NCTech4Good

where tech meets social change

where tech meets social change

Testing Your Website for Accessibility

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Speaker: Don Shin – For many non-profits, inclusion is a core value – and yet many websites and web apps are developed without disabilities or impairments in mind. Learn the basics about the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard, and some DIY methods for evaluating your current web content for accessibility and improving the user experience for everyone.

Don Shin
Don Shin is the founder of CrossComm, an award-winning mobile, web, and immersive app development studio headquartered in Durham, NC. Under Mr. Shin's leadership, the Durham, NC-based company has been recognized as one of the leading mobile app developers in the region by clutch.co, and has been nationally recognized as the the Minority Technology Firm of the Year (2015) by the US Dept. of Commerce. In 2018, Mr. Shin became a contributor to an open source cryptocurrency project; he is currently interested in exploring Augmented Reality and finding smart uses of blockchain for enterprise.

The Exponential Power in Negotiating Commitments

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Speaker: Susan Hasty – According to a report from The Bridgespan Group, less than 20% nonprofit executives believe their executive teams focus on the right work, and only 25% feel their CEO effectively addresses team dynamics and performance challenges.

At the heart of how leaders can create a better structure lies in how commitments are defined and negotiated. Effectively asking for and ensuring commitment is not a part of most peoples DNA in our society. It holds the potential for engaging in difficult conversations.

That’s because the primary obstacle is invisible: the internal resistance that all human beings experience, often unconsciously, when they’re requesting others to make.

Redesigning the leadership model can reveal opportunities to increase efficiency and balance workload. This presentation will provide a a step by step process leadership teams can use to organize themselves to lead collaboratively and improve the quality of volunteer commitment and better manage resources.

Susan Hasty
Susan Hasty brings 40 years of experience working as a CEO and advising leadership teams and organizations in performance improvements. She spent hundreds of frustrating hours leading volunteer efforts and participating as a volunteer. As a Red Hat Partner, she facilitates how leader teams integrate and deploy enterprise digital transformation effectively.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain – Considerations for Non-Profits

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Speaker: Don Shin – Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are hot topics- though few understand how they work. Learn enough about blockchain to understand what it is uniquely suited for within the context of social good- and equally important, what it is not. Also, learn about how to reduce risk when handling cryptocurrency as a non-profit- whether using it for payments or accepting cryptocurrency donations.

By the end of this talk, attendees will have:

* An introductory understanding of how blockchain works;
* An understanding of the inherent strengths and limitations of blockchain technology;
* Key considerations to bear in mind when handling cryptocurrency as a non-profit or accepting donated cryptocurrency.

Don Shin
Don Shin is the founder of CrossComm, an award-winning mobile, web, and immersive app development studio headquartered in Durham, NC. Under Mr. Shin's leadership, the Durham, NC-based company has been recognized as one of the leading mobile app developers in the region by clutch.co, and has been nationally recognized as the the Minority Technology Firm of the Year (2015) by the US Dept. of Commerce. In 2018, Mr. Shin became a code contributor to an open source cryptocurrency project; his current technology interests include Augmented Reality (AR) and finding smart enterprise uses for blockchain technology.

Don’t Feed the Trolls: Proactively Handling Offensive Comments Online

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Speaker: Kat Morgan – We’ve all seen it: trolls’ posts on FB pages, Twitter rants, or attacks in the comments section of online publications, blogs, and webpages. But what do you do? You may find yourself triggered or wanting to just ignore what’s happening. But when it’s your organization’s brand, reputation, and message on the line, it pays to be ready to respond intentionally, mindfully, and planfully. After all, your funders, partners, volunteers, Board, donors, staff, and clients will also see these comments and your response, or lack of one. How do you decide if, when, and how to respond? How do you respond in ways that address the content of trolls’ remarks without stooping to their level? Come explore key questions to ask yourself, scenarios and tools to consider, processes and policies that work. Share your experience and current response strategies, begin to build a plan, or revisit and refresh the plan you have.

Kat Morgan
Kat Morgan, Founder of ChangeAbility Solutions, and convener of Charleston's Reading Against Racism book group, has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. As a consultant, she facilitates organization change, and provides training and coaching services. She delivered a TEDxCharleston Talk on breaking silence when you hear something offensive: Silence Is Not Always Golden (https://youtu.be/dtj6pEqH-gs). She’s passionate about calling people in to difficult conversations rather than calling them out. She's managed online forums and weathered cyber harassment. Her experiences have taught her how to engage in difficult online conversations and how not to.

