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Ernest Lewis
President & CEO at the Adult Education Center
Professional Background
Ernest Lewis is a highly accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in board development, strategic planning, fund development, and fiscal management. He has successfully orchestrated the growth of various agencies and programs by optimizing board participation and enhancing donor relationships through targeted capacity building and innovative development strategies. Ernest's approach to strategic planning emphasizes a thorough assessment of an agency's capacities and fiscal constraints, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned with the organization's mission and vision.
His extensive background in fund development has resulted in securing more than $20 million over his career, showcasing his expertise in cultivating relationships with foundations, individual donors, and negotiating contracts that significantly enhance funding opportunities. This remarkable fundraising capability is complemented by his adept fiscal management, where he has been instrumental in managing budgets ranging from $50,000 to an impressive $16 million. Ernest's oversight in audit planning and response has consistently led to high compliance ratings, reflecting his commitment to fiscal integrity and accountability.
Ernest is also known for his operational management skills, having implemented quality service delivery at multiple sites across several counties. His focus on productivity and service uniformity has not only benefited the organizations he worked for but has also ensured that the communities served receive consistent and high-quality support.
Further underlining his qualifications, Ernest has created and evaluated compliance initiatives and policies for federal, state, local, and private programs, ensuring that services are aligned with established regulations. This strong compliance framework boosts the credibility of the organizations he has worked with and optimizes funding opportunities.
Additionally, as a strong advocate for professional development, Ernest has focused on creating tailored training programs for a workforce of between 12 and 30 employees. His dedication to fostering employee relations has led to increased team cohesion and mission integration, essential for maintaining a motivated and skilled staff.
Education and Achievements
Ernest Lewis's educational background is impressive and underlines his commitment to growth and excellence in his field. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration and Management from the University of Phoenix, which solidified his strategic management skills and equipped him for leadership roles.
Moreover, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, further enhancing his understanding of business operations and leadership principles. His undergraduate experience includes studies in Political Science and Mass Communication at Xavier University and the University of New Orleans, providing him with a well-rounded education that combines business acumen with effective communication skills.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his illustrious career, Ernest has held several pivotal roles that underscore his leadership and professional capabilities:
- President & CEO at the Adult Education Center where he successfully steered the organization toward innovative educational solutions.
- Founder and Chief Consultant at The Harvey Lewis Group, formerly known as EL3 Consulting Group, where he advised numerous organizations on best practices in operations and fundraising strategies.
- He has held key positions such as Director of Development & Marketing at CarePartners Texas and Executive Director at Queensbury Theatre, where he oversaw both operational and fiscal management, leading to significant advancements in their capacity and outreach.
- As the Fort Bend County Director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, he developed impactful programs that served the community's youth and their families.
- His leadership at the Mamie George Community Center under Catholic Charities played a crucial role in expanding community services and responsiveness.
- Ernest was involved in the planning and development of a 26,000 square foot community center in Fort Bend County, an initiative that highlights his capacity for startup and expansion with a focus on community needs.
In all these capacities, Ernest has not only been a strategic thinker and a proven fundraiser but also an inspiring leader who advocates for innovation and community collaboration.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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