Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Publications
Awards
Languages
Timeline
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CARLA REA DEFLORIO

CARLA REA DEFLORIO

Association Management
Carol Stream,IL

Summary

Seasoned professional with a strategic and results-oriented approach. Proven track record of initiating and managing change, developing infrastructure, and driving program development to increase revenue. Demonstrated ability to revitalize membership and volunteer leadership participation, resulting in significant improvements in productivity. Excel in managing challenging situations where organizational needs and personal issues may conflict, while maintaining uncompromising integrity. Experienced in developing, implementing, and accounting for budgets of up to $2M. Well-equipped to drive success in any role.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Director, Region and Chapter Services

Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
09.2023 - Current
  • Responsible for developing, planning, and managing IREM's Chapter Services program to ensure a uniform and consistent delivery of services to members, including the development and implementation of strategies to build a strong and sustainable network of chapters and effective relationships with IREM's chapter and regional leaders.
  • Recommended, guided and successfully passed a major model chapter bylaws overhaul that addressed succession at the chapter level, a common issue for underperforming chapters and a major issue for 100% of the chapters that dissolved in the past 3 years.
  • Developed and implemented a 3-year transition plan for change management to enable chapters to assess their long-term sustainability through analysis and monitoring of KPIs and metrics to recommend improvements.
  • Developed, implemented and oversaw virtual and live chapter volunteer education and training and led the design and execution of an annual chapter leadership training that addresses commonly misunderstood concepts such as Board responsibilities to their Association Executive and Association Executive boundaries and limitations. Resulted in improved Board/Association Executive relations and clearly defined roles for staff and volunteer leadership.

Principal

CRD Resources
05.2017 - 12.2023
  • Company Overview: CRD Resources was a consulting firm to associations in the U.S. who needed assistance with small-scale interim executive management services and speaking on various association-related topics.
  • Services included coaching regarding transition to stand alone interim operations using a combination of paid and volunteer resources, overseeing and leading the operation of IRI in an interim organizational mode while definition of the future structure was being determined, advising the Board and officers as the new structure was determined, and development and execution of a plan to transition from interim to the newly defined strategic and operating model and branding.
  • CRD Resources was a consulting firm to associations in the U.S. who needed assistance with small-scale interim executive management services and speaking on various association-related topics.

Director, Support Group and Chapter Services

Depression and Bipolar Support Group Alliance (DBSA)
06.2019 - 09.2023
  • Responsibilities included budgetary and operational authority for Chapter Relations Department, oversight and coordination of efforts for over 100 chapters, 400 support groups and approximately 1,000 volunteers.
  • Created a landmark Virtual Train-the-Trainer to form a core of volunteers to conduct virtual support group facilitator trainings worldwide.
  • Designed and implemented a chapter and support group structure change resulting in a clear succession line throughout the organization.
  • Created a virtual leadership conference from scratch resulting in training over 200 leaders on an annual basis and additional annual donations of over $100K.

Executive Director

Artful IMPACT
10.2016 - 12.2018
  • Company Overview: Artful IMPACT! was a well-spring of creative resources dedicated to making differently-abled people stronger through the arts. With a regional focus and a global reach, the organization leveraged creativity, talent, funding and energy to empower individuals, organizations and businesses through arts experience.
  • Served as chief staff executive for a 501.c.3 arts organization whose mission was to make people stronger through the arts. Responsibilities included board support and development, operational management, and profit/loss accountability.
  • Artful IMPACT! was a well-spring of creative resources dedicated to making differently-abled people stronger through the arts. With a regional focus and a global reach, the organization leveraged creativity, talent, funding and energy to empower individuals, organizations and businesses through arts experience.

Director, Chapter Relations

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
02.2014 - 08.2016
  • Responsible for developing, planning, and managing HFMA's Chapter Relations program to ensure a uniform and consistent delivery of services to members. This included developing and implementing strategies to build a strong network of chapters across the country and effective relationships with HFMA's chapter and regional volunteer leaders.
  • Launched and worked on Board-approved strategic initiative on the identification of necessary revisions to the chapter structure to lessen the administrative burden on chapter leaders and better serve the general membership. Resulted in approval, investigation, and development of eight critical areas and a 3 to 4-year project plan to determine the optimal chapter structure for the future.
  • Conceptualized and created an interactive Leadership Training Conference that included the use of current technology for evaluations, handouts and scheduling and a skeletal outline for each session, leaving more time for participant interaction. Resulted in an 8% increase in response rate and 22% increase in excellent scores.
  • Researched and implemented a new Volunteer Satisfaction Survey to include all National and chapter leaders to give National headquarters a complete picture of volunteer satisfaction scores by individual units as well as overall. Resulted in improved data and a new benchmark for the Board of Directors.

Chief Executive Officer

Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
10.2006 - 05.2012
  • Company Overview: Within a management company-style structure, served as chief staff executive for a specialty certification body.
  • Responsibilities included board support and direction, operational management, profit/loss accountability, facility management, and human resources.
  • Designed and implemented a new brand identity and administrated the launch of new eligibility criteria resulting in better recognition and a 200% increase in certification examination applications.
  • Built industry relationships and collaboration with allied organizations.
  • Initiated and implemented the first strategic planning process in seven years. Resulted in a defined, organization life-extension of at least five years.
  • Conceptualized, planned and executed the first Industry Leadership Summit including industry leaders in a brainstorming session that shifted the organizational strategic focus beyond the certification exam.
  • Launched and administrated the development of the first core curriculum in the disability management/health and productivity arena, including the development and introduction of a new renewable designation. Resulted in two new long-term revenue sources and a $54K increase in revenue in the first year.
  • Developed and orchestrated the operational and financial plan to determine the necessary infrastructure of the new organization including office space, information system needs and necessary human resources.
  • Navigated the change required to move the organization to an association management model which required composition of a Request for Proposals, due diligence, site visits, consultation for analysis and facilitation of board discussion on assessment of options.
  • Within a management company-style structure, served as chief staff executive for a specialty certification body.

Education

Master in Business Administration (MBA) - International Business

Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Bachelor of Arts - Broadcast Communications

Columbia College
Chicago, IL

Skills

  • Organizational change management
  • Operational strategy development
  • Infrastructure design

Accomplishments

2016 Recipient of Association Forum of Chicagoland's Association Professional of the Year Award

Certification

Certified Association Executive (CAE), 4691, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Washington, DC

Publications

Reviewing explore/exploit decision-making as a transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety, Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 01/01/24, 24, 793-815

Awards

Association Professional Achievement Award, Association Forum of Chicagoland, 12/01/16

Languages

Italian
Native or Bilingual

Timeline

Director, Region and Chapter Services

Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
09.2023 - Current

Director, Support Group and Chapter Services

Depression and Bipolar Support Group Alliance (DBSA)
06.2019 - 09.2023

Principal

CRD Resources
05.2017 - 12.2023

Executive Director

Artful IMPACT
10.2016 - 12.2018

Director, Chapter Relations

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
02.2014 - 08.2016

Chief Executive Officer

Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
10.2006 - 05.2012

Bachelor of Arts - Broadcast Communications

Columbia College

Master in Business Administration (MBA) - International Business

Dominican University

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CARLA REA DEFLORIOAssociation Management