Many Hands Make Light Work? A Peer-To-Peer Fundraising Case Study

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Speaker: Tiffany Albright – Modern fundraising is a minefield. With more tools than every, more potential audiences than ever, and seemingly less time than ever, how are you supposed to decide where to put your resources? Peer-to-peer fundraising tools and platforms have been lauded as a quick and easy way to engage current supporters and find new one. During this session, we’ll cut through the hype share how the North Carolina Theatre Conference engages their board and supporters in an annual peer-to-peer campaign, and lessons they’ve learned over the past four years. You’ll learn whether this style of fundraising is right for you, where they fit in an overall development plan, and how to apply these lessons to your next campaign.

Tiffany Albright
Tiffany is a director, producer, and writer based in Greensboro, NC. She has worked both as a freelance artist and staff member with organizations like the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Communities in Schools, and Triad Stage. She now serves at the Marketing Manager for the North Carolina Theater Conference. Her primary interests are in expanding arts access for all audiences and in finding ways to more closely align not-for-profit arts organizations with the needs of their communities.

This is a Marathon: Organizational Cultures that Prevent Burnout

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Speaker: Kat Morgan – We focus on creating a better world but what about inside our organizations? 20% of nonprofit staff are burned out according to Nonprofit Quarterly. Maybe you’re feeling crispy or some of your colleagues are showing signs. With limited resources our sector simply can’t afford that. Given the urgent need for our services, the cost of burnout on this scale threatens our impact. What can be done? Would it surprise you to learn that opportunities abound? Many factors create this chronic problem giving us many responsive strategies to address it. We can make changes inside our organization so we don’t cultivate burnout. How would you like to decrease turnover and increase morale? Come learn about innovative policies and simple strategies for creating an organizational culture that sustains you and your staff without compromising impact. You’ll hear provocative ideas and explore promising practices in our sector. You’ll have an opportunity to explore the best fits for your organization.

Kat Morgan
Kat Morgan, MSOD, MSW, has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. She founded ChangeAbility Solutions to facilitate organizational change and provide training and coaching to nonprofit professionals. A fierce advocate for sustainability in nonprofits, she has developed and implemented policies that improve conditions for staff, increasing morale and productivity. She was cited by Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman in their book The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact Without Burnout.

Put Your Own Air Mask On First: Prevent Burnout and Thrive – Kat Morgan

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Speaker: Kat Morgan – Do you check email at breakfast? Eat at your desk? Do you stay late, work long hours, take work home? Had a conference call during a vacation? Missed family or social events for work? Do you work when you’re sick? These rampant habits lead to burn out and the costs of this way is too high.

For those of us in the nonprofit sector, how often do we put ourselves first? There’s more needed than we alone can provide and there aren’t enough resources, people, or hours in the day to do our work. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Come learn about 16 rejuvenating practices that are free, portable, and easy. In this workshop we’ll practice simple ways to prevent burnout and thrive. You’ll learn about why these practices work and which ones work best for you. You’ll leave with a mini-action plan you can implement on your way home.

Kat Morgan
Kat Morgan, MSOD, MSW, has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. She founded ChangeAbility Solutions to facilitate organizational change and provide training and coaching to nonprofit professionals. A fierce advocate for sustainability in nonprofits, she has developed and implemented policies that improve conditions for staff, increasing morale and productivity. She was cited by Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman in their book The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact Without Burnout.

Race in Technology

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Speaker: Rochelle Newton – The discussion of race in technology will highlight the increasing need for employees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math/Medicine (STEM) and the shockingly low numbers of people of color employed in STEM. The browning and greying of America has amplified an urgent need to rethink inclusion. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and Blockchain are poised to disrupt many, if not all, areas of the economy in the coming years. As more companies move to automation, robotics and smart technologies will eliminate many jobs creating vast inequities for people without the skills to compete in an ever changing market. Shared economies are increasing as new innovations come online. With options to share a ride, rent a home, crowdfunding, couchsurfing, reselling, coworking, and other shared economies, technology will change how we live and work.

Race in Technology discusses the impact of emerging technologies on the economy from the lens of race and gender.

