Nashville Adult Literacy Council, Inc.
Executive Director
| Executive Director | Ms. Kim Karesh |
|---|---|
| kkaresh@nashvilleliteracy.org | |
| Term Start | October 2016 |
| Kim's Experience: Kim Karesh is a seasoned professional with an unrelenting optimism for humanity. Originally from Indiana, Karesh moved to Nashville, Tennessee more than 20 years ago. She has served the community in the fields of education, environment, and healthcare. She has worked in media, government, corporations, and now non-profit. She currently leads the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC), a nonprofit agency that helps adult learners improve their reading, writing, and English-speaking skills. Karesh earned her BA in Broadcasting at Western Kentucky University (WKU). She began her career as a reporter in Nashville. There, she mastered her abilities to translate complex information into simplified messages. This skillset led to years of government service as a communications director. Karesh was then introduced to the healthcare industry, working on employee communications in HR. As she learned more about the evolving field, she became keenly interested in its potential for leadership and growth, which motivated her return to WKU for an MBA. She spent the next ten years building her operations and revenue development skills in healthcare, growing into executive leadership positions. Karesh joined NALC in 2016. Within the first few weeks, she realized that her previous 20 years had been preparing her for this job. Leading a small non-profit with limited resources, she is required to fill many different types of roles. Because of her vast professional experiences, she has demonstrated expertise in the areas of communications, public relations, marketing, policy, operations, data management, and revenue development. In this position, she needs everything she has ever learned. Karesh is now in a unique position to pursue her true passions. Motivated to provide education and career mentoring for people in need, her personal purpose aligns perfectly with NALC's mission. Karesh exemplifies a sincere dedication to inspire and empower each person she encounters. |
|
Senior Staff
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Whitney Weaver | Vice President, Program Quality |
| Mary Beth Harding | Vice President, Community Development |
Staff
| Full Time Staff | 8 |
|---|---|
| Part Time Staff | 8 |
| Volunteers | 200 |
| Contractors | 0 |
| Retention Rate | 100% |
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? | August 2022 |
| Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? | No |
| 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 | No | N/A |
| Non-Management | No | N/A |
Awards
| Award / Recognition | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Educator of the Year | Nashville Public Library | 2018 |
| Award | Proliteracy America | 2004 |
| Direct Service Volunteer Award, Robert Chandler | Mary Catherine Strobel | 2009 |
| Excellence in Community-based Adult Literacy, Meg Nugent | Proliteracy America | 2015 |
| Frist Foundation Innovation in Action | CNM Salute to Excellence | 2008 |
| Adult Educator of the Year | Nashville Public Library | 2021 |
| Adult Educator of the Year | Nashville Public Library | 2022 |
