Through the Noise

We're excited to welcome Thomas Raffa, founder of Raffa, PC, an accounting firm servicing nonprofit, governmental, and other clients while maintaining a firm commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Prior to forming Raffa, PC, Mr. Raffa had a career at one of the "Big Four" accounting firms but became dissatisfied with the pursuit of profit above all else. With a desire to use his...

Lori Anderson, President and CEO of the International Sign Association joins us today to talk about the organization that "points the way for communities to thrive." The International Sign Association is an organization whose work is crucial, omnipresent, and almost totally inconspicuous to the public. Though signs are an essential aspect of modern life -- without which most of us would find ourse...

We keep it local again today with Arlington County, Virginia's newest County Board Member, Christian Dorsey, who started his term on January 1. Arlington is just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC and at 26 square miles is the smallest county in the nation in size but one of the most dense and diverse and home to the world's largest office building, the Pentagon, and National Airport. As...

After a couple of trips around the world with Global Communities and USAID, we return back to our neighborhood and welcome Justin Wilt, Executive Director of the Arlington Soccer Association. Not to be confused with Arlington, TX or Arlington, MA -- as happens with some regularity by enthusiastic parents from the south and north -- this Arlington Soccer Association is based in Virginia and organiz...

Today on Through the Noise we bring you collaborators from different parts of the development world -- Alexis Bonnell from USAID, who is an "Innovation Evaganelist" and Steven O'Connor, Communications Director of DAI -- an employee owned global development firm. Ms. Bonnell is part of USAID's new Global Development Lab which is undertaking the challenge of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. Tech...

We've recently had David Humphries and Nancy McDonald of Global Communities on the show and today we are pleased to welcome Milton Funes who is the Director of Program Impact and Learning at Global Communities. An engineer by training, he originally became involved in international aid work when Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras in 1998. Global Communities has been operating in Honduras for 35 years...

Today we're pleased to welcome Caroline Scullin, Vice President of External Relations for the Wilson Center -- the nation's premier nonpartisan think tank based in Washingon, DC. Created to honor the memory of President Woodrow Wilson, the Center is a place where scholars and experts from around the world gather to do and present research and to make the knowledge of academia more relevant, digest...

Today we're excited to present a show with two guests we've had previously, Robert Shea of Grant Thornton and John Porter of ACT for Alexandria. When they joined us before, we learned of their collaborative relationship so we're pleased to bring them together to pick their brains and talk about their experience and ideas for engaging their community. While they are based in Alexandria, VA, these c...

Maria Morukian, the president and founder of MSM Global Consulting joins us today to talk about organizational culture change and manages to convert Blake into a giant fan of consultants. She works with organizations that are undergoing (or planning to undergo) a major cultural revamp -- revising and rewriting the norms, values, and behaviors of that organization by including the perspectives of e...

Nick DeSarno joins us today from the Public Affairs Council where he manages the grassroots and communications department. The Public Affairs Council is a nonpartisan association assisting, eductating, training and advocating for public affairs professionals around the world. The public affairs field is comprised of people who work to engage influencers and public officials and the Council is a me...

Nancy McDonald joins us from Global Communities where she works to implement creative programs with youth around the world through community-based solutions. A Senior Technical Specialist, her focus is to give youth a voice in their communities and help create educated, driven, and skilled leaders for the next generation. Like many working in international development, Global Communities recognize...

Shari Turitz of the American Jewish World Service joins us to talk about international development and the human rights work they are doing in 19 countries. The AJWS partners with strong, effective locally-based organizations in the developing world and provides them with resources to make them stronger and even more effective. Their large donor base is driven by the desire for social justice, emp...

As we learn today from Andy Polk, you could be 3-D printing your own shoes in 10-15 years, but until then most Americans are dependent on imported shoes – like the 99% of all footwear worn in the United States. Andy Polk is Senior Vice President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America which represents the entire footwear supply chain from designers all the way to the retailers. Worki...

Today's guest on Through the Noise is Reggie Henry, the Chief Information Officer for ASAE, the American Society of Association Executives. You may remember our previous discussion with ASAE President and CEO, John Graham, but if you need a refresher or missed it last time, find it here. Reggie Henry manages the technology for ASAE and ensures that it is integrated into the marketing and business...

Today's guest is Brian Lagana who represents the American Trucking Associations, uniting state associations, conferences and individual members under a national umbrella organization. While a large portion of the public is anxious about getting their packages faster and faster, the ATA is responsible for ensuring that safety and regulations are adhered to in the face of growing pressures. An impor...

Today we sit down with Richard G. Thissen & Jessica Klement who represent 225,000 members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The majority of the federal workforce is spread out all over the country although many people have the wrong impression that people who work for the government only live in Washington, DC. Ms. Klement is part of the lobbying faction to ensure t...

Today's guest, Jonathan Zuck, is President of the App Association, a trade organization representing the interests of 5,000 companies working in the mobile economy. While the word "app" replaced the word application in the popular lexicon less a decade ago, it's been in circulation in the tech world since the 80s and represents more than just the "apps" on smartphones. Jonathan Zuck has been activ...

Courtney B. Spaeth is Chief Executive Officer of Growth, a consultancy that works with nonprofits and businesses to create plans for sustainable and measurable growth. Today's conversation is packed with valuable ideas you can take back to your own office ranging from company culture to hiring. Business development is "a lot like dating," and needs to be approached thoughtfully. Starting her caree...

On Through the Noise today we're joined by Ian McLeod, Founder of Cleod9, a music production firm that specializes in the outdoor adventure field. Ian is a nontraditional guest as we don't sit down with many people from start-ups but he has some creative approaches to generating clients and buzz that could be valuable to nonprofits ready to think and work outside the box. One of his secrets to suc...

If anyone has ever told you to focus on your developing your weaknesses instead of your strengths, you won't want to miss David Wakeman's thoughts on the subject. Principical of the Wakeman Consulting Group, David Wakeman works with nonprofits to help remember and amplify the value they add to the world in order to become not only more profitable but also more successful. Bringing a business appro...

Is your website running too slowly? Are you missing upgrades from your CMS? We check in with this common issue during our Problem of the Day. Don't leave your organization vulnerable to hacking. Today's guest is Mary Hynes who has been making waves and creating positive change in Arlington County during most of her 27 years there. Initially elected to the Arlington County School Board, Mary Hynes'...

As the United States continuously frets about the constantly rising prices of college education, we speak to Lindel Fields who is taking a decidedly different approach. As Superintendent and CEO of the Tricounty Technology Center, Lindel Fields' life work is to provide educational and vocational opportunities for high school students and adults who are hoping to provide a better life for themselve...

"You could be drinking dinosaur pee," Melissa Meeker points out at the start of today's episode. Executive Director of both the WateReuse Association and WateReuse Research Foundation, Melissa Meeker has decades of experience working with water in the public and private sectors. One of the Association's main objectives -- and struggles -- is educating the public about the range of possibilities fo...

The Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad has a special place in host Ernesto's heart -- he volunteered there for six years. Today's guest is his friend from that time -- Gamunu Wijetunge, President of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, who has been deeply involved in the Squad for 21 years. Despite having "volunteer" in the title, there's a common misconception about how the Rescue Squad works -- it's...

Today on Through the Noise we are joined by Paul Pomerantz, CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Managing a large association with 53,000 members with different specialties presents a number of challenges but one problem facing the ASA is the need to educate the public about their work. A large percentage of the public isn't aware of the responsibilities of anesthesiologists and do no...