Event Details
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
2:30PM – 4:30PM PT
Online via Zoom – This gathering will not be recorded
The role of a nonprofit executive director is full of opportunities and challenges. All too often those holding this pivotal position may feel isolated or alone on their journey. The Executive Director Gathering provides a space to learn together, support each other, and share wisdom. We invite executive directors, and those serving in similar roles, to join us for an afternoon of shared learning and connection led by NAWA’s Executive Director, Neal Mizushima.
This ED Gathering addresses a common leadership challenge: creating staff overdependence through constant problem-solving. Participants will discover how to shift from “rescuing” to coaching using seven powerful questions from The Coaching Habit, transforming their approach to performance management, feedback, and difficult conversations while reclaiming valuable time. You will gain tools to lead powerful 10-minute coaching conversations that develop your team’s capacity, reduce your workload, and transform performance management from dreaded to impactful.
Cost
This gathering is free to attend.
Who Should Attend
All executive directors, and those serving in similar roles, are welcome.
Accessibility
Captioning: We will have automated captioning enabled.
Interpretation: Please indicate during registration if you have an interpretation request. Typically, we need at least two weeks in order to schedule an interpreter.
Visual Descriptions: Presenters will include visual descriptions of themselves and the slides to give a person who is low-vision, blind, or calling in without video a sense of space and place.
If you have additional accessibility requests, please let us know when you register.
About the Speakers
Colleen Malmassari, Back40 Advisors LLC
Colleen Malmassari is an experienced HR leader with over 15 years of expertise in Federal and Washington State employment law and practices, as well as employee-centered strategic initiatives. Recently, she founded Back40 Advisors LLC, a HR consulting practice dedicated to helping organizations optimize their people strategies and back-office operations. Prior to this, Colleen served as the Director of Human Resources at Larson Gross CPA & Consultants, as well as HR leadership roles for two of Central Washington’s largest fruit growing and packing operations.
Colleen holds bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Spanish, and she is certified as a Certified Professional (CP) of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), as well as holds a credential from the HR Certification Institute. The dual expertise in accounting and HR leadership allows her to approach organizational challenges with a holistic perspective, understanding both the human capital and financial implications of strategic decisions.
Throughout her career, Colleen has helped numerous nonprofits optimize their HR processes to better support their missions. She is passionate about sharing practical, cost-effective solutions that enable organizations to attract and retain top talent while navigating the unique challenges of the nonprofit world.
Through her consulting practice, Colleen offers workshops, one-on-one coaching, and customized solutions that bridge the gap between human resources and financial management for nonprofits of all sizes. To connect with Colleen and learn more about her work in HR, please visit her LinkedIn profile. She welcomes connections from fellow nonprofit professionals and is always eager to share insights and best practices.
Thanks to Our Partner
Presented by Nonprofit Association of Washington in partnership with the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
Questions? Check out the event FAQ page or contact Nonprofit Association of Washington
Phone: (855) 299-2922 x108
Email: [email protected]