Visionary Leader

Ernest M. Beal, Jr. **** Covington Creek Trail, Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Phone: 260-***-**** Email: *****.****@*****.***

PROFILE

Visionary leader with extensive experience across a full spectrum of human service and social justice programs. Proven success

advancing social justice causes, creating innovative services, managing quality programs, and facilitating leadership teams.

Demonstrated ability to fuse mission, operational, financial, and technology interests into cohesive, driven, and focused activities.

Exceptional project management, human resource, staff development, and team leadership skills. Seeking senior leadership role

with innovative social action agency.

WORK EXPERIENCE

PEJUS, Inc. Fort Wayne, IN

Chief Operating Officer September 1987 to May 2010

Led transition from small, family-oriented residential, vocational, and clinical services agency (35 employees; $1M annual

sales) to large multistate enterprise (600+ employees; $25M annual sales).

Created Indiana’s first residential programs for persons with dual diagnosis, profound disabilities, and significant behavioral

challenges, as well as innovative comprehensive mental health centers (in Indiana, Georgia, and Florida) supporting persons

with dual disabilities (mental retardation and mental health).

Comprehensive therapeutic work with individuals with significant challenges, e.g. persons with severe or pervasive mental

retardation, individuals who are dually diagnosed, and adults and children with behavioral health needs.

Led new development teams for both new markets (Atlanta, GA; Indianapolis, IN; and Lakeland/Fort Myers, FL) as well as

expanded services (computer learning centers, vocational services, and clinical professional teams).

Planned and implemented web-based clinical records system, video conference-based managerial and clinical rounds

processes, and innovative behavioral analysis diagnostic systems.

Developed and implemented staff development, regulatory compliance, and continuous quality improvement programs

leading simultaneous national accreditation in all theaters of operation (an accreditation agency “first”).

Legal Practice Fort Wayne, IN

Attorney July 1980 to December 1992

Successful civil litigator. Handled more than 400 federal court cases involving civil rights claims, employment disputes, and

related public policy matters. Notable cases include: Moffett v. Gene B. Glick Co. (racial harassment), Keehr v.

Consolidated Freightways (union busting), Reeder-Baker v. Lincoln National Life (retaliation), and Smith v. Stoner (prisoner

rights).

Secured both individual and class-wide relief, including ratio hiring and promotion remedies in municipal police employment

class action.

Successfully revised municipal civil rights ordinance (in 1978) to include protections against discrimination based on sexual

identity and disabilities, making local community distinctive as leader in civil rights prohibition.

Peer-identified as one of Woodward and White’s Best Lawyers in America for civil rights practice.

Served on United States District Court’s Rules Committee.

EDUCATION

Capella University, Ph.D. (in process) St. Paul, MN

Coursework complete. Academic focus: individual, organizational, and social transformation.

Doctoral dissertation (under preparation) involves the life and writings of Dr. Graham Taylor (1856-1938), a pioneer in

American Social Christianity and Chicago civic reform.

Emory University, Candler School of Theology, M. Div. Atlanta, GA

Focus of study: pastoral leadership, psychology of religion, social ethics.

Awarded merit-based scholarship for specialized skill in parish ministry.

Completed three-year degree one semester early while continuing to work full time as PEJUS, Inc. Chief Operating Officer.

Northeastern University, School of Law, J.D. Boston, MA

Editor, Northeastern University Newsletter.

Cooperative education placements at Fort Wayne Metropolitan Human Relations Commission (3 months), Susquehanna

Legal Services (6 months), and National Center for Law and the Handicapped (9 months).

Indiana University, B.A. Sociology Fort Wayne, IN

Deans honors list.

Completed undergraduate degree in three years, working full time for two of them.

Post graduation, completed nine hours of graduate accounting coursework, Graduate School of Business.

ACHIEVEMENTS

You will find me a unique candidate. For two decades I served as the entrepreneurial engine as well as the driving force for the

values associated with a complex health, education, and human service organization. Fusing ingenuity, creativity, passion, and hard

work, I led the company through significant development projects, reorganization, and change.

Timely delivery of these projects did not occur by accident; I used elaborate project management tools and maintained tight control

over implementation details. Moreover, managing these massive development projects was not my only work; I continued to perform

regular duties as COO (albeit from the field). In the interim between major development projects as the company continued to grow

incrementally I focused my energies on structural realignments essential due to the effects of rapid growth (including many

technology initiatives).

To my recent work experience (if one can call the fruits of two decades recent) I add my earlier successful work as a human and civil

rights lawyer. That work, too, resulted in a strong legacy. Every success detailed in this resume and the many challenges each

engendered were overcome by maintaining a “can do” attitude,, rolling up my sleeves, and working hard. Though I may be able to do

the same thing in any organization, I want to do it where my gifts and grace make a difference in the lives of other people.

12.2007 - 06.2010 PEJUS: Change Management & Information Systems Project

Led multiple systems reformation, procedural revision, and new technology initiatives. Technology projects included selecting

and implementing a video-conference based connection between all administrative locations, new finance and human resource

systems, and a web-based clinical records system (involved new computers in more than 100 sites, training 400 direct support

workers, redesigning program systems, and new oversight models). Secured upfront costs through new financing partners with

annual costs thereof funded by travel savings through video-management model.

10.2007 - 07.2009 ROSEWATER: Community Life Centers

Led reorganization of five regionally dispersed day centers for folks with disabilities into an innovative Community Life

program operated by a PEJUS affiliate. Project entailed new budgets, rates, and resources; rehabilitating existing facilities;

curricular redesign; development of new systems; staff training; as well as creating a standalone behavioral health center for

persons with mental health, intellectual disabilities, and challenging behaviors (engendered $250K new revenue).

