Laura Ayers
1313 Fifth Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3817
ayerscod@aol.com


MISSION

Assist nonprofit organizations by guiding them through transition with sound strategic thinking and tailored solutions to achieve their organizational missions


AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Organizational Development
Board and Executive Director Coaching


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Consulting

Laura provides professional consultation for a wide variety or projects. The following are a representative sample:

  • Chinese-American Association of MN: Chinese Dance Theater. Facilitation of organizational capacity building and development of an operational plan via on-going coaching with the Board of Directors.
  • The Network for Better Futures. Primary operational role for the pre-planning and organizational structural development of a complex new multi-agency organization.
  • Texas Water Mission, San Antonio, Texas. Co-responsibility for working with the organization as it strives to create an operational/board structure that will allow it to grow and meet the ever increasing demand for its services.


Organizational Leadership

  • Executive Director, District 202, 2006-2007:
    Provided overall leadership for an organization whose mission is to meet the unique social, cultural, and educational needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their allied friends, ages 21 and younger. Grew budget to $750,000 annually, supervising up to 28 staff with five direct reports, within the context of a highly interactive youth development framework.
  • Council Aide, City of Minneapolis-Eighth Ward 1996-1999:
    Provided facilitation of special issues (floodwater redmediation, community redevelopment) that required coordination between residents, business owners, and multiple levels of government. Basic constituent service. Attended committee meetings and neighborhood meetings to represent the Council Member's perspective and to gather feedback.
  • Executive Director, No Name Exhibitions/The Soap Factory 1993-1996:
    Provided overall leadership to the organization and facilitated the growth of this organization resulting in a permanent debt-free home, an increase in dollar resources available for artists, and an increase in the number of volunteers working for the mission of the organization.


EDUCATION

B.A., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
Major in European Studies; Minor in French

A self-designed major requiring an undergraduate thesis: From Conquistadors to Vatican II — Medieval Religious Hierarchy versus Liberation Theology in the New World