Interested in starting your own journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Richard Barton, CEO of ICISF, located in Ellicott City, MD, USA.
What's your organization, and who are your members?
ICISF is a non-profit education foundation devoted to helping people cope with the mental health implications of exposure to critical traumatic incidents. Incident responders are the primary audience for our work.
Tell us about yourself
I served as both a law enforcement and medical responder as a park ranger and eventually the director of the Maryland Park Service. During that career, I witnessed and experienced the effects of exposure to critical incidents. During my tenure, we established a critical incident stress management team that was trained by the ICISF. Six years after my retirement from the park service, the ICISF reached out and asked if I would become the CEO of the ICISF and help lead them into a successful future.
What's your biggest accomplishment as an organization?
I am not the owner, but I am the CEO of this non-profit. My business education, management experience, and leadership perspective helped shift the ICISF into more modern practices of mission delivery, including online training and information dissemination. For example, social media was previously not used to share information or interact with the world. The greatest accomplishment may be the shift to online programs during the two-year COVID-19 crisis when in-person programs were no longer possible. This was classic emergency management at work. Reaction, assessment, adjustment, and manage. Every emergency incident, crisis, or problem can be addressed with that formula.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being an organization?
Being the last stop for every problem that cannot be solved by the staff is always a difficult piece of leadership. For the ICSF, bringing our work to diverse languages and cultures around the globe is remarkably challenging. However, the most difficult single item for any leader is making a decision without adequate information to properly assess the best course of action. Sometimes that is a necessary component of any leadership position.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow an organization today?
- Assess the actual value of the product you offer. Is this something people truly want or need?
- Develop a plan that considers the array of consequences that may occur as a result of your actions.
- Assemble a team of dedicated professionals with good communication skills, a good work ethic, and positive, pleasant people.
Where can people find you and your group?
Website: https://icisf.org/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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