Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Big Lakes Developmental Center on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 201
Lori Feldkamp reflects on her 30-year career at Big Lakes Developmental Center as she prepares to retire, while introducing her successor, Liz Hawley, who brings 18 years of experience with the organization.
· Big Lakes has grown from 100 to over 200 employees during Lori's tenure
· The organization faces a statewide waiting list of 4,500 people needing developmental disability services
· Around 100 people are waiting for services in their four-county service area
· Funding challenges require piecing together resources from multiple sources
· Transportation is a critical need, as 99% of clients cannot drive themselves
· The organization plans to use Grow Green Match Day fundraising to purchase two used vehicles
· Staffing remains challenging, but dedicated employees often work overtime to meet client needs
· Big Lakes empowers clients through involvement in program development and event planning
· The organization's summer party on June 20 will feature a "Party in the Desert" theme
· Consistent leadership has been a hallmark, with only two CEOs since 1978
Support Big Lakes Developmental Center on Grow Green Match Day to help them purchase much-needed vehicles for client transportation!
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMCF Community Hour, as heard on NewsRadio KMAN. One of the organizations that we're going to be talking about today is one that I have had a long time interest in and I'm always excited to have here in the GMCF Community Hour From Big Lakes Developmental Center my longtime friend, lori Feldkamp. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Good morning.
Speaker 1:How are you?
Speaker 2:Crazy as ever.
Speaker 1:Crazy as ever level, because you know you are doing your swan song, you're retiring, you're, you know moving everything over everything has moved into fast forward fast forward now yes when's your last day?
Speaker 2:uh may 30th that's okay.
Speaker 1:Let me ask you this how many days are left?
Speaker 2:I could tell you it's on my phone, but I don't have it with me right now.
Speaker 1:And you brought in your successor, who's no stranger to Big Lakes, liz Hawley. Hi, welcome to the show. Thank you so much. Is this your first time here on the?
Speaker 3:show it is yeah.
Speaker 1:It is. It's a good thing that you know we got six, seven feet in between us here, so it's a safe place. It's a safe place. Yeah, we've got guardians around here, so that helps. Congratulations on the new job. Thank you so much. You got some shoes to fill, don't you Big ones? I bet you haven't heard that before.
Speaker 3:Well, I think I've said it a bunch, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But you've been with Big Lakes, she's time, yeah, coming up on 18 years. Really. So you think you know what's going on.
Speaker 3:Do we ever know what's going on with the state and all of the things that happen? Lori's still shaking her head. No, no, yeah.
Speaker 1:You see on radio.
Speaker 2:Sometimes we have to interpret the visual so our listeners can understand what the sidebar discussion is After 30 years, I still don't have it all figured out.
Speaker 1:So I bet you've got some great stories from the last 30 years.
Speaker 2:Oh, just a few. The best ones, of course, are about the people we serve and some of the funny things that happen and the wonderful successes we've had over the years. That's. One of the things that I will miss are those relationships and those stories, but I'm sure Liz will keep me up to date on what's going on. Oh for sure.
Speaker 1:Lori, give me just a sample of some of the highlights of your career at Big Lakes.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, I think. First of all, just the variety of things I've done. I was originally hired in human resources. The human resource department pretty much got that started. We had just broken 100 employees when Jim Shaver, who was the previous exec, hired me to have a centralized HR department and, like I said, that was 100 employees. Now how many positions we have we have over 200 positions now, so I've seen tremendous growth during. That was 100 employees. Now how many positions we have we have over 200 positions now, so I've seen tremendous growth during that period of time.
Speaker 2:Another thing that, especially since I became CEO about 20 years ago, that we've seen is tremendous growth in our residential department. We really have opened up a lot of opportunity for our individuals to get residential services, whether it's in a group, home environment or independently or semi-independently. I think we have a lot more options than we used to. For certain, especially when you look at the number served, has gone up tremendously during that period of time, and it would have gone up probably even more if we didn't have the statewide waiting list.
Speaker 1:Where is that list at?
Speaker 2:now. The last I looked was March 15th and it was just under 4,500 in the state of Kansas and that's in the state.
Speaker 1:How about locally About?
Speaker 2:100. We have about 100 people that are waiting for services.
Speaker 1:yes, and Big Lakes covers what counties?
Speaker 2:Riley-Garry, pottawatomie and Clay.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you could multiply your capacity by another. Well, another 50%.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, there's lots of factors to consider. Of course, funding for those that are on the waiting list is one consideration. Another consideration is staffing finding the number of people to provide those services, which is a struggle for us as well and then again, affordable and accessible housing, if we have individuals that are needing those kinds of things and can't find it in the community. Our foundation has been a big part of making that happen, and so our fundraising will have to continue in order for us to expand services in the future.
Speaker 3:And something as simple as vehicles for all of those locations as well.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:It's always something.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is always something.
Speaker 1:Liz, you said 18 years. Yes, 18 years. Give me the 32nd, liz Hawley resume.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, I started at Big Lakes Developmental Center working in our group homes. I worked in several of our group homes and then I also worked in day services, holding multiple positions and sometimes just subbing for open shifts. So I've worked in almost every house and every department of Big Lakes, at least from service provision side. So I've been a case manager and a director and currently I'm the deputy operations officer. So I've been a case manager and a director and currently I'm the deputy operations officer. So I've had just a little bit of everything almost what drove you into this line of work.
Speaker 3:Well, I actually was trying to figure out what I was going to do as a young person and someone was a special ed teacher that I knew asked me to come and work for them and I just fell in love with this population and wanted to do as much as I could.
Speaker 1:It's pretty easy to do that, isn't it?
Speaker 3:It is so easy to do that. Yeah, they're some of the greatest people I know.
Speaker 1:Do you walk in in the morning wondering whose life am I going to change the most today?
Speaker 3:You know, I don't know that I necessarily feel that way, because sometimes I think that they change mine. I learned so much more about perspective and fortitude from our clients than I think I am able to provide for them.
Speaker 1:What do you look forward to most in your new role?
Speaker 3:I think that I look, I love kind of always developing things and always trying to look at how we're doing things to make them better, and so I'm just excited to be in a different role that gives me even more opportunities to do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