Ballinger|Leafblad is proud to present the following information on behalf of our client, GTS

Educational Events and a retained search for an Executive Director.

Presents.
Executive Director

www.mngts.org

www.ballingerleafblad.com

GTS Educational Events

Executive Director

PRESENTING OUR CLIENTGTS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

HISTORY
GTS Educational Events was founded as Government Training Service in 1970, when the Center for
Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Minnesota convened a group of local government
officials, state legislators, and higher education representatives to address the potential for shared
services in professional development and training. This was of interest given that Minnesota ranks
sixth in the nation in the number of local government entities. GTS was originally structured as a
public, joint powers organization with its governing members included a number of city, county and
state entities.
The guiding principles behind the creation of GTS were to bring together the providers and
consumers of education and training, to develop quality programs available to all local governments
so that each local entity did not have to "reinvent the wheel," and to consider economies of scale.
GTS became an organization ideally suited for addressing intergovernmental and multi-sector
educational needs.
Initial funding came from three-year foundation and federal grants. In 1981 a state appropriation was
secured, which underwrote approximately 16% of the GTS operating budget. The remainder of GTS
revenue was earned through registration fees, contracts for services, grants and private sector
funding.
In 2003, state budget cuts and other external factors created a very uncertain future. In the midst of
those challenges, many clients shared their interest in continuing to work with GTS. And, the
organization realized that the staff's experience and expertise in collaborative efforts had potential
benefits and applications for the nonprofit community as well. Finally, many new opportunities could
be pursued through creation of a new structure, development of new products and services, and
interaction with new audiences.
The governing board decided to officially dissolve the joint powers organization on March 31, 2004,
and member organizations transferred the GTS name, intellectual property, contracts and monies to
a newly incorporated nonprofit organization, with a new board and expanded mission. The official
corporate name remains Government Training Services; however, the name GTS Educational Events
was adopted as the organizations brand to better reflect its work and scope.
Today, GTS Educational Services consults with and conducts educational events for thousands of
public and nonprofit participants each year. The organization watches trends in continuing
education and seeks to expand its services and programs to meet changing needs.
SERVICES
GTS Educational Events provides a wide variety of services to meet the needs of client organizations.
Many of these services are core; however, new services and programs will continue to be added to
reflect changing demands and trends in the adult training and professional education space.

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GTS Educational Events

Executive Director

The services currently provided by GTS include:

Conference services-event planning and implementation for conferences of all types and sizes

Workshop services-workshop design, development, planning and evaluation for a variety of topics

Collaboration services-consulting and assessment services for teams and organizations

Project management-project management and project staffing for long-term initiatives

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
GTS Educational Events is proud of its tradition of excellence and its reputation for quality. Staff
members describe the culture in the organization as hardworking, earnest, client-centered and
friendly, traditional, can do attitude. They believe that the organization is filled with talented,
committed staff with the capabilities to grow programs and add new clients and offerings.
PRESENTING THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Director at GTS Educational Events is a strategic leader who reports to and serves as a
member of the Board of Directors. This position oversees a staff of 11 professional employees. The
annual budget for the organization is $2 million; most of this is earned income from programs.
The Executive Director serves as the staff executive on its Board of Directors. He or she recruits,
manages, and supervises GTS staff, directs the financial operations of the organization and focuses
the organization on the attainment of short-term and long-term goals.
The Executive Director provides leadership to the Board in planning for future of the organization
and, based on Board direction, develops and oversees annual objectives. As a hands-on leader, the
Executive Director handles some direct program planning for specific assignments. This position is
available due to the retirement of long-time executive director, Helene Johnson.

