Signature Projects
Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters Long Range Strategic Plan Retreat
In 2016, Nolan Kerr met with more than 20 fire chiefs from all over the state of Ohio to help them update a five year old long range plan developed by another company. After a day and a half of large and small-group discussions, the group developed a comprehensive plan based on clearly identified goals and objectives. Each action item was assigned a measurable target, a point person, a deadline for completion, and methods to assess achievement. The organization is preparing to update its plan in 2018, and has asked Nolan Kerr to return to lead that effort.
City of Montgomery's Live at the Uni Music Series
In 2012, Nancy Nolan joined the Montgomery, OH Arts Commission, and immediately began to address a lack of performing arts offerings in the attractive suburban community. She and fellow commission member Greg Leader developed a three-concert music series to be housed in the historic Universalist Church in downtown Montgomery. Key to their plan was to offer the concerts free to the public, and so funding was procured through grants and local business sponsorships, including Montgomery Inn and Twin Lakes Retirement Community. The series was an immediate success, boasting standing room only crowds for most of its performances. The series, now in its eighth season, has added an additional three concerts to its season.
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church's March Gladness
In 2014, after a year of helping to develop a program to build the membership and community partnerships of the church, Nancy Nolan led a team in designing a church-wide event to introduce the new programs and services. The evening affair, called March Gladness (held during the NCAA playoffs), incorporated tableside gourmet tapas cooked by volunteers, along with paired beverages, and information about each new program on offer. Guests were encouraged to visit each table and sign up to participate by entering a drawing for two tickets to an NCAA game. The event exceeded attendance expectations by 50%, garnered a substantial number of volunteer sign-ups (approximately 30% of the membership) and created goodwill among the parishioners.
Linden Grove School Re-Branding Campaign
As part of the strategic planning efforts led by Nancy Nolan in 2006, this school which serves students on the autism spectrum underwent a process to change its name from Trinity School, deeming it suggestive of a religious entity. Nolan gathered a committee of public relations experts, teachers and school administrators, and coordinated a visioning exercise led by Mev Wilson of Triad Communications. The team conducted focus groups with parents, external market research and strategic planning exercises to develop its new name. The Linden tree's triangular leaf, a symbol of hope and growth, represents the three-pronged approach to education that makes the school unique in the field of education for children on the Autism spectrum. The team, assisted by Betsy Zelek, was responsible for presenting the new names to all stakeholders, including students, parents, industry affiliates and potential new clients. A special event for the school included the planting of a Linden tree on school grounds, where it thrives today, as do the students of this amazing school.
Self Publishing for The Third Person in the Room
Author, attorney and former WVXU commentator has written a book about her years as a mediator to more than 1,000 divorcing couples, as well as her life as wife, mother and friend. She chose Nolan Kerr Press to guide her through the self publishing process, from designing interior and cover for her book, developing e-book, paperback and hard cover editions, and promoting and marketing. The Third Person in the Room is available on Amazon.com, Losantivillepress.com, and at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, The Bookshelf in Madeira, and Mulberry St. Books in Lebanon, OH.