Jennifer Flowers of Accreditation Guru Delivers Acclaimed Risk Management Seminar at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

Jennifer Flowers, president of Accreditation Guru, delivered a well-attended, well-received presentation at the 2016 Council on Accreditation Conference, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Entitled “Identifying and Implementing Risk Management Strategies” and geared toward the not-for-profit sector, the workshop imparted relevant information for any organization.

“Non-profit leaders and business executives generally focus on their mission and react to adverse issues after they become a problem,” said Flowers. “With so many unforeseen events that can go wrong, it is essential to implement a strategic risk management plan before issues arise, be it a natural disaster, a controversial social media post or an allegation of sexual misconduct.”

The entertaining, informative presentation outlined numerous pitfalls that could shake an organization’s stability and suggested proven policies, like reviewing insurance coverage for any lapses in coverage and involving staff members and boards of directors in pre-disaster planning.

In addition to providing practical solutions to potential issues, from information technology meltdowns to financial problems, Flowers shared a Risk Assessment Matrix that quantifies the likelihood and potential impact of detrimental events.

The workshop served as “one of the highlights of the conference,” said Karen Joy Sammon, MSW, director of quality improvement at Maryvale children’s charity in Rosemead, California.

“I particularly enjoyed the content and clarity of the presentation,” she said. “Jennifer’s knowledge of the subject is vast and I appreciated her ability to tie the information presented back to the accreditation standards’ requirements. I have discussed risk assessment with my organization’s leadership, but never had a concrete resource until Jennifer unveiled the assessment matrix and accompanying guide, which will be tremendous assets for my organization.”

With more than 20 years of accreditation experience, Flowers has served as director of volunteer services and accreditation commission at the Council on Accreditation and held key management roles in both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

In 2009, she founded Accreditation Guru Inc., leading client organizations through the accreditation and re-accreditation process, as well as offering expertise in many other areas of not-for-profit strategy. She leads customized training workshops, holds an MBA in International Management and is certified in Nonprofit Board Education.

Accreditation Guru has helped guide private and public health and human service organizations through the national accreditation process by creating an efficient, systematic approach that has resulted in a 100 percent success rate. Their expertise also includes implementing performance measurement and quality improvement programs, developing long-term strategic plans and increasing the effectiveness of boards of directors. For information about their services and how they can help your organization Prepare for Greatness™, please visit www.accreditationguru.com.

Photo: Jennifer Flowers of Accreditation Guru speaking at her Risk Management Seminar.