Rochelle Newton
Dr. Rochelle Newton is a senior Information Technology (IT) Manager for Duke University School of Law and has worked in IT since 1977 in both the private and public sector. She holds a doctorate in Higher Education with a concentration in Leadership. She is a known advocate for underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). She speaks frequently on the topic of mentorship for girls and women in STEM. She is a subject matter expert in cybersecurity and other areas of technology. She serves as a consultant for companies as the plan their IT strategies. Newton is also a radio talk show and discusses those uncomfortable topics with her listeners. In her dissertation thesis, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), she explored fully online courses highlighting the underlying presumption of a one-size-fits-all model in education and has become a focus of her career. She writes and speaks on the issues facing many non-traditional students, such as understanding the needs of the learner and formulizing that success is more than admission, classroom, and an instructor. She understands that for traditional students, access to education is equally challenging as many are unprepared for the rigor and the social hierarchy of education at every level. In addition to education, race, and technology, women issues such as mentorship, pay inequity, and promotion, food insecurity on college campuses, are also focuses of her speaking engagements. Dr. Newton has authored numerous papers and presented on the challenges faced by women of color in STEM.

So You Have a Lot of Data, Now What?

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Speaker: Emily Patterson – Feeling overwhelmed by data? Between Facebook Insights, Google Analytics and email open rates, it’s easy to collect spreadsheets of digital stats. But using this data to shape your nonprofit’s communications strategy is a lot more difficult. This talk has must dos for all nonprofits who want to stop just tracking data and start turning it into insights.

In this talk, you will learn how to:

– Avoid vanity metrics and use stats to really measure your campaign performance
– Stop worrying about others and start setting your own baselines
– Practical tips for getting insights from your data from a professional analyst

Emily Patterson
Emily Patterson runs Bee Measure, a digital agency devoted to helping nonprofits use data to create more effective outreach and digital campaigns. Emily has worked her whole career in nonprofit technology, including at Public Broadcasting Service and Better Business Bureau. She founded Bee Measure in 2016 specifically to help organizations large and small better use data and do more with limited budgets. When she’s not getting nerdy at work, Emily enjoys the outdoors, reading and sampling the many breweries of Charlottesville, Virginia. Emily is also a PMI-certified Project Management Professional.

Can we make basic cyber hygiene go viral?

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Speaker: Sidd Chopra – We are in a $2 TRILLION war with cybercriminals.
Yet, “nobody seems to realize that we are at war & we have been at war for a long time” admits former Deputy Commanding General of US Army’s Cyber Command, MG (retired) Patricia Frost.
While we may dismiss small attacks, Gen. Paul Nakasone, head of U.S. CyberCom & NSA Director warns “the cumulative effect could be devastating”

You, me, our family and friends, are on the front lines of a technology war with very sophisticated, well funded adversaries.  And we are losing.

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) was created in response to a presidential directive to improve the nation’s cybersecurity. Its Workforce Workgroup published their “Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Job” booklet last year as a guide to organizations.
This session will test a new approach that enlists the arts in a friendly competition.
Bring your instruments, costumes & art supplies, tap into your creative side & have fun helping to save society.

Sidd Chopra
Sidd Chopra is an entrepreneur, veteran IT professional, author, award-winning speaker and the CIO of a medical practice. In his career, he developed critical systems for the Neurotoxicology Department of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SAS Institute, the U.S. Army, and several Fortune 100 companies. He was a finalist in a national public speaking contest and, in 1999, Toastmasters International awarded him the Distinguished Toastmaster Award, its highest award. In 2010, the Project Management Institute (PMI) Global declared him a Subject Matter Expert. He is a founding member of the Indus Entrepreneur (TiE) Carolinas. He served 6 years on a Strategic Advisory Board at N.C. State University and currently serves as the project lead for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity's Workforce Working Group. He is also on an advisory board at Wake Technical Community College. In his quest to understand and reinvent the science of presentations, he has worked with over 150 leading scientists, inventors, investors, professional public speakers, top military generals, thought leaders and government officials to develop cutting edge systems to make presentations more efficient, effective and reliable. He has traveled to over 37 countries on six continents.

Using technology to break down socio-cultural barriers & build economies

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Speaker: Jennifer Atala – In this session, I talk about how technology can be used to break down socio-cultural barriers between traditionally adverse communities, and how integrated use of technology in traditional industries, particularly in developing economies or within underserved communities, can have the multiplier effect of increased job creation, lowered political and social instability, increased human capital, and increased harmony between communities. I will draw on my experience leading initiatives across the Middle East. Case studies include: Leading investment in and B2B partnership between technology companies in conflict with each other to build trust; Advising the US, Swiss and EU governments and partners (private & nonprofit) in how to catalyze growth and social impact and reach underserved communities in technology entrepreneurship ecosystems and related assessment criteria; leading PPP between MNCs, universities and technology firms to create innovative solutions to grassroots problems.

