Developing high-impact boards: Skills, strategies & tools you need
A panel discussion webinar
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June 11, 2025 |
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1:00 PM EDT |
Register
Join us for a dynamic conversation on how to strengthen your board through intentional planning, practical development strategies, and essential leadership tools.
Our expert panel will share real-world insights and actionable steps you can take to build a board that’s prepared for what’s next. Whether you're planning for future board composition, onboarding new members, or supporting ongoing development, this session will offer practical takeaways you can use right away.
- Key skills and competencies today’s boards need to thrive
- Strategies for recruiting, retaining, and developing strong board members
- Best practices for building a culture of continuous board growth and training
- Tools and technologies that support effective board development
- Real-world success stories from mission-driven organizations
- Board chairs and executive leaders
- Governance professionals
- Board administrators and staff supporting boards
Barbara D. Paxton
Director, BoardStrong
Barbara Paxton is the Director of BoardStrong, an organization that provides nonprofits access to diverse board candidates with a passion to serve, while helping boards make best use of the talent around the table and preparing new board members to serve as effectively as possible.
Barbara is recognized as a pragmatic and creative nonprofit leader with experience in board leadership, board development and governance, fundraising and finance. Her experience includes working with boards to revise their bylaws, create committee structures and onboarding processes, plan strategically and effectively manage change. From launching donor campaigns to helping organizations develop strategic governance plans, Barbara focuses on results and achieving excellence.Barbara has also been the Chief Development Officer at The Child Center of NY, after having served as the Director of Development at Helene Fuld College of Nursing in Harlem and Executive Director of Children of Bellevue. She has served on the Boards of The Pearl Theatre Company and the New York Junior League, and currently serves as chair of the board of the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice and a member of the Community Advisory Committee of the Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital
Barbara earned a B.A. at Wellesley College and a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Cheretta A. Clerkley
Executive Director, The Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS)
Previously serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the International Society of Education in Technology (ISTE), Cheretta provided executive leadership across all operational aspects of the organization. In that role, she oversaw HR, finance, and technology functions, and seamlessly led the merger process with the Association of Curriculum Development (ASCD). Through strategic initiatives and process improvements, she propelled the organization’s growth from a $20M entity to a thriving $65M+ enterprise. Cheretta held significant positions at prestigious organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), where she served as the Managing Director of Education and later as the Interim Chief of Education. During her tenure, she managed a $22M revenue portfolio for the $30M nonprofit membership-based organization, focusing on transforming educational programs and initiatives in psychiatry.
Cheretta holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland, Global Campus, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism from Temple University. She actively engages in professional development and leadership opportunities. She is an ASAE DELP Scholar and a Forty Under 40 honoree by the Association Forum.
Mary Figueredo
Senior Executive Assistant to the General Secretary, Wespath Benefits and Investments
Mary Figueredo is a Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO at Wespath Benefits and Investment (Wespath). Mary has been employed at Wespath for 32 years and served in several different roles including Customer Service and Benefits Education, she has served in her current role for 18 years.
Mary received a Bachelor of Science degree in Housing and Environmental Design from Illinois State University and worked in the office design industry for several years before coming to Wespath (formerly, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church).
Dottie Schindlinger
Executive Director, Diligent Institute
Dottie Schindlinger is Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, the global governance research and programs arm of Diligent Corporation. In her role, Dottie directs the Institute’s thought leadership on corporate governance and related topics. She also serves as a lead spokesperson for both Diligent Institute and Diligent Corporation, giving dozens of presentations to boards and executives at events around the globe. Dottie’s work has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and multiple governance and technology publications. She is co-author of the book, Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director and she co-hosts the show The Corporate Director Podcast.
Dottie brings over twenty years’ experience in governance-related roles, including serving as a director, officer, committee chair, senior executive, governance consultant and trainer for private, public, and nonprofit boards. She was a founding team member of the tech start-up BoardEffect, a board management software provider focused on healthcare and nonprofit boards, acquired by Diligent in 2016. She served as the Vice Chair of the Board of the Alice Paul Institute from 2016-2022 and is a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar on Corporate Governance. Dottie is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and lives in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, Ron.