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Laura Maker
Director Data & Integration Services at Cloud for Good
Professional Background
Laura Maker is an exceptional leader and consultant at Cloud for Good, where she spearheads a dedicated team of professionals focused on empowering nonprofit organizations through innovative technology solutions. With a robust background in nonprofit development, communications, operations, and board service, Laura has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by nonprofits. Her extensive experience, spanning over a decade, allows her to effectively blend technical expertise with strategic insight, helping organizations to maximize their impact in the communities they serve.
At Cloud for Good, Laura's role as Director of Data & Integration Services highlights her knack for analyzing nonprofit needs and implementing Salesforce solutions tailored to improve organizational efficiency. Laura's suite of certifications, including Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant, Administrator, and Marketing Cloud Email Specialist, equip her with the knowledge needed to drive successful projects. Under her leadership, her team empowers organizations to harness the power of technology, facilitating transformational change and fostering growth.
Laura has held a variety of roles throughout her career, which showcase her versatility and commitment to the nonprofit sector. Before her current role, she served as a Cloud Consultant at Cloud for Good, enhancing her understanding of Salesforce products and their applications. Prior to that, Laura demonstrated her leadership qualities as the Director of Development & Communications at Diverse and Resilient, where she was responsible for raising funds and enhancing the organization's public profile. Her journey in the nonprofit world also includes key positions at Milwaukee Riverkeeper, where Laura worked in various capacities, progressively ascending the ranks to Director of Operations.
Education and Achievements
Laura Maker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art, with concentrations in Photography and Painting from Oberlin College, where she honed her creative and analytical skills. Driven to deepen her understanding of the nonprofit landscape, she furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison - School of Business. This educational foundation equips her with the strategic insights necessary to navigate the complexities of nonprofit operations and enhance organizational effectiveness.
In addition to her roles within various organizations, Laura has also contributed significantly as a leader in the nonprofit sphere. Notably, she was the Chair of the Board of Directors at Fondy Food Center, where she provided guidance and oversight on strategic initiatives. Her commitment to service is further exemplified by her work as a Principal at Blackbird Consulting LLC, offering expert advice to nonprofits, enhancing their operational strategies and marketing efforts.
Laura's reputation as a trusted advisor is underscored by her former position as a Marketing Research Consultant at Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) and as a Marketing Research Analyst at Milwaukee Art Museum. In these roles, she leveraged her analytical skills to drive marketing strategies that enhance engagement and outreach.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Laura Maker has achieved notable milestones that reflect her expertise and dedication to the nonprofit sector. Her Salesforce certifications testify to her proficiency in utilizing technology to improve nonprofit operations and drive fundraising efforts. Laura's ability to integrate data and marketing strategies has led her teams to success in executing comprehensive campaigns that resonate with audiences and expand organizational reach.
In her tenure at Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Laura played pivotal roles that contributed to the organization's growth and sustainability. As Development Manager and later as Director of Operations, she spearheaded initiatives that not only increased funding but also expanded the organizational mandate to strengthen community engagement in environmental advocacy.
Moreover, her fellowship at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread provided her with unique insights into grand philanthropic strategies, enabling her to develop a broad perspective on nonprofit management and sustainability.
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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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