NeighborWorks America selects Asbury Park’s, Derrick Griggs, for NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, in collaboration

For Immediate Release

8/01/2016

Contact: Brandon Curet | 732-389-2958 x 4341 | AHA-Communications@housingall.org

NeighborWorks America selects Asbury Park’s, Derrick Griggs, for NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, in collaboration with Harvard University

Program offers leaders high-level coaching to advance organization’s performance and capacity

Neptune, NJ —NeighborWorks America is proud to announce that Derrick Griggs, Chief Operating Officer of the Affordable Housing Alliance in Neptune, NJ is one of 50 leaders selected for the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, conducted at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, made possible in part by support from our generous sponsor the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, is an 18-month program that equips executives with the skills to advance their organizations’ performance. Each participant identifies and clearly defines a specific challenge critical to their organization’s success then spends the program addressing that challenge.

“I am grateful for the opportunity provided by NeighborWorks America and their partners. It’s been over a decade since I have completed my MBA. In the years since the US economy has gone through a recession, the collapse of the housing market, and sequestration. The Affordable Housing Alliance has grown our employee base by 70% over the last 3 years, so it is critical that we grow smartly and continue to evolve with the changing business and governmental environment. The Achieving Excellence Program provides the most effective learning environment to build leaders for today and into the future” said Griggs, when asked what he is most looking forward to taking away from the program.

The only comprehensive training of its kind, Achieving Excellence includes three formal sessions at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, as well as executive coaching, intensive peer learning and guidance from author and consultant Douglas K. Smith. The first session at Harvard University will take place in August 2016, with additional sessions planned for February and September 2017 plus a graduation and final session together with program alumni. Between academic sessions, participants will actively work on a clearly-defined goal critical to their organization’s success and will be working closely with their executive coach and peer group.

“The Achieving Excellence Program equips leaders with the tools to build stronger organizations—more engaged and results-oriented staff and board members working to achieve even greater impact in their communities. This not only affects the organizations and communities but also results in a stronger pipeline of energized leaders throughout the nonprofit sector,” said Christina Deady, senior director of leadership and workforce development at NeighborWorks America

Achieving Excellence has graduated 325 executive directors, CEOs and other senior leaders since the program began in 2002, with astounding results from each class. Independent evaluations have shown tremendous results for organizations that have participated in this program.

In an impact evaluation of a recent class of the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, 72 percent created positive change in their communities, 77 percent raised staff performance and morale, and 100 percent improved organizational strength and results. .

For more information about the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, go to www.neighborworks.org/ae.

The Alliance mission is to improve the quality of life for all New Jersey Residents by developing and preserving affordable housing, by providing services to maintain housing affordability, by providing housing education, and by helping communities meet their legal and moral housing obligations.

About NeighborWorks America

For more than 35 years, NeighborWorks America, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $27.2 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.