Julie C. Kernan Hired to Help Area Companies and Employees Engage More Strategically and Effectively with Nonprofits, Communities in Need

With corporate leaders and their employees putting greater emphasis on helping the community in ever-more strategic and effective ways, Business Volunteers Maryland, a nonprofit organization leading this effort, has hired a private-sector executive to serve as its new leader.

Julie C. Kernan, who most recently served as vice president of global account management for Baltimore-based Prometric, will take over as Business Volunteers’ president and chief executive officer on January 16.

Business Volunteers’ board of directors conducted their search for a new leader with high expectations and a specific list of requirements, including the ability to connect and communicate effectively with C-level executives throughout the region, said Board Chairman Ron Causey, chief executive officer of SC&H Group.

“When I talk to CEOs, there’s a little frustration. Yes, they want to help. But many wonder if they’re being strategic and efficient enough in the use of their time, resources, and energy. To me, that’s where Business Volunteers can help,” said Causey, chief executive officer of SC&H Group.

Business Volunteers launched 15 years ago as a nonprofit working primarily as a matchmaker, connecting philanthropic businesses and their employees with nonprofits and schools in need of assistance.

While the organization still plays that role, it does much more today. For example, it surveys employees to gauge their interests, interviews decision makers to deeply understand business goals, and creates custom plans that identify relevant, sustainable, win-win opportunities that maximize impact internally and in the community to fulfill their corporate social responsibility, perhaps better known as CSR. The organization also provides board training and placement, a fellowship for rising civic leaders, and team days of service, among other offerings.

Considering that corporate leaders are looking more carefully at their philanthropic endeavors, wanting to maximize the return on both sides, Business Volunteers’ decision to hire someone with executive-level experience on the private side made great sense.

“I love Baltimore. I know many organizations and their employees feel the same and are looking for ways to engage and give back to the community, yet they don’t know how,” Kernan said. “Business Volunteers provides a pathway for organizations and their employees to do this. As our tagline says, it is really important for corporate citizens to ‘Do good. Better.’”

Truly successful engagements between businesses and beneficiaries represent wins for both parties. The recipients receive an infusion of volunteers, thought leadership, and other resources.

Meanwhile, businesses reap a variety of benefits, starting with a boost in recruitment and retention. An increasing number of professionals want to work for a company that cares and gets involved in a meaningful and sustained way, Kernan explained.

“For this generation of workers and those in the future, this is not just a nice thing to do. They’re going to require it. They want engagement. That’s where they want to work; that’s where they want to stay,” Kernan said.

What’s more, companies with a thoughtful CSR plan can further employees’ leadership and professional development through civic engagement. They can enhance overall culture while also contributing to branding and marketing.

Board Chair Ron Causey distilled Business Volunteers into four major points:

• We are expert matchmakers for businesses and the causes they care about in their communities;
• We make it easy for businesses to successfully engage their respective communities;
• We are the community experts, while businesses are experts in their respective industries; and
• Employees love the opportunity.

The interim executive director, Alissa Ganser, will assume the position of chief service officer. Causey thrills to the prospect of Kernan and Ganser working in tandem.

Causey said. “She and Julie are going to be leading this work as we move into the future.”

Said Ganser: “In this job I’m constantly reminded of how many businesses and people want to help. With Julie’s leadership, our internal expertise, a growing corporate commitment to giving back, this is such an exciting time for our organization.”

Last year alone, Business Volunteers supported 58 business partnerships and engaged more than 3,000 people through service projects, training programs, and special events, among other efforts. The organization also completed 42 consulting projects, including research and survey projects. And it placed 81 professionals on boards.