Recreation Nonprofits Outdoors
CORBA Appoints Its First Executive Director As Part Of Pilot Program
local outdoors nonprofit will be led by Phil Carlson who says its continued growth cannot be sustained by volunteers alone
McKenna Scherer, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
For the first time in its 25-plus year history, CORBA – the Community for Outdoor Recreation, Biking and Adventure – has created an executive director role, a significant step for the historically volunteer-powered organization.
CORBA, the local nonprofit which builds and maintains many of the wider Chippewa Valley’s multi-user rec trails, appointed its first-ever executive director as part of a pilot program on Aug. 14.
Phil Carlson, former CORBA board president, said the role's creation is a natural step for the growing organization. The nonprofit's efforts locally have historically been stewarded by volunteers.
“We have reached a level of growth where volunteer hours alone cannot sustain out momentum,” Carlson said in a recent media release.
“The pilot program gives our organization an opportunity to test a professional leadership structure while keeping our longterm sustainability top of mind,” Board Secretary Kennedy Domerchie said in the release.
“Phil’s deep connection to the community, CORBA and our mission makes him uniquely suited to guide us through this transition phase,” she added.
Per the release, Carlson will focus on driving organizational development, cultivating partnerships, expanding volunteer engagement, among other things.
Prior to the program’s completion (an end date was not stated), the CORBA board will evaluate Carslon’s work based on his ability to execute those aforementioned priorities, among other things.
That evaluation will determine CORBA's next steps, which could include extending the program, creating a longterm agreement for its executive director or concluding the program.
Read the full media release online and learn more about CORBA at corbatrails.org.
