LISA RYALS
South Daytona,FL
Summary
Mission-driven, visionary leader with a proven track record of developing partnerships and cultivating high levels of community engagement. Skilled in building cohesive teams and driving innovation to achieve business objectives. Demonstrated ability to transform challenges into opportunities, resulting in significant impact on growth and profitability. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties
DeLand, USA
07.1999 - 08.2024
- Advanced and developed through multiple and diverse roles over a 25-year tenure.
- Facilitated partnerships between external organizations and the organization's board of directors to maximize impact of philanthropic activities.
- Prepared grant applications and proposals that accurately reflected the mission and values of the organization.
- Coordinated large-scale events to engage with donors and provide presentations regarding fundraising initiatives.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, including major donors, foundations, corporations, and government entities.
- Created program to promote new managers from within, leading to cohesive leadership structure.
- Oversaw corrective action plans to remedy structural, organizational and departmental issues.
- Collaborated with executive partners of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to establish long-term goals and strategies.
- Implemented effective solutions to resolve operational problems and mitigate operational risks.
- Supported CEO with operational insights and strategic decision-making.
- Coordinated major project initiatives from planning through to execution, ensuring timely completion.
- Spearheaded the development and integration of operational best practices statewide.
- Ensured all operations complied with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Fostered proactive attitude and future-focused thinking among staff in fast-paced environment.
- Hired, trained, evaluated and retained high-performing, effective and diverse team embodying organizational culture.
- Served as strategic advisor and functional expert on critical strategic and operational matters.
Account Manager (Major Chains)
Royal Crown Cola Orlando Division
Orlando, USA
06.1995 - 06.1999
- Accountable for the Daytona Beach market including overall customer relations
- Generated new business through strategic marketing analysis
- Addressed customer questions and concerns regarding products, prices and availability
- Managed a portfolio of approximately 90 accounts
Manager
Seed Restaurant Group
Ormond Beach, USA
01.1993 - 05.1995
- Conducted daily pre-shift and weekly departmental meetings to ensure organizational efficiency
- Scheduled and directed staff in daily work assignments to maximize productivity
- Efficiently resolved problems or concerns to the satisfaction of all involved parties
- Continually monitored restaurant and took appropriate action to ensure food quality and service standards were consistently met
- Minimized loss and misuse of equipment through proper restaurant supervision and staff training
- Assigned tasks and oversaw the direction of employees to ensure compliance with food safety procedures and quality control guidelines
- Developed and maintained exceptional customer service standards
- Built sales forecasts and schedules to reflect desired productivity targets
- Initiated negotiations regarding vendor contracts and kept updated records of contracts
- Communicated well and used strong interpersonal skills to establish positive relationships with guests and employees
- Managed accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll
- Consistently obtained highest rating from the county health department
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT09-2025
Non-Profit Leadership Institute - Philanthropy And Civil Society
Stanford University
Stanford, CA09-2023
School of Advanced Executive Leadership - Ross School of Management
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI01-2017
School of Resource Development - Developing Strategic Initiatives
Spillett Leadership University
Boys & Girls Clubs Of America05-2016
School of Executive Leadership - Executive Presence and Influence
Spillett Leadership University
Boys & Girls Clubs Of America05-2015
School of Management - Organizational Behavior
Spillett Leadership University
Boys & Girls Clubs Of America08-2014
School of Youth Development - Youth in Cultural Contexts
Spillett Leadership University
Boys & Girls Clubs Of America08-2009
Skills
- Mission Driven
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Sense of Humor
- Stakeholder Relationships
- Partnership Cultivation
- Community Engagement
- Grant Writing and Administration
- Contract Management and Negotiations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Organizational and Policy Development
- Corporate Communications
- Corporate Governance
- Team leadership, training, and development
Affiliations
- Volusia County Department of Juvenile Justice Council Council Chair 2006-2009; Council Member 2002-2024
- Department of Juvenile Justice Circuit Board (Circuit 7) Board Member 2002-2024
- East Coast Human Trafficking Task Force (State of Florida) Board Member 2014-2024 Committees: Commercially Exploited Children, Education/Prevention and Training
- Gang Prevention Task Force, Circuit 7 Task Force Member 2005-2024
- Multi-Agency Prevention Team (Volusia County) Board Member 2013-2024
- Daytona Beach Rotary 2021-2024
- New Smyrna Beach Rotary 2024-current
- Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce member, 2022-current
- Jeep Beach, Inc. volunteer 2012-current
- NASCAR Foundation Youth Initiatives Partner, 2018-2024
- State Advocate for Youth and Families, Advocacy Representative Tallahassee, 2012-current
Accomplishments
- Developed 21st Century Community Learning Center Proposal; awarded maximum allowable funding of $3.2 million from the Florida Department of Education; successfully implemented over five years spanning seven service sites in Volusia County.
- Implemented national pilot for new electronic data system to track membership, attendance, and program participation for 2,000 youth annually with a 15 year data pull.
- Supervised 11 service sites, in two counties; successfully opened two new sites in underserved communities.
- Developed and implemented organization-wide events to support the Youth Development Strategy.
- Administered multiple grant funded programs (approximately $1.2 million per year) to include direct service monitoring, program implementation and design, reporting documentation, staff training, and grant renewal processes.
- Team Developer for most recent strategic plan; single and multi-year local, state and federal funds and private foundation efforts.
- Identified and secured cash and in-kind grants, private and government, totaling over $38 million over 14 years.
- Developed professionally, on a personal level, from a temporary, part-time direct service staff, to second highest executive leader in the organization.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Training Associate Atlanta, GA February 2003.
- Boys & Girls Clubs Professional of the Year 1999 and 2002.
- Statewide Award of Excellence, Multi-Site Project Director, Florida Department of Education, 2012
- Florida Afterschool Alliance, Project Director of the Year, 2012
- Southeast Region Resource Development Track for Up and Coming Leaders, Charlotte, NC February 2009.
- Legacy Member of the Boys & Girls Club Professional Association
- Boys & Girls Club Silver Professional Service Award, 2004
- Boys & Girls Club Gold Professional Service Award, 2009
- Boys & Girls Club Emerald Professional Service Award, 2014
- Boys & Girls Club Platinum Professional Service Award, 2019
- Boys & Girls Club Diamond Professional Service Award, 2024
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties
07.1999 - 08.2024
Account Manager (Major Chains)
Royal Crown Cola Orlando Division
06.1995 - 06.1999
Manager
Seed Restaurant Group
01.1993 - 05.1995
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Western Governors University
Non-Profit Leadership Institute - Philanthropy And Civil Society
Stanford University
School of Advanced Executive Leadership - Ross School of Management
Michigan State University
School of Resource Development - Developing Strategic Initiatives
Spillett Leadership University
School of Executive Leadership - Executive Presence and Influence
Spillett Leadership University
School of Management - Organizational Behavior
Spillett Leadership University
School of Youth Development - Youth in Cultural Contexts
Spillett Leadership University
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