Jennifer Atala
Jennifer Atala is a global business, strategy and partnerships professional with expertise in technology, financial inclusion, and private sector development in culturally and politically-diverse environments. She has led initiatives in eight countries with the US government, international institutions, SMBs and local organizations. With her consulting practice, she has led and advised clients on entrepreneurship ecosystem building with assessments, project design and partnership initiatives for the US and Swiss governments, international organizations, nonprofits and MNCs in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories. This work specializes in catalyzing impact in economies, bridging the gap in areas of conflict and supporting underserved communities, job creation and integrated problem solving across industry using technology and working in public-private partnership. From 2015-2017, Ms. Atala served as the Senior Technical Advisor on the U.S. Agency for International Development’s private sector competitiveness program in the Palestinian Territories, where she led grant-investment and technical teams across seven industries with a particular focus on technology B2B and ecosystem building. In this role, she accomplished the first pilot deal in the garment sector between companies based in Gaza and Tel Aviv since the 2007 political closure as part of then Secretary Kerry’s initiative, leading her team’s market research, due diligence, negotiations and relationship-building efforts. Prior, she was based in Washington, DC, where she led data analytics consulting projects for the US government and multi-lateral institutions, served as the liaison between USAID’s Civil-Military Office and Office of Transition Initiatives and on the US State Department’s Libya Task Force, and led investment process improvement initiatives within the Financial Institutions Group of the International Finance Corporation. Ms. Atala is a Truman National Security Fellow, certified yoga teacher focused on trauma-affected communities, and graduate of both the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She regularly volunteers as a mentor and judge for startup acceleration programs and is on the Board of Directors for BuildPalestine, a social enterprise aimed at crowd-solving development challenges and mobilizing Palestinian Diaspora. Learn more at www.jenniferatala.com. --- N.B. As of March 4, I will be taking on a position with CrossComm as their Director of Business Development, in addition to continuing my independent projects.

Cheap and Easy DIY Usability Testing

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Speakers: Stephen Pashby & David Minton – At it’s most basic, usability is about insuring something, such as a website, works well. Despite the understood importance, many organizations believe usability testing is too expensive and time consuming to fit their budget and schedule. We’ll show how usability tests can be performed both quickly and inexpensively using popular DIY usability techniques. We will cover both analog and online tools for user surveys, card sorting, tree testing, first click testing, and user testing.

Takeaways:
– Why usability test?
– Types of usability tests?
– Free (and cheap) usability testing tools

Stephen Pashby
As Account Manager at DesignHammer, Stephen focuses on sales, account services, community outreach, project management, and providing Accessibility, SEO, and Usability consulting for DesignHammer clients. Stephen regularly presents at technical conferences including DrupalCamp Asheville, DrupalCamp Atlanta, DrupalCamp Charlotte, Drupal GovCon, NCTech4Good, and PHP World. He attended North Carolina State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in computer programming. Stephen serves as a referee for the NCAA and USA Fencing and is a lifetime member Durham Jaycees. Stephen lives in Durham, NC with his wife Amy and cats Mycroft and Phryne.

Classic Website Blunders

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Speakers: Stephen Pashby & David Minton – Have you or your nonprofit fallen victim to one of the classic website blunders? Was it organization by board member, stock photo syndrome, design by committee, vanishing volunteer web developer, or something else? We will discuss 10 classic website blunders we have witnessed that rendered potentially successful projects ineffective engagement tools, and tell you how to avoid them.

Takeaways:
– How to align website with your organizations goals
– How to categorize target audiences
– How to identify appropriate website ROI

Stephen Pashby
As Account Manager at DesignHammer, Stephen focuses on sales, account services, community outreach, project management, and providing Accessibility, SEO, and Usability consulting for DesignHammer clients. Stephen regularly presents at technical conferences including DrupalCamp Asheville, DrupalCamp Atlanta, DrupalCamp Charlotte, Drupal GovCon, NCTech4Good, and PHP World. He attended North Carolina State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in computer programming. Stephen serves as a referee for the NCAA and USA Fencing and is a lifetime member of the Durham Jaycees. Stephen lives in Durham, NC with his wife Amy and cats Mycroft and Phryne.