07.2006 - 06.2007 PEJUS: Growth Project V

At state government request, planned, built, and opened specialized therapeutic facilities for persons with significant

challenging behavior. Project involved fast-track construction of five facilities at cost of $500K each and related financing.

Together with other incremental growth across same period company grew by $7.5M annually in this 12 month period.

11.1999 - 12.2000 PEJUS: Growth Project IV

Developed new vocational training and residential services in Georgia. From $0 base created a $2.5M program with 60

employees across a 9 month period. Within one 75 day period located, staffed, and opened for occupancy 20 residential sites

scattered throughout the state. (Involved commercial lease negotiation, capital financing, and extensive HR activity.)

07.1997 - 12.1999 PEJUS: Growth Project III

Substantial increase in Florida operations, opening up three new geographic centers of activity and resulting in 100% increase

in annual revenues for program. Project activities included successful bid proposals to new governmental partners, generating

capital and non-capital funding from new sources , purchase/lease of real estate, staff selection/training, and significant program

development. Grew organization by additional $7.5M in this period.

07.1997 - 12.1998 FOURTH WAVE: Futurekids Learning Centers

Led development and operations of FUTUREKIDS Computer Learning Centers for a, Fourth Wave, Inc. (a PEJUS subsidiary).

Project involved leasing and supervising build out of retail center space; selecting, hiring/training managers, marketing, sales,

as well than successful grant-writing for public and private schools seeking technology assistance. Directly managed this

$450K retail business unit during early operations.

07.1993 - 06.1995 PEJUS: Growth Project II

Development of comprehensive mental health center and vocational training workshops in three separate locations. Activities

included facility design and construction, new curriculum development, staff selection/training, and generating new funding

source (via change in public policy). Increased annual revenues $2.3M.

07.1989 - 02.1992 PEJUS: Growth Project I

Simultaneous development of new residential and therapeutic facilities in three separate theaters of operation. Expanded

operations from $1M annually (35 employees) to $6.5M (150 employees) across 20 month period. Activities included

construction, purchase, and lease of residential & commercial properties; hiring and training new professional and other staff;

development of therapeutic systems and plans for persons served; substantial fund development; and significant change

management during and after project. Florida expansion necessitated creation and management of non-profit agency.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

I have been engaged in work that supports people in need most of my life. When I entered college some decades ago, my

intended path involved degrees in religion and a career in ministry. Once enrolled in college, I was quickly caught up in the

social protests characterizing that era. During this time, I began to feel that I might be a more useful helpmate for issues of

social justice through other means, i.e. lawyer for the abused and downtrodden. I hustled through

undergraduate and graduate school, accompanying my studies with work among folks with disabilities

or other challenges.

When I graduated, I went to work for a city human rights agency entered private law practice in 1980.

In both settings my practice became focused on civil rights matters usually on behalf of persons

claiming to have been wronged because of their race, gender, age, ethnicity, disability, protected

speech, or similar characteristics.

In 1987, my career took a sudden turn. Two years earlier my mother started a business providing

residential supports for persons who were mentally challenged. That business grew quickly from one home in late 1985 to

six homes in mid-1987. Rapid growth took a toll on Mom she said time off to recoup was needed. Offering to relocate my

practice adjacent to the company’s new office, I agreed to do some light bookkeeping while Mom was away. She left town

and did not return for more than two years. She retired!

It took no great insight to recognize I had a new calling: steward to my parents’ financial interests and “the dream” on which

they were based. As noted above, I served as the company's COO with principal responsibility for entrepreneurial,

operational, financial, and strategic matters. As shopkeeper-in-chief I performed every business task from redefining and

energizing “the dream” to cleaning the restrooms in our many administrative offices.

While much reward flowed from being witness to and a facilitator of the agency’s dynamic evolution, a growing wish for a

different approach to my life and vocation crept into my daily musings. After a period of deep reflection, I again heard the

call to ordained ministry. Fall 2001, I returned to graduate school full time. I continued to serve full time as COO also.

Though juggling these two obligations (along with a personal and church life) pushed me toward the outer limits of my multitasking

finesse, I kept my head above water and, even, managed to complete my seminary education a semester early. That

happened not because I am some “super person”, something larger than me kept me sane, motivated, and energized.

Upon graduation I was ordained through the United Church of Christ where I served as part time pastor for three mission

focused congregations (detailed below). That service means three things when thinking about my fitness for a particular role:

(1) my ability to multi-task across and within careers makes me especially fit for dynamic, fast-paced, and frequently

changing contexts; (2) my familiarity with and ability to work within diverse cultures and to identify with people regardless

of circumstance defies simple categorization I am at home in almost every context; and (3) my disposition toward life's

possibilities and challenges reflects a “can do” attitude animated by a willingness to push myself (and encourage) to reach

beyond my narrow interests on behalf of goals seemingly “bigger than life itself.” These attributes make easy putting heart

and soul to work that makes a difference in other people's lives.

FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Fort Wayne, IN

Senior Pastor (PT) 2006-2011

Suburban renewing congregation with active food bank ministry.

PEOPLES CHURCH OF CHICAGO Chicago, IL

Senior Pastor (PT) 2005-2006

Mission church in Uptown Chicago with extensive program ministry involving food and shelter for persons who were

homeless. Religiously, racially, and ethnically diverse congregation.

Successfully pursued denominational grants and private donations for extensive capital renovation, mission programs,

and innovative church growth.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Elkhart, IN

Interim Pastor (PT) 2003-2004

Urban church hosting head start programs and operating soup kitchen..

Contact this candidate