What Does an Executive Director Do? Here’s a Sample Report

Wondering what your ED is doing? Here’s a sample of a recent update to the Board of Directors. Work mostly involves connecting with volunteers, managing organization operations, meeting with local partners and stakeholders, collaborating with consultants and experts, and conducting marketing efforts to engage the community. Take a look at the outlined list below and see what we’re up to. 

Design Team

1. History Tour
   1. EG is assisting with fact-checking. She has indicated that much of the information needs to be corrected. After rewriting some of the data with Dan Lincoln and other HPAC members, she is doing a final fact check. 
   2. Catalyst Signworks has provided its formal proposal. I am requesting a vote to send them the deposit to begin the back-end process for installation. 
2. Walk Audit
   1. At the last meeting, we decided to postpone this effort until September. Requesting to wait until after the BID and, perhaps, have this be a project on 2024’s plan
   2. I connected with Dave Lustberg of Arterial Streets. Arterial could be a great company to contract with to assist in encouraging a walkable downtown as it currently stands. (Documents of his company and work included)
3. Public Space Activation (pedestrian mall)
   1. This project is on hold until we can determine an appropriate space to activate publicly. 
4. Train Station beautification
   1. I am sending the complete list of requests from NJT following our on site meeting in July. They are consistently following up with us now. A new experience!
5. Banner program
   1. I am waiting for BA to approve the designs. It’s been two weeks since I have sent the images for review. 
6. Plant Solutions liaison for Olcott Square tree/weed management
   1. Continue to request service as needed. Next service following heat wave for safety.
   2. We also paid about $1,500 for watering the hanging baskets until they were removed for drying out.

Economic Vitality

1. Annual Networking Nights
   1. The next event is on September 27. 
2. Meet Ups on Main Street
   1. These will be held on the second Friday of the month to help connect businesses with what is happening and upcoming events. The next event is September 8th from 9-11 am at Starbucks. 

The following projects are on hold until the next meeting.

1. New business welcome kit
2. Business Launch boot camp & grant competition
3. Bernardsville Bucks program
4. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem building for new recruitment
5. Artist Map Updates

Organization/ED

1. Fundraising
   1. Grants – None open at the moment. 
   2. Annual appeal
      1. $22,000 to date.
   3. Giving Tuesday
      1. Planning is in process for this virtual event. We will need a specific project to donate to for this campaign. Last year, we asked for donations for the Ed English Memorial Park. 
      2. November 28th is Giving Tuesday.  
   4. Sponsorships
      1. Haunted History, Murder Mystery, and Wonderland Weekend remain 
   5. Other:
      1. Annual Strategic Planning meeting. Currently, in the volunteer survey, select a date. Please pencil on October 17, 21 and 24 as possible dates. Depending on the response, we may do one of these dates or both 17 & 24. 
2. Improvement District
   1. Steven will be attending the council meeting on 9/25 for a presentation. Options and business owner support will be presented and open for public discussion.
      1. Steven resent the letter he wrote with an essential list of available options for review. I delivered this letter in an email to the council in April.
   2. Asking all board members to assist with business outreach as our previous efforts did not yield enough responses from businesses to satisfy the council. 
   3. Request to consider how to proceed should the BID not go through. 
3. Other Projects and Efforts
   1. Partnership development
      1. Olivia was selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the Somerset County Business Partnership. The awards event is on December 11. All are welcome to attend (ticket purchase necessary). 
      2. National Night Out – Paid Tom Blackstock to take photos for the police department for future promotions and use.
      3. Additional collaborations are on hold until BID is completed. 
   2. Volunteer Management
      1. We must develop a more robust volunteer program for recruitment, support, and project follow-through.
      2. Survey shared with all committees. Responses are slowly coming in. 
   3. Welcome Center/ Visitor’s Guide –  Project on hold.
   4. MSNJ/MSA Standards upkeep and reporting
      1. Feedback discussion is needed for the self-evaluation. We must decide if this is inappropriate in light of recent events and BID efforts. 
   5. Certifications
      1. October 2-3 Transformation Workshop booked
      2. The final course for the Leadership Certificate closes on 9/8. On track for completion. 
         
4. Promotions & other General business 
   1. Updated business list and data purchased from Data Axel. This will assist with a full refresh of business contact information and also includes employee count and other metrics needed to report to MSNJ.
   2. Brand Change
      1. MainStreetBernardsville.org launched. DowntownBernardsville.org forwards to MS. 
      2. Email addresses also updated
      3. Social Media accounts and logos updated
   3. Fall Newsletter
      1. Included with this report for review. Would like to mail it mid September
   4. Ladies Night Out
      1. Tremendously successful event. Seventy-five tickets were sold, and up to 150 participated. Businesses in Olcott District are happy, Bernardsville Center not as much. 
   5. 5K Cancelled for this year. Can consider returning for next fall or another time during the strategy session
   6. Events in process: Haunted History 10/14, Murder Mystery Dinner 10/26, Trunk or Treat 10/28, Small Business Saturday 11/25, Wonderland Weekend 12/1, 2, 3
   7. Discover Bernardsville is nearing its launch!
      1. Please review the app with the test link
      2. The app is easily updated when new businesses are added to the directory. Downloads will occur from the Apple or Android stores. 
      3. Approval to launch from the board is needed, and final payment will be made for the app hosting. 
      4. Will be seeking app sponsors annually to help cover the annual hosting costs
      5. Links to download the App will be found on our website and @ BernardsvilleMuseum.org.