1. The Challenge
The Senior Center is facing a significant operational and financial challenge: a monthly deficit, a hiring freeze, and a dedicated but overworked staff who are struggling to complete their jobs within their paid hours. I spoke to multiple staff members to learn this.
My goal is to help you solve this. With over a decade of experience running and optimizing operations for small and medium-sized organizations, I can help you identify opportunities for efficiency. The objective is not to cut costs, but to increase your team's capacity, allowing them to accomplish their work without burnout.
2. How I'll Help
My approach is a two-phase process designed for maximum impact while avoiding disruption.
Phase 1: Achieve "Capacity Parity": Our immediate goal is to free up your team from repetitive, time-consuming tasks so they can comfortably and effectively complete their core responsibilities within their given hours. We will achieve this by implementing simple, modern business practices and, where appropriate, low-impact automation.
Phase 2: Unlock Long-Term Savings: Once the current team is operating at full, sustainable capacity, we can identify further optimizations. By making your lean team more powerful, you may not need to fill all previously open positions when the hiring freeze is lifted, creating significant, long-term savings for the Center.
3. My Approach: An Educator, Not a "Tech Guy"
AI sounds scary and complex. With my background teaching & running education companies, my approach is different:
It's Not All AI.
My primary expertise is in business operations. Many of the most powerful solutions are simple, non-AI tools like modern task management software and streamlined digital workflows.
Low-Impact AI.
When we use AI, initial steps can be invisible to staff through simple background automations. All they'll experience is an annoying, repetitive task being taken off their plate.
Empowerment, Not Overwhelm.
Future staff training will focus on providing concrete, actionable examples of how AI can provide relief and capacity. This is about making technology a genuine, stress-reducing ally.
4. My Offer to the Senior Center
My standard rate for this level of strategic operational review and implementation is $120/hour for Mendo locals.
As a member of this community who believes in the Senior Center's mission, I am offering to donate my time for an initial, comprehensive operational audit. We will work together to identify the key bottlenecks and create a clear, actionable roadmap for achieving "Capacity Parity." I will also donate what time I can to any post-audit implementation and training.
Down the road, should the Center wish to engage my services for implementation or training beyond what I am able to donate, I will offer a Preferred Pricing rate of $80/hour.