March 2008
AFE Introduces New President/CEO:
Sharon Charnell Gherman
by Cynthia M. Adams, President/CEO GrantStation.com, Inc.
If you haven't already noticed from the design, the February issue of The Exchange is different than usual. This is because we have a new President and Chief Executive Officer, Sharon Charnell Gherman who has, in her very brief time with AFE (since mid-January), made some wonderful changes.
AFE is proud to announce that Sharon has purchased AFE and will be the new President and CEO, taking the reins from Mary McRae Miller (CEO) who managed AFE for the past four years. Sharon brings 30 years of experience to AFE with demonstrated leadership capabilities and success in both the nonprofit sector and small companies.
Sharon has been nationally recognized for her innovations in program development and implementation, and brings a variety of strengths to the AFE staff, including program planning and evaluation, project administration, and individual and organizational capacity building.
New Look: New Services
As you begin to look closer at AFE you will notice not only a new e-newsletter design but also a newly designed website: www.funding-exchange.org. I think you will find the new design pleasing to the eye, easy to navigate, and rich in content.
Both of these AFE signature pieces reflect Sharon’s leadership and change in direction for the company. As the months go by, I believe you will find more and more vital information and resources for those of you trying to secure funding in today’s very challenging economy.
Besides delivering new information, AFE has also brought on board several new staff and consultants, and will be offering expanded services in the area of program planning and evaluation. Take a look at all of the services that AFE now provides on our website at http://www.funding-exchange.org/services.php.
I have been asked to serve as Senior Consultant for AFE, and am thrilled to be included in their on-going work to help build healthy communities throughout Alaska.
New Location: New Partnership
AFE has now officially moved its offices from Juneau to Fairbanks. It is great to have the company located in the community where it was conceived. Our Juneau clients need to know we still have a very strong presence in our capital city – and will continue to provide services to all of Southeast Alaska, as well as the rest of the state, just as we have for the past 16 years.
Part of moving to Fairbanks will include a closer relationship with AFE’s sister company, GrantStation. For those of you who don’t know, GrantStation was an outgrowth of AFE, launching in the fall of 2001. Today GrantStation has over 14,000 Members throughout the world, and over 175,000 people who opt in to receive their weekly e-newsletter, the GrantStation Insider.
Again, my heartiest welcome to Sharon as the new President and CEO of AFE, and a fond farewell to Mary for her good work throughout the past several years.