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GTS Educational Events

Executive Director

THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE:

The Executive Director has a broad set of responsibilities across executive, human resources,
financial, strategic and operational areas:
Executive:
a. Provides leadership to the Board by identifying issues and making recommendations
b. Plans and organizes the work necessary to carry out policies adopted by the Board
c. Plans, directs and supervises staff in implementing program priorities established by
the Board
d. Staffs administrative committees of the Board; provides for staffing of other
committees
e. Ensures preparation of agendas for Board and committee meetings which reflect the
needs and direction of the Board
f. Ensures preparation of Reports to the Board, plus minutes for Board and committee
meetings
g. Maintains effective communication, both verbal and written, with the Board
Human Resources:
a. Hires, leads, coaches and develops the GTS staff
b. Recruits, recommends compensation, recommends benefits program
c. Negotiates and writes agreements with all contract personnel
d. Ensures that a process for evaluating job performance is implemented, as well as
staff development plans for all employees
e. Reviews staffing and program needs and assigns staff accordingly
f. Ensures that personnel policies are current and Board-approved
g. Promotes collaborative and productive working relationships among all employees
through building a positive organizational culture
Financial:
a. Plans and organizes the preparation of an annual budget
b. Administers the adopted budget within approved revenues and expenditures
c. Pursues other sources of general and programmatic financial support; prepares
and/or supervises responses to RFPs and preparation of grant proposals
d. Supervises development and maintenance of financial management system
e. Provides reports for the Board with appropriate financial data for decision making
f. Executes contracts; provides for payments and obligations
g. Supervises establishment and implementation of internal control policies
h. Ensures that cash flow is monitored and that surplus funds are invested according to
plan
i. Works to ensure continuation of GTS Legislative appropriation
j. Recommends policies for pricing services and products (in conjunction with Board
Committees)
k. Allocates sufficient staff and resources to marketing to allow completion of yearly
plan and achievement of yearly income generation goals
l. Acts as signatory on all bank accounts and brokerage accounts

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GTS Educational Events

Executive Director

Marketing and Communications:

a. Establishes strategies that enable the organization to maintain and expand
constituencies
b. Ensures ongoing communications with key stakeholders, including consumers,
providers, Board agency staff and Board members, state agencies and Legislature
c. Establishes and maintains an image of Government Training Services which enables it
to fulfill its mission
d. Represents Government Training Services to stakeholders
Planning & Strategy Development:
a. Plans and implements a process for the Board to update the strategic plan annually
and to develop an annual work plan
b. Maintains knowledge of new technologies, systems, methods, etc., and makes
recommendations of how they might be used at GTS
c. Initiates needs assessments and research and development activities
d. Institutes guidelines for program development, implementation and evaluation
which ensure high quality results
e. Acts as content and program development resource to program staff
Program Planning:
a. Handles the direct planning for specific conferences, workshops and projects
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will possess an advanced degree, ideally in Education, Training and Development,
Adult and Continuing Education, Non-Profit Management, Organizational Leadership or a related
field. He or she will have at least five years of leadership experience, preferably in a government
entity or non-profit organization with education as a focus.
A track record of effectively leading a performance and outcomes-based organization and staff is
desired, along with a strong network of contacts in related entities who serve communities.
This is a managerial position. Proven leadership, coaching and relationship management experience
is important for this role.
DESIRED AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Principles of adult education and employee and staff development

Principles and processes involved in planning, coordination, collaboration and execution of
conferences, workshops and other types of educational programs
Instructional methods and training techniques
Emerging methods and training techniques, such as online training, training apps, webinars,
etc.
Various technologies for organizing, marketing and delivering live and online educational
programs

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GTS Educational Events

Executive Director

Experience in guiding an organization through major transitions (to respond to economic

realities, changing client needs, broadening of geographic or programmatic scope, etc.)

LEADERSHIP STYLE AND CHARACTERISTICS:

Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a
wide range of stakeholders and cultures
Strong strategic planning skills and an orientation to helping an organization grow into the
future
Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach and develop staff
Skills in working with a board of directors and the ability to cultivate existing board member
relationships
Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator
with excellent interpersonal abilities
Multidisciplinary project management and organizational skills
Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning
Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed

COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
The compensation package is based on experience and includes participation in GTS Educational
Events benefits plan.

BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marcia Ballinger, PhD
Co-Founder
651-341-4840
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com

Lars Leafblad, MBA

Co-Founder
612-598-7547
lars@ballingerleafblad.com

Civic Search. Reimagined.

www.ballingerleafblad.com

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