Catchafire | Arthur H
Biography
I am deeply committed to using my experience, skills and education to benefit nonprofit organizations as they work to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.
My undergraduate degree is in accounting. I have held management roles in cost accounting and manufacturing and CFO and COO roles in small businesses. In 25 years at Yale University, I held management positions in finance and administrative information technology focused on change management.
My career parallels the personal computer evolution and I’ve had extensive experience in a broad range of business processes and at every stage of the computer systems lifecycle.
In 2014, my partner and I founded a pro bono consulting practice to provide mentoring and guidance to nonprofit organizations. Our engagements have included executive director and board development, strategic planning, mentoring and professional development, budgeting and financial modeling, fund raising plans, accounting and donor management systems, marketing plans, change management, process improvements, software implementation, data conversion, applying for 501c3 status, project management and web development.
We have worked with almost 100 clients and currently have 10+ active clients including 4 internationals. (www.rws-advisors.org)
I currently serve as the Finance Officer for Aspire Institute Inc. A nonprofit providing personal development and leadership training to low income and first in family to attend college through their tuition free Aspire Leaders Program and a low cost AI-Integrated Leadership Program (www.aspireleaders.org)
My active and recent past volunteer activities include Finance Director for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship in Stony Point, NY; Finance Director for the Ramapough Mountain Indians in NJ; Board of Directors and Treasurer for Pikes Peak Makerspace in Colorado Springs, CO; Board of Directors and Treasurer of my Homeowners Association; Treasurer of the Raymond, NH Democrats; Elder and Treasurer of First Presbyterian Church in New Haven, CT; Board of Directors and Treasurer for Sunrise Cafe in New Haven, CT; Hamden, CT Democratic Town Committee.
My wife and I have four grown children and five grandchildren.
Enjoy outdoor activities (biking, hiking [certified AMC Hike Leader], swimming, kayaking and snow shoeing) and travel (most recently to Montana, Canada, Costa Rica, Portugal and Japan).
As a leader, it is important for your staff and stakeholders to trust that you will tell the truth and align your actions with your words, that your decisions be well informed, fact based and fair, that you set realistic goals, respect work life balance and provide continuous feedback.
Skills
- Accounting
- Coaching
- Executive leadership
- Finance
- Management
- Organizational design
- Strategy consulting
Causes
- Civil rights
- Community & economic development
- Diversity & inclusion
- Education
- Environment
- Gender equity & justice
- Health & nutrition
- Housing & homelessness
- International affairs
- Justice & legal services
- Religion & spirituality
- Youth development