First Steps, Inc.
Executive Director
| Executive Director | Ms. Heather Higgins |
|---|---|
| hhiggins@firststepsnashville.org | |
| Term Start | March 2005 |
| Heather's Experience: 2018 Finalist for the CNM Salute to Excellence CEO of the Year. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Kentucky, Master of Arts Program in Psychology at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. First Steps, Inc. Community Outreach Program Director, Early Intervention Classroom and Outreach Teacher, University of Tennessee Graduate Research Assistant in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Co-authored a publication in APA Journal on work teams. 15 years experience in management, early intervention programming, advocating for families of children with special needs. Has expertise in programs and community awareness, while serving on committees for Local Interagency Coordinating Council, Caring for Children Council and Early Intervention Providers Network. | |
Senior Staff
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Ms. Karla Garig | Director of Finance |
| Ms. Rosario Langlois | Outreach Program Director |
| Ms. Chris Anderson | Therapy Program Director |
| Tabitha Hadlow | Child Development Center Director |
| Erica Wendt | Director of Programs |
| Kelli Jo Hazen | Human Resources Manager |
| Beverly Grant | Director of Philanthropy |
Staff
| Full Time Staff | 45 |
|---|---|
| Part Time Staff | 8 |
| Volunteers | 60 |
| Contractors | 10 |
| Retention Rate | 66% |
Plans & Policies
| Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Does your organization have a Strategic Plan? | Yes |
| Years Strategic Plan Considers | 3 |
| When was the Strategic Plan adopted? | June 2023 |
| Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? | Under Development |
| Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? | Yes |
Evaluation
| Is there a formal evaluation for... | Frequency (if applicable) | |
|---|---|---|
| CEO/Executive Director | Yes | Annually |
| Senior Management | Yes | Semi-Annually |
| Non-Management | Yes | Annually |
Affiliations
| Affiliation | Year |
|---|---|
| Center for Nonprofit Management CEO Network | 2015 |
| Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network | 2003 |
| Childcare Nashville | 2022 |
| Nashville Area Association for Young Children (NAAYC) | 2006 |
| Nashville Area Association for Young Children (NAAYC) | 2012 |
| National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) | 2006 |
External Assessments and Accreditations
| Assessment/Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|
| Three Star Rating | 2023 |
Awards
| Award / Recognition | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Access to Care Finalist | Baptist Healing Trust | 2011 |
| Innovation in Action Award Finalist | Frist Foundation | 2013 |
| Making A Difference | Frist Foundation | 2003 |
| Marvin Runyon Leadership Award | Center for Nonprofit Management | 2002 |
| Nonprofit Innovation Award | Peter F. Drucker School of Management | 2004 |
| Three Star Quality Child Care | Tennessee Dept. of Human Services | 2005 |
| Truist CFO of the Year Award Finalist | Center for Nonprofit Management | 2022 |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| I am honored to be serving First Steps, Inc. in the role of Executive Director. Having been involved with the agency for 23 years as a service provider, a parent, and an administrator I am closely connected to the services we provide and the children and families we are privileged to serve. My goal is to continue the standard of excellence we have set for ourselves and establish relationships that will allow us to continue our work for many years to come. |