Using Design Sprints to Solve Meaningful Challenges

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Speaker: Kimberly Chang – A Design Sprint is a methodology for solving problems by designing, prototyping, and testing ideas with users. The process brings together stakeholders on a team to accomplish this work in just five days. Frequently it is applied to website design, but can also be used for improving any experience or interaction that your donor’s have with your organization.

Design sprints are particularly useful for non-profit organizations, who often don’t have the time and money to spend on large design teams for every project.

This session will include a case study on how Fidelity Charitable utilizes design sprints to create innovative solutions for our organization’s goals. Learn the pros and cons of design sprints and the basic structure for how to run one at your organization.

Kimberly Chang
Kimberly Chang is passionate about design strategy, thinking and execution. She is the Director of Web and Mobile Design at Fidelity Charitable, where she facilitates the design of new features and enhancements to multiple web platforms. She is energized by utilizing design to fulfill Fidelity Charitable's mission – to grow the American tradition of philanthropy by providing programs that make charitable giving accessible, simple, and effective.

What Users Want…

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Speaker: Rebecca Beck – As an IT professional, are you confused or receiving mixed signals from your users about what they really want? Today, it’s more than just fixing their issue! In this session, we’ll explore the possibilities to keep your primary customers engaged and satisfied with your support team. Topics will include:
– New features of Windows, Office, and a few online tools that will wow your users
– Options for the flexibility (and security) of remote access and file sharing
– Value-added transparency and why you should be at the next Board meeting
– The customer feedback process

Rebecca Beck
Rebecca Beck is a native North Carolinian, with a passion for all things “technology”. She serves her community as an IT professional, training facilitator and leader in the public sector. She began her career with the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County in 2000. Her strengths include; technology infrastructure planning and development, organizational leadership, and social media strategy. This year, Rebecca engaged in conversations with organizational leaders as a “Curbside Consultant” at the NC Center for Non-Profits Conference. She has also recently hosted sessions on technical and business topics at the NC Tech4Good Conference, as well as, the National Smart Start Conference. Rebecca shares advice and tips on a variety of technology topics via Twitter and her blog, @IfItHasButtons. Rebecca supports the statewide non-profit technology community by serving on membership groups, such as; NTEN (Non-Profit Technology Network), NC Tech4Good, and the NCLGISA (North Carolina Local Government Information Systems Association). In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys attending statewide festivals and events, shopping at the local farmer’s market, and relaxing along the beautiful, North Carolina coastline.

Lessons Learned From a Year in IT

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Speaker: Rebecca Beck – This session will provide an overview of the the highlights of my experience as the leader of an IT service department this year. We will discuss ways to reduce costs in your IT budget, hiring for the right “IT professional”, the challenges and opportunities that are on the horizon for public sector IT, and why having a leadership coach during this process might be the best therapy that money can buy!

Rebecca Beck
Rebecca Beck is a native North Carolinian, with a passion for all things “technology”. She serves her community as an IT professional, training facilitator and leader in the public sector. She began her career with the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County in 2000. Her strengths include; technology infrastructure planning and development, organizational leadership, and social media strategy. This year, Rebecca engaged in conversations with organizational leaders as a “Curbside Consultant” at the NC Center for Non-Profits Conference. She has also recently hosted sessions on technical and business topics at the NC Tech4Good Conference, as well as, the National Smart Start Conference. Rebecca shares advice and tips on a variety of technology topics via Twitter and her blog, @IfItHasButtons. Rebecca supports the statewide non-profit technology community by serving on membership groups, such as; NTEN (Non-Profit Technology Network), NC Tech4Good, and the NCLGISA (North Carolina Local Government Information Systems Association). In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys attending statewide festivals and events, shopping at the local farmer’s market, and relaxing along the beautiful, North Carolina coastline.

International Tech for Good: Lessons for US from across the Globe

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Speaker: Mark Smith – Many members of NC Tech for Good are engaged with International Tech for Good projects. This session will bring together a panel of members from International Tech for Good projects and share our experiences working on Tech for Good across the globe.

We will ask participants is to focus on what works, and what doesn’t:
* Strengthening Systems in other countries
* Integration with local cultures and customs
* Navigating politics
* Avoiding the stigma of the “Ugly American”

We will ask the panel to also relate how those lessons learned from international Tech for Good work apply locally as well.

