Leadership Roundtable
Building Board Advocacy & Communications
Thursday, June 25th, 2026 | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI
One of the key responsibilities of being a board member is to serve as an advocate for the organization on whose board you sit. This free roundtable is designed for nonprofit board members and leaders who want to strengthen board engagement through clear, confident, and authentic communication. Facilitated by Michelle Dejno, Executive Vice President of O'Connor Connective, we will explore what effective board advocacy really looks like, how to equip board members with simple messaging tools, and how to build a culture of consistent communication that feels natural, not scripted.
Program Outcomes:
By the end of this session, board members will:
- Understand their role as mission advocates (not marketers)
- Have 2-3 clear messages they can confidently share
- Commit to at least one realistic advocacy action
About the Facilitator:
Michelle Dejno, Executive Vice President of O'Connor Connective
Michelle joined the O'Connor Connective team in 2018 with more than 25 years of experience in strategic marketing communications - as an executive, a consultant, a facilitator, and an educator in industries such as retail, education, health care, hospitality, entertainment, financial services, and telecommunications as well as nonprofit organizations.
As Executive Vice President and project manager at O'Connor Connective, Michelle offers strategic guidance for clients, including leading feasibility and voice of customer research, developing communication plans, and overseeing implementation to achieve those plans' goals. Michelle is passionate about helping you craft your story and find creative, effective ways to share it.
To read Michelle's full bio, click here.
Registration Fee:
Leadership roundtables are free to nonprofit organizations within the NPLI service region of Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties.
Roundtable attendance is capped at 40 participants to allow space and time for sharing. Priority attendance is given to organizations within the NPLI service region. If you are not located in the counties listed above, your registration will be placed on a waitlist pending space availability. You will be notified one week prior to the roundtable if there is capacity.
