Consultant, facilitator, educator and coach.

Dan Clark’s approaches to governance and strategic planning have several  roots.

During the 1970s he served Florida first as an examiner, and is the only examiner to reach Florida’s top credit union position working from the 13th floor of the Capitol Building in Tallahassee.

In a short two-year stint at the Florida CU League he ran the audit service reestablishing a credible audit program, growing the client list, and maintaining membership in the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). He also had marketing duties for the service corporation. Dan developed and delivered several day-long trainings for Supervisory Committees and a share draft implementation consultation.

In the 1980s, once he founded his independent consulting firm, he volunteered as a credit union board member beginning an 8-year stint with SCORE FCU. He followed that with two decades as President/CEO at Tallahassee-Leon FCU. During that period he helped create what is now a very successful Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization serving as its first board chair. Dan was also instrumental in making Consumer Credit Counseling Services available to consumers in the Big Bend Area around Tallahassee. In 2006 Dan went full-time again as a consultant, facilitator, speaker and coach.

He blends the regulatory, board member and executive experiences into a balanced approach. He is dedicated to helping organizations continue to build on their successes through effective leadership and management, sound governance, strategy and visioning – seeking farther horizons.

His writings include:

• CU Journal
• Two of the original Volunteer Achievement Program modules for the Credit Union National Association,
• Two books on governance.
• Several ”board’s role” pieces on the CU Executives Society’s, Director’s Education Center (DEC).
• Contributions to the  CUES Center for CU Board Excellence (CCUBE),  and Skybox Blog.
• CU Management Magazine, CUES
•  National Association of Credit Union Chairman
• National Association of Credit Union Supervisory and Audit Committees

Dan makes his original and popular “Financial Statements in Plain English” training program available in five formats: seminar, Audio CD, DVD, online courses and Webinars. The approach  has enlightened credit union volunteers and staff alike for three decades.

He is popular as a speaker because of his historical perspective, and his quick and entertaining wit. His content makes audience members challenge their status quo and delivers practical solutions encouraged by an inspirational delivery. He facilitates planning retreats and coaches leaders. Clark’s Governance Model is a perfect blueprint for the continued growth and success of credit unions in the 21st century. Other nonprofits recognize the value of the model and are beginning to invite Dan to teach it and  facilitate it.

I respect your talents–people skills and both verbal and written communications.
~ Cindy Childers, Chair, Keesler FCU

Over the years, Dan has used his coaching skills to help leaders with issues they face and to enhance their handle on those issues. Dan has served on several boards including a SCORE FCU, United Solutions – one of several credit union service organizations, and community Boards and committees. Dan earned a degree in business and economics, with a concentration in accounting, from Rollins College in Central Florida. While at at TLFCU he earned the CCUE designation and led the institution from red-ink to financial strength, from about 3 to around 10% net worth; and while assets grew at a steady 6% annually, the employee count only grew at 1.6% annually.

He established  a channel on the YouTube.com called “Board Governance.” His videos run 4 to 5 minutes including tips and ideas about board governance useful to both seasoned directors and a great addition for new director orientation.

Dan believes that nonprofits of all kinds will be instrumental in supporting America’s middle class and thereby stabilizing the the US economy. He has a vision that credit unions become known for returning the US middle-class to financial strength, and strength in numbers: “Since credit unions emerged to serve people of small means, they should own the emerging financial coaching arena because that will help members living paycheck-to-paycheck to get ahead financially.”

Dan Clark