Ken White

I engage people in meaningful work that broadens their experiences,

while deepening their understanding and commitment.

LEADERSHIP

· Executive Director for two nonprofits

· Board member of four organizations

· Formed and successfully led broad-based statewide advocacy coalition and statewide election campaign

· Editor of nationwide magazine

MANAGEMENT

· Experienced, culturally competent, fiscally savvy, and accomplished in all aspects of management

· Led teams of up to 20 direct reports; P&L  responsibility for budgets of over $1 million

· Directed nationwide communication strategies for two organizations

· Managed production of three nationwide magazines

GROWTH & STRATEGY

· Led the launch of an innovative foundation and a forprofit-nonprofit collaborative

· Increased fundraising by 75 percent as Executive Director of a nonprofit

· Helped lead successful statewide ballot initiative, subsequent communication and lobbying effort, and Supreme Court challenge

· Reinvented organizational image and communication strategy for global nonprofit

· Redesigned a magazine, refocused its editorial content, and overhauled its budget in five months

PUBLIC REPRESENTATION

· Speaker, writer, and commentator in several fields

· Hundreds of articles published, op-eds published in major newspapers

· Hundreds of local and national public speaking, panel, television, and radio appearances

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

· Led creation of early (1997) social networking tool for students, faculty, alumni, and prospective employers at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government

· Pioneered the collaborative development of a social networking platform for a nonprofit and its peers

· Rebuilt organizational infrastructure, including information and database management, market research and analysis, and member communication for a nonprofit

· Five years as team leader/evaluator at “Innovations in Government” program Harvard’s Kennedy School

· Helped edit book on high-performing nonprofits

SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE

· Organizational evolution and growth

· Strategy, management, and innovation

· Board and donor engagement

· Public engagement, communication, and advocacy

· Intergenerational collaboration and adult development

· Democracy and citizen participation

EDUCATION

· Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, MPA, Mid-Career program, 1997

· University of Virginia, BA, English, 1983

EXPERIENCE

Consultant

GROWTH, Strategy & Communication, 1990-1998; 2004-2009

Purpose: Assist nonprofits in defining and sharing their values, mission, and successes, and then scaling up.

· Worked with Hauser Center for Nonprofit Institutions, Kennedy School of Government, New Profit, Inc., Common Cause, Conservation Law Foundation, University of the Middle East, Garden Futures, Papaye Peasants’ Movement, Bread of Life, Kohala Foundation, Hotels that Help, Tikkun, and others

Coordinating Director

Chaordic Commons, Inc., 2003-2004

Purpose: Strengthen a group committed to developing new forms of organizing in pursuit of a healthier world.

· Charged with leading evolution from consulting group to member organization and beyond

· Developed and implemented strategic inquiry process to emerge value proposition

· Created new avenues for members to develop and return value to the group and each other

· Led development and implementation of on-line communication and collaboration system

Executive Director

Common Cause Massachusetts, 1998-2002

Purpose: Develop a constituency and strategy for promoting accountable, responsive governance.

· Helped lead successful movement to pass (via ballot initiative) and implement (via legislative lobbying and litigation) a groundbreaking campaign finance reform law

· Served as lead plaintiff in successful Constitutional challenge to uphold and implement the Clean Elections Law

· Formed and led a broad-based Coalition for Legislative Reform, made up of groups from across the political spectrum, to improve legislative transparency, accountability, and credibility

· Increased fundraising by 75 percent via major donor, direct mail, and foundation outreach

· Rebuilt organizational infrastructure, including information management, market research and analysis, legislative and media tracking and outreach, and member communication

· Created near-constant media and public presence as “the conscience of Massachusetts politics”

· Led legislative and public efforts to revamp ethics laws, reduce patronage, protect judicial independence, promote greater citizen participation, and revitalize democratic institutions

Director of Communications

Coalition of Essential Schools, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, 1994-1996

Purpose: Engage citizens in dialogue on the purposes, methods, and outcomes of education.

· Managed communication among 900+ schools; planned public engagement strategy to support national dialogue on reform; headed 8-person, $1.2 million effort

Director of Education, Outreach & Communications, Director of Publications

Oxfam America, 1990-1994

Purpose: Involve Americans in sustainable development efforts around the globe.

· Directed nationwide communications for $14 million nonprofit agency; headed 18-person, $1.3 million department; reinvented organizational image and communication strategy

Director of Publications

Institute for Defense & Disarmament Studies, 1988-1990

Purpose: Promote greater understanding of, and action on, alternatives to Cold War escalation.

· Oversaw publications for progressive think tank and advocate on arms control issues

Editor, Managing Editor

Weingarten Publications, Data Training Magazine, 1986-1988 

· Produced monthly business-computer magazine; analyzed market; refocused editorial content; overhauled budget; and redesigned gray tabloid into a color glossy magazine in five months

Writer/Reporter

Self-Employed, 1985-1986

· Reported for daily Keene Sentinel; wrote hundreds of articles for national and local publications

Production Editor, Assistant Editor, Writer

Wayne Green Enterprises, 1983-1985

· Managed production of three publications

ADDITIONAL

· Board affiliations (past): Uphams Corner Charter School, United Leaders, Society for Biblical Studies

· Recent publications include: “The Dead Hand of Modern Democracy” in Extreme Democracy

OTHER INTERESTS

· World travel, adventure racing, triathlons, backcountry skiing, literature, arts, popular culture