2021 Statement of Intent for Curt Baker
Hello, my name is Curt Baker, (on talk I am BobTheMad - very old nickname, ask me some time for the backstory), and I am running for re-election to the DMS Board of Directors. I have been a member since 2015.
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I bring numerous skills and significant experience to the table, including:
- 20+ year IT professional with significant managerial experience
- 10+ years experience volunteering with 501(c)(3) organizations - Including 4 years in multi-state leadership positions
- 3+ years of leadership experience with Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) groups
- Multiple university degrees - currently finalizing a Master's in Business Administration
- Multiple certifications in process & organizational improvement (ITIL v3 certified Expert)
- I make art, and sometimes I'm even satisfied with the results
My leadership philosophy can be summed up in the following ways:
- Mutual Respect: For a group to function, members must respect each other. We will, at times, disagree - but we must never fall to the level of disrespecting each others views, beliefs, opinions, and decisions.
- Enthusiastic Support: Leadership exists to serve the organization, not the other way around. Leadership should enthusiastically support the organization to the best of their abilities
- Radical Honesty: This includes: being honest with each other, being honest with those outside the group, and being honest with ourselves.
- Audacious Optimism: We must all believe that there is a "better way". If we are to improve, we must be willing to take an honest look at ourselves, our processes, etc. and determine if they still meet our needs. Very little should be considered sacrosanct.
- Grit: Sticking with things, even if the going gets tough.
More details on my professional experience can be found on my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisrbaker/
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Accomplishments over the previous year:
- Helped to guide the DMS through the COVID-19 pandemic and to a successful reopening
- Worked to make sure DMS remained in the black, even with the drop in membership caused by the pandemic
- Improved governance and operations
- Located and on-boarded an contract electrician when work at the DMS is required (oh, and he has also now joined us as a member)
- Located and on-boarded a project manager for the DMS Expansion project
- Made initial contacts with school district staff to see if there are opportunities to collaborate with STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) student groups
My high-level goals for the next year for the DMS would be:
- Successfully navigate the DMS through to the end of the COVID pandemic
- Rebuild membership numbers to pre-COVID levels
- Continue and successfully complete the expansion project
- Find a way for members to easily find ways to volunteer, as well as acknowledge those who go above and beyond
- Determine the best solution for project storage while avoiding the abuses that have occurred in the past
- Improve the new member onboarding experience
- Streamline DMS operations, with the goal being to reduce reliance on a few experts in order to eliminate volunteer burnout
- Reach out to the Dallas/Fort Worth education and arts community to find projects on which we could collaborate in an effort to give back to the community
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I look forward to continuing to serve the fantastic DMS community!
Thanks!
- Curtis Baker
Endorsements: James Henningson, Julie Harris, Justin Walker
