Consultants praise organization of conference staff

The Southwest Texas Conference is one of the best-organized nonprofit agencies an independent group of consultants has ever seen.
That was the verdict delivered Oct. 27 by Executive Advisory Consultants of South Texas to the Staff-Conference Relations Committee.
“This United Methodist Center is a marvelous, highly efficient and strongly dedicated-to-serving-others organization,” said Leonard P. Zych, executive director of the consulting group.
“The United Methodist Center definitely radiates God’s love and demonstrates a proven ability to manage change. In 20 years of work with nonprofits, this United Methodist Center is the best organization we have observed.”
Zych, a retired Air Force colonel and corporate training executive, acknowledged that the organization wasn’t perfect.
“There are lots of things that could be improved,” he said. “But that’s true of any organization. We were really impressed with the way the place works.”
The Rev. Robert Douglas, chair of the Staff-Conference Relations Committee, said he was “grateful that what we knew about what God is doing through our wonderful staff folks at the conference center was confirmed by the consultants.”
The Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the Episcopal office, said he always knew the United Methodist Center in San Antonio was a good place to work.
“It was gratifying to have that affirmed by independent experts,” Frederick said.
Conference Lay Leader Jay Brim, a member of the personnel committee, said, “It was important for us to take this professional look at how we are treating our staff as we plan for the future.”
The consulting team issued 13 recommendations for improvements. Those included:
> Adopting standardized job descriptions.
> Standardizing and expanding the personnel policy manual.
> Consolidating human resource functions in one position.
> Realigning some staff assignments.
> Reviewing the job classification of three communications positions.
> Reconsidering the salary range for five of 26 positions.
“These recommendations are suggestions,” Zych said. “We are not telling you what to do. They are designed to improve the organization. We hope you will consider them seriously.”
The Conference-Staff Relations Committee received the report, reviewed the recommendations and agreed to implement them as time, personnel and resources would allow. In addition, the committee adopted the 26 standardized job descriptions prepared by the consulting team and retained the consultants to develop the personnel policy manual they recommended.
Zych and five other executive consultants—including two United Methodists—were hired by Fred-erick. They worked from April to September:
> Analyzing staffing patterns.
> Reviewing job descriptions.
> Evaluating human resources policies and procedures.
> Comparing salaries and benefits to those of other nonprofit organizations.
After checking eight independent data sources, the consultants found that “nearly all salaries/wages” were market competitive. Benefits generally matched or exceeded those of comparable organizations.