Each invitee will be asked to focus on telling stories, especially on “Antipatterns.” Antipatterns bring out the lessons learned and focus on what NOT to do in the future. When done with respect and humor, sharing lessons learned especially what did not work enriches us all!

Panel experiences range from International Health projects, IT projects, and Clean Technologies.

Mark Smith
Mark R Smith is a Maker, a Systems Architect & Engineer by trade, on a quest: uniting his skill as an engineer and educator with a passionate interest in Tech-for-Good projects. Mark’s special missions currently involve collaboration with organizations that encourage healthy and environmentally sustainable technologies and services.

Powerful Listening: Stories and Strategies

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Speakers: Liza Hoos & Rachel Healy – There’s plenty of marketing advice on targeting ideal donors, creating a consistent message, and telling your organization’s story. But what about listening to your audience? Active listening can be transformative, strengthening your relationship with donors, galvanizing your supporters, and energizing your team. In this interactive presentation, we’ll draw on what we’ve learned from our time interviewing 100+ people over the years to help you develop powerful listening skills.

Liza Hoos and Rachel Healy
Liza Hoos and Rachel Healy believe in the power of video to change the world. They run Open Eye Creative, a Durham-based marketing firm that helps organizations increase donations, gain visibility, and connect with their community through video. Together they have more than 15 years' experience in video production and have completed documentary projects all over the world, from coastal communities in Mexico to the island of Palau.

Developing E-Learning Courses on a Limited Budget

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Speaker: Alicia Light – In a world where everyone wants the best products for the cheapest amount of money, training professionals have to get creative! Do you have a resource you can share or do you need one? This session will go over various resources that you can start using today to develop e-learning courses on a limited budget. From free trial’s worth checking out to free or affordable resources, everyone will walk away with something they can use to create better products.

Alicia Light
Alicia Light has been working as the Instructional Design Technologist at the Center for Family and Community Engagement since 2017. She started as an Instructional Designer at TBC Corporation in 2016. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication from the University of Central Florida. She graduated with her Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from Florida Atlantic University in Spring 2018. She has a background working with families and people in need while serving in AmeriCorps. While in AmeriCorps, she facilitated and developed the educational training program that dispelled homeless stereotypes across Palm Beach County. Her passion lies in all things education and thoroughly enjoys creating and leveraging engaging content and activities in order to facilitate higher learning in students. Alicia has worked with various software programs and technology in order to create on-demand trainings, live trainings, and blended trainings. She enjoys to using her out of the box thinking and problem solving skills in order to promote trainings that excite and engage adult learners across North Carolina.

Email Marketing: Deliverability & Engagement: How does your newsletter score?

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Speaker: Birgit Pauli-Haack – When setting out on email marketing some of us pay a lot of attention to open and click rates. Those numbers are only really of value once you make sure your email actually lands in someone’s inbox. In fact, 21 % of opt-in email don’t make it into the inbox. And it seems to get harder and harder to get consistent engagement out of your emails.

In this session, we will discuss barriers to deliverability, what influences the open rate and also what prevents your content from being seen. We explore how mobile email reading affects your email design and open rate. Find out your overall domain score for ‘good’ emailer. We will also discuss methods to increase engagement and methods beyond email marketing providers to send bulk emails directly into supporters inboxes.

We want you to benefit from the wisdom in the room and get input from fellow conference attendees. This will be a highly interactive session.

Birgit Pauli-Haack
Birgit Pauli-Haack is a web & mobile developer for Pauli Systems. She serves businesses, professionals and nonprofits with websites, mobile apps and digital marketing. In 2015, she founded NPTechprojects - a nonprofit assisting other nonprofits with IT strategy, project management, and online learning spaces. In her spare time, she supports the WordPress Global Community Team as a deputy and a local Meetup organizer. Since 2013, she is also a NTEN Tech club co-organizer of Tech4Good SWFL and a Netsquared Regional Ambassador at TechSoup. When she gets off the computer, she plays tennis or goes for a run.

Email Marketing for Non-Profits: Supporting Your C.A.U.S.E.

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Speaker: Hank Hoffmeier – Learn how to Create Awareness Using Strategic Email (C.A.U.S.E.). As a non-profit, your focus needs to be on fulfilling your mission. Email Marking is the workhorse that will help you increase awareness, donations, event registration, and volunteer participation.

