Leading up to the Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s Annual Celebration on October 18, we are delighted to share with you insights from the finalists for the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2011 EXCEL Award. This award recognizes and spotlights outstanding leadership among Washington-area nonprofit chief executives.

PRS exists so that individuals with mental illness, emotional and/or behavioral disorders achieve personal wellness, recovery and community integration. Their unique role in the community enables PRS to explore and quickly implement innovative models of service and program delivery while maintaining close relationships with clients, their families and the community at large.

Meet finalist Wendy Gradison, president and CEO of PRS, Inc.

Tell us about your leadership style and how this contributes to your organization’s success.

My leadership style is one of continuous evaluation so that PRS is the best that it can be. I purposefully try to create an environment that supports staff growth and success, encourages new and creative ideas as well as direct and forthright feedback from all levels of the organization. The result is that all staff own and are responsible for the ongoing improvement of PRS as well as for our success in partnering with our clients, who through the skill training and support they receive from our outstanding PRS staff, move forward in their recovery from mental illness and other emotional and behavioral disorders.

What advice would you offer for other nonprofit leaders?

Get very clear about how to articulate what the results are that your organization seeks to create - for what reason do you exist? Develop systems and processes to measure how well your goals/results are being met. Focus uncompromisingly on data and outcomes (the results of the services you provide as well as financial, infrastructure and employee well-being and satisfaction) because you cannot improve what you cannot measure.   Prioritize creating and maintaining a supportive and positive work culture that helps all staff succeed. Create a culture of accountability at all levels.

What does this award mean for you and your organization?

It means everything to PRS. It is validation for the outstanding results achieved by everyone at PRS to help individuals with mental illness, emotional and/or behavioral disorders achieve personal wellness, recovery and community integration.  It is confirmation of the hard work that the PRS Board of Directors and staff have engaged in together, to mutually support one another so that our outcomes are achieved using community resources effectively and efficiently.  It means that we will have additional opportunities to stretch and grow together to serve even more people in need.