Liberia RPCV Rena Coughlin is president and CEO of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida



Coughlin's first priority in her new position is to get a program called Community Coaches up and running. The program brings together people who have gone through a year of consulting and organizational training and who have agreed to volunteer their skills for 10 days to non-profits in the community through a program called the Jessie Ball duPont Community Building Fund.

Liberia RPCV Rena Coughlin is president and CEO of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida

CEO makes plans for 'Coaches' Coughlin leads Nonprofit Center agency
Oct 29, 2005 - Florida Times Union
With her strong personality, intellect and passion for non- profits, Rena Coughlin has made her mark on Jacksonville and now holds the title of president and CEO of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.

The Atlantic Beach resident replaced Jonathan Lever and has been with the center about two months.

The Nonprofit Center was established to support and be an advocate for the non-profit sector in Northeast Florida. It helps non-profits create a collective voice to educate the public and help build a network that can foster partnerships, she said.

Coughlin has been deeply involved with the non-profit sector for nearly a decade, which helped her obtain her current position. Previously she worked for Leadership Florida, developing and sustaining programs and special projects when she first moved to Jacksonville.

After graduating from the University of Florida in 1981, Coughlin decided to join the Peace Corps, and she lived and worked in Liberia, West Africa, for 2 1/2 years as a fisheries volunteer.

Prior to moving to Jacksonville in 2001, she and her family -- her husband, Hank, and their two children, Alex, 15, and Henry, 11 - - lived in Tallahassee for six years. She also spent eight years in Washington, working as a legislative aide to Sen. Bob Graham, D- Fla.

Most recently, Coughlin served as president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, a non-profit that delivers programs to more than 1,400 children annually.

"It was always interesting working with Rena; she is so incredibly intelligent and I learned from her in so many ways," said Patricia Arck, office and finance manager of Girls Inc. "She is a warm, energetic and incredible woman, and it was an honor to work with her."

Coughlin said working at Girls Inc. was a key to getting her new position.

"It was a really hard decision to even apply for this new position," she said. "I loved working for Girls Inc. and I learned an enormous amount as the president and CEO."GETTING PROGRAM GOING

Coughlin's first priority in her new position is to get a program called Community Coaches up and running. The program brings together people who have gone through a year of consulting and organizational training and who have agreed to volunteer their skills for 10 days to non-profits in the community through a program called the Jessie Ball duPont Community Building Fund.

"We want to start with this program and then grow it into something that is integrated into everything that we do," Coughlin said. "I've also joined the program and will be volunteering for 10 days to a local non-profit."

Katie Ensign, associate director for the center, said Coughlin has added a lot to the Community Coaches program and to its direction, which is very critical to the organization.

Coughlin faces many challenges in her new position.

"I think whenever an organization is not a direct service it can be a challenge to communicate your mission and your business goals in a compelling way," she said. "Another challenge, which is a challenge for every non-profit, is making sure that your revenue stream is supporting you, and the Nonprofit Center has a special obligation to make sure that our funding is used effectively."

Having been a member herself, Coughlin already knew about the member benefits the center offers, which made her transition to president and CEO smoother, Ensign said.

"Her background, particularly in government, and then also having been an executive director of a non-profit organization, made her a natural choice for this position."

Coughlin decided long ago that working in the non-profit sector was where she needed to be.

"I've always felt like I needed something more out of my work; non-profits have always been that something," she said. ". . .There is something about helping create a more just community that really appeals to me."

When this story was posted in January 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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