Michael Liimatta

Chief Academic Officer, City Vision College,  2008 — Present

After serving as director of the college for three years, assumed the role of chief academic officer in January 2012.   The decision was based on a desire to get back to being more   directly involved with students and faculty members.   City Vision College of Kansas City, Missouri is the accredited Internet-based distance learning program of TechMission, based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its mission is to provide practical online education to those involved in urban outreach, nonprofit management and addiction counseling. The original curriculum for the college was developed in 1990 as a joint degree program offered by Grace University in Omaha, NE and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.

• Oversaw curriculum development including creation of two new Bachelor of Science degree completion programs in Addiction Studies and Nonprofit Management.
• Led the process of obtaining federal student aid and other types of scholarships.
• Worked with national accreditation, certification from professional associations, and with state and federal government bodies that relate to the college.
• Supervised, recruited and trained faculty members
• Coordinated partnerships with national organizations and local nonprofits for student recruiting and placement of interns
• Worked with engineers and web professionals to ensure the quality of the learning experiences of online students.
• Led the management transition of City Vision College from the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions to TechMission, Inc.

Principal, OneAccord Not-for-Profit,   2009 – 2012

Consultant to several nonprofit organizations in the areas of strategic planning, programming, organizational effectiveness, leadership transitions and fund development.

AGRM, was based in Kansas City, Missouri during my tenure. It is a network of over 300 faith-based agencies that work with the homeless and needy in urban centers throughout North America.

• Founded and served as chief administrator for RESCUE College, an accredited Internet-based distance education program offering nonprofit management training (became City Vision College in 2008).
• Achieved nearly 100% placement of graduates of bachelor and certificate programs.
• Developed initial curriculum college-level courses in the field of nonprofit management. Recruited and supervised working professionals to serve as off-site instructors.
• Led effort to obtain accreditation for the college from the nationally recognized Distance Education and Training Council.
• Coordinated and upgraded the association’s professional certification program which recognizes member organizations that maintain rigorous standards in the areas of health and safety, programming, administration and fund raising.
• Managed training events for professional development and networking of association members.
• Created training materials for counselors and provided consulting for organizations in administration and development of addiction recovery services.
• Served as chief architect of the association’s web site (www.agrm.org), launched in1995, and involved with its on-going development.
• Wrote a regular column in the association’s magazine for fifteen years.
• Worked with a diverse group of individuals in supervising department employees and volunteers, task forces and committees, and worked the association’s board of trustees to accomplish the mission of the organization.
• Served as speaker and lecturer for various events, seminars, and workshops.

Consultant & Web Development, InfoWeb Services,    1997-2003

• Founded a firm that specialized in web site development and Internet consulting for nonprofit organizations and associations.
• Developed web site content, design, and interactivity for over twenty nonprofit organizations and associations utilizing leading edge Internet technologies.
• Consulting with organizations in the area of online strategy, member/constituent services, e-giving and marketing.

New Creation Center in Atlantic Mine, Michigan was a twenty-bed residential treatment facility serving indigent drug addicted and alcoholic men and outpatient counseling programs for the chemically dependent and their family members.

• Established 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation by recruiting first board of directors and obtaining tax-exempt status with IRS and the State of Michigan.
• Developed effective counseling and treatment programs and recruited and supervised professional counseling staff.
• Obtained licensure from Michigan Dept. of Public Health, Office of Substance Abuse Services for the organization’s programs and services.
• Implemented multi-faceted fundraising program including; direct mail, telemarketing, media, special events, planned giving, personal solicitation, and foundation support. Organized capital campaigns for procurement and expansion of counseling and treatment facilities.

Counselor/Institutional Outreach Worker, Midwest Challenge, 1977-1979
Midwest Challenge, Minneapolis, Minnesota – a residential treatment facility for alcoholics and drug addicts.

• Member of counseling staff providing services to alcoholic and drug-addicted men in a residential program.
• Developed on-going program of case-finding/pre-admission counseling to support individuals in hospitals and correctional institutions awaiting admission to residential program

 

Education

• MA in Organizational Administration, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS
• Bachelor of Theology, Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, MN

Ordination

• 1984 – Wisconsin/Northern Michigan District of the Assemblies of God

Specialties

My core competencies are strategic planning, revenue development, program development & evaluation, professional training, e-learning and web development & marketing.

Myers-Briggs Personality Type:  ENTJ

Gallup StrengthsFinder 2: 1)  Strategic  2)  Woo  3)  Communication    4)  Individualization  5)  Achiever

 

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