You will learn:

Why email marketing is the best marketing channel for non-profits
What templates and content will help your cause
How to effectively target your audience and improve your results

Hank Hoffmeier
Hank is an author, speaker, podcast host and Strategic Insights Manager at iContact. With a passion for all things digital and social, combined with more than 18 years of experience in sales and marketing, Hank enjoys partnering with organizations large and small to improve their marketing strategy.

Non-Profit Presentation Slides

Digital Badges for Workforce Development

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Speaker: Randall Hayes – Digital badges are a game industry standard, but they have much broader implications. Imagine a world where literally every activity you love, from a science fiction convention to a historical re-enactment (like the Battle of Guilford Courthouse) could contribute to your resume, in a transparent and machine-checkable way. Mozilla’s Open Badges could make this happen.

Randall Hayes
Randall Hayes is a neuroscientist and entrepreneur, working to make education both relevant and profitable for all involved. After a Fulbright Specialist trip to India last fall, he's back in Greensboro.

Digital Equality and Access for All

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Speaker: John Samuel – Today, nearly 20% of Americans live with a disability — and digital content is difficult or impossible for them to navigate, understand and consume.

Digitally equitable content is designed to create a universal experience that is inclusive of people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or those with cognitive and/or physical disabilities, such as the inability to use a mouse.

When organizations see people with disabilities use their website, it raises empathy and awareness of accessibility issues. Therefore, we will demonstrate how blind users navigate the web, using assistive technology, and share best practices for making your website accessible for all people!

John Samuel
John G. Samuel is an innovative business development expert, with over thirteen years of experience building strategic partnerships, designing profitable business models, and transforming organizations around the world. He is currently leading the technology service strategy for LCI, one of the largest employers of Americans who are blind, with responsibility for building the new LCI Tech business. He has a proven record of accomplishment of leading startup initiatives, most recently helping build Homestrings – Movement Capital, an USAID backed crowdfunding platform, and previously starting a Joint Venture in Cameroon for Aster, a global telecom infrastructure company, where he generated over $45 million in revenue and brought internet access to millions of people across Africa. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from North Carolina State University, Poole College of Management and a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University, School of Business. John is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).

Web Design Patterns for Nonprofits

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Speaker: Brigit Pauli-Haack – We’ve read a lot of “Trends” articles and listicles at the beginning of 2019. If we are honest, the basics have not changed between 2017, 2018 or 2019. So let’s talk about the Website Design Patterns. What is it you and your organization would need to work on to better reach your constituents and supporters? How can you make online donations easier on mobile devices? How can more people learn about your organization, your cause and your events?

We revisit how the basic online interactions change depending on device, speed and goals.

Birgit Pauli-Haack, co-founder of NPTechProjects, will lead a discussion among attendee nonprofits about storytelling and donor experiences. Amid the cacophony of the internet noise, how can your organization reach the next level and stay relevant to supporters, donors and ambassadors.

Enter the country where every page is a landing page, every post has a call to action, and every story is told in multimedia.

Birgit Pauli-Haack
Birgit Pauli-Haack is a web & mobile developer for Pauli Systems. She serves businesses, professionals and nonprofits with websites, mobile apps and digital marketing. In 2015, she founded NPTechprojects - a nonprofit assisting other nonprofits with IT strategy, project management, and online learning spaces. In her spare time, she supports the WordPress Global Community Team as a deputy and a local Meetup organizer. Since 2013, she is also an NTEN Tech club co-organizer of Tech4Good SWFL and a Netsquared Regional Ambassador at TechSoup When she gets off the computer, she plays tennis or goes for a run.

The Future of Energy is Sustainable

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Speaker: Girard Newkirk – Discussing blockchain technology and renewable energy. Giving perspective on how a renewable energy based future can remove barriers to energy access, empower millions and create a dynamic green economy.

Girard Newkirk
Girard Newkirk is Founder and CEO of KWHCoin. A green technology company with a mission to connect the over 1.2 billion people around the world that are off grid to renewable electricity. Before founding KWHCoin in 2017, Girard Newkirk was Vice President for Macys in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley Market. KWHCoin won the Regional Startup World Cup Championship in Nairobi, Kenya in 2018 and the company has developed blockchain courses for Cape Fear Community College. Girard is a social entrepreneur and measures success on social impact as well as profits.

Cyber Risk Management

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Speaker: Rob Arnold – Small organizations, including nonprofits, have become the latest target for hackers, hacktivists, and adversarial nation-states. These bad actors see small organizations as easy targets and pathways through which they can breach larger organizations. Learn how board members and executive directors can make organizations more resilient through the lens of cyber risk management.

