With the right approach, it is easy to overcome the challenges and find the right person for your organization. Damaris Herron-Watkins, Director of Finance and Administration, A Better Chance (Moderator) Nancy D. Miller, Executive Director/CEO, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Eman Rimawi-Doster, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center Sonya Llewellyn, Director of Human Resources, 501© Services Angelo Caliente, Sales Executive, Paylocity Diana Gallardo-Laska, Head of HR Services, Kiwi Partners
2:20 PM	What Nonprofits Need to Know about Accounting and Finance Maintaining the financial security of any nonprofit is a challenge before you factor in the specific aspects of your organization. Keeping up with regulatory changes, managing all sources of funding, tracking organizational costs, and more is demanding, especially for nonprofits that are already stretched too thin. Our panelists will feature strategies and resources to help you increase your financial fluency and create systems for efficient financial management. Pam Loscher, Chief Financial Officer, ArtsWestchester (Moderator) Matthew Savago, CFO, Center for Justice Innovation Rachel DeMatteo, Director & Market Leader, YPTC John Eusanio, Partner, Not-for-Profit Practice Leader, Citrin Cooperman Alexander K. Buchholz, Partner, PKF O'Connor Davies Genevieve Sapp, Outsourcing Chief Financial Officer, CLA Roberta Katz, Nonprofit Finance Consultant, Roberta Katz Consulting
3:10 PM	Refreshment Break
3:25 PM	Innovation & Technology Moving Your Nonprofit Forward Because of budgets and funding, it appears that all nonprofits need automated systems, strong financial practices, smart real estate strategies and multiple grant tracking capabilities. This session will bring together top-level executives from nonprofits across New York to discuss how to improve and upgrade your operational processes, how to set up automated campaigns for renewal, appeal, sustainer, and acquisition campaigns, and how to make smart choices that affect the day to day and year to year of nonprofit institutions. Christopher Mainor, Director of IT, Urban Pathways (Moderator) Garri Rivkin, Executive Director, The City Tutors Danny Rojas, Executive Director, All Star Code John Tiso, Director of Strategic Growth Initiatives, JMT Consulting Joshua Peskay, 3CPO, RoundTable Technology
4:10 PM	Nonprofit Efficiency: Managing Risk and Financial Controls Executives at nonprofits must identify and manage risks that threaten their missions and operations, while taking advantage of the opportunities and take calculated but mission-advancing risks. They must also figure out and execute internal accounting controls, processes and procedures to limit the risk of fraud, to increase transparency and to preserve the organization's assets. They must be looking at their overhead expenses as that can be a consideration for donor contribution while recognizing the importance of customer and vendor relationships and how to balance cost with these valued relationships. Overall, the goal to run an efficient nonprofit can be faced with many challenges. Archana Jayaram, President & CEO, The Osborne Association (Moderator) Kathleen Macias-Torres, Executive Director, Sparc Inc. Carlos Alegria, CPA Senior Manager, BDO FMA Kerri Smith, Esq., COO, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York Paul Bennett, Director of Finance & Administration, Pro Bono Net, Inc.
4:55 PM	Session Concludes

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