This dynamic webinar will explore how to make strategic planning work for your organization and your markets.  Drawing on real life examples from farmers markets and related organizations, two leaders -- strategic thinker Nicole de Beaufort and President of the Oregon Farmers' Market Association Karen Wagner -- will discuss how to identify the strategic planning questions and directions that will help you visualize success and lead you into the future.

About the presenters...

Nicole de Beaufort

Nicole de Beaufort is founder of Fourth Sector Consulting, Inc., a for-benefit corporation that provides strategy and communications to organizations and collaborative efforts seeking to effect social change. 

Nicole has honed and evolved her skills as a strategic communicator, connector, and idea factory for a dozen years, first in the world of cancer advocacy, then in health care communications, and for the past nine years in public issues within the Beltway and in the Heartland. 

Currently, Nicole provides strategic planning and communications services to foundations and nonprofit initiatives focused on systemic change, particularly as relates to our food system.

Nicole’s clients have included: National Breast Cancer Coalition/Breast Cancer Network; National Cancer Institute; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Lung Cancer Alliance; Federal Trade Commission; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Farm Aid, Food Routes Network; Wallace Center at Winrock International; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; Fair Food Foundation; Select Registry; University of Minnesota; Battle Creek Community Foundation; Community Food Connections; School Food FOCUS and Chez Panisse Foundation.

A self-avowed "technology geek," Nicole recently expanded her practice to include online community strategy and development using social media and networking tools. 

Karen Wagner

Karen works as a food and farm advocate in eastern Oregon, and is president of the Oregon Farmers’ Markets Association (OFMA) as representative of Pendleton Farmers’ Market, which she started in 2002. She has been involved with OFMA since 2006, managing the Farmers Market Promotion Project grant conducting research and outreach on behalf of OFMA, and since 2008 has served as secretary of the OFMA Board of Directors.  Karen holds a Masters in sustainable organizational and community development, bringing strong non-profit and organizational management skills and deep farmers’ market management awareness and experience with her work with OFMA.   She comes from a small farming town in Minnesota and since then has lived and travelled in over 14 countries, feeding her curiosity, insights and instincts for vibrant outdoor markets and thriving communities.