Rob Arnold
Rob Arnold is the CEO of Threat Sketch, a strategic cyber risk management firm helping small organizations manage cybersecurity at the executive level. Mr. Arnold completed his graduate studies in information security at East Carolina University and is ISACA certified in risk and information systems control. He is the author of Cybersecurity: A Business Solution, and has testified before Congress on the subject of cybersecurity. Nationally, he is a member of the IT Sector Coordinating Council, BENS, Infragard, and two National Small Business Association councils. Active in his local community, Mr. Arnold is a founding member of the Piedmont Triad Cyber Round Table and serves on the board of the Forsyth Technology Community College’s cybersecurity program, which is a certified NSA Center of Academic Excellence.

From the Trees to the Forest, A Data Journey

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Speaker: Ian Henshaw – This session will look at the beginning of a journey of data exploration into the management of a non-profit. Starting with a few data points presented in monthly staff reports, and moving to data analysis to support an intensive effort to understand the indicators that will allow us to manage the organization to have a bigger and longer lasting impact. The journey starts with data presenting questions (like: “How much information can you get out of existing staff reports?”) and moving to what data we need to collect to get to real answers and understanding. The story is about The Carying Place, a transitional housing program in Cary, NC “Caring, Helping & Equipping Wake County Families for Living”.

Ian Henshaw
As a technology evangelist Ian is involved in the open economy, entrepreneurial development and data management/analysis. Deeply involved with the demand side of information from the entrepreneurial and civic communities and managing projects with many multiple stakeholders. Ian is currently serving as the Vice President of the Board for The Carying Place.

Becoming a Digital Nonprofit

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Speaker: Trish Perkins – Organizations that want to move operations to the Cloud are having mixed results: folks are resistant to change, data is often siloed in spreadsheets and private databases, the staff is not trained to cope with the internet on top of what else they have to do and the IT folks are afraid they might be becoming redundant. Success rates sometimes look disappointing.

Meeting the challenge to manage the move to all-digital can be daunting, but I’d like to look at some new approaches that are getting attention in the Salesforce business world that might translate into more success in the nonprofit sector as well. Leadership, experimentation, creating consistent constituent-centered experiences, assigning product managers and letting them determine funding, aligning values with services you provide, making what we do both data-driven and goal-oriented at the same time– these are some of the topics I’ll address.

Trish Perkins
Trish has been providing tech services to nonprofits in the US and around the world since 2003. In 2009, she began specializing in Salesforce CRM implementation and training. Trish does fundraising, volunteer and program management customizations of Salesforce as well as streamlining for small nonprofits that want simplicity. She has clients in Ethiopia, Nepal, India, and Cambodia where she works onsite for room and board. Her US clients' fees pay her airfare.

Disasters Need Tech Superheroes

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Speaker: Melanie Davis-Jones – After a disaster, attention goes to immediate relief yet long-term recovery takes years. In NC, 3 major hurricanes in 2 years mean many are now in a continual process of recovery. Post-disaster donations cease when media coverage stops (about 1 month later) so it is critical that funding goes where it’s most needed.
Funders and NGOs seek county-by-county data to aid recovery. Either it doesn’t exist or the information is quickly outdated. Tech could be the superhero of disaster-recovery efforts here in NC, nationally and globally with a solution for digital, real-time access to needs on a county (or even a community) level.
Session would include a reverse pitch style presentation — 10 minutes to set up the issues related to disaster recovery, with a focus on Hurricane Florence; 35 minutes for teams to work on solutions; 15 minutes to present ideas.
As the frequency and severity of disasters increase worldwide, tools to help rebuild lives quicker will be transformational.

Melanie Davis-Jones
Melanie Davis-Jones is the Director of Marketing & Communications with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a national nonprofit based in Washington DC, focused on supporting medium to long-term recovery after U.S. and global disasters. Davis-Jones is based in Raleigh, NC where she served as Chief Strategy Officer for United Way of the Greater Triangle. She designed and led its innovation challenges, centered on bringing entrepreneurial thinking to nonprofits and underrepresented communities. She is a graduate of Duke University.

NCTech4Good, an affiliate of NTEN and TechSoup’s NetSquared, is the local resource for nonprofit technology information. Join the sharing and networking at monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. usually at UNC-TV, and our annual conference, https://www.nct4g.org/. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @nctech4good, and with the hashtag #nct4g.