I have said it a number of times and will continue to say that some of my best employees started as PULSE fellows.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. The Conservancy creates green spaces and gardens, contributing to the vitality of our cities and towns, and preserves Fallingwater, a symbol of people living in harmony with nature.
Art Demeo is the Director of the Community Greenspace Services of The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. In the following interview he talks about the experience of partnering with PULSE.
CC: Why did your organization decide to work with PULSE?
AD: We had an employee that was a PULSE fellow. She suggested we look into it. We met great candidates. The costs worked within our budget. We were hooked.
CC: What is the most rewarding part of working with PULSE?
AD: The most rewarding part is seeing PULSE fellows become a part of the team. They have integrated well in the Community Greenspace community at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. It is also great to see them stay in Pittsburgh and become a permanent part of the community.
CC: How has your partnership with PULSE impacted your organization?
AD: Many PULSE fellows have become employees at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. They continue to help my programs go, providing much needed capacity building in the organization. Each one has helped me take our work to the next level by bringing new ideas and solving problems. All of this has enabled me to do my job better.
CC: What do you like most about your current PULSE fellow and/or other fellows you’ve worked with?
AD: I personally don’t have a PULSE fellow this year in my department, although PULSE Fellow Brian Charles is serving with Community Forestry and TreeVitalize of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Last year’s fellow, Jessie Smucker has become one of my most reliable field staff. PULSE fellows’ ability to solve problems and work as a part of the team always stands out to me when I think about them.
CC: What would you tell other Pittsburgh nonprofits about PULSE?
AD: I tell them that PULSE is an amazing program. PULSE fellows are intelligent, grounded and provide much needed support and capacity-building to organizations. I have said it a number of times and will continue to say that some of my best employees started as PULSE fellows. I look forward to partnering with the program for a long time.
Check out more great Partner Stories.
This is part of a series of posts about the Nonprofit Partner experience with PULSE. If you would like to learn more about a Nonprofit Partnership, please visit our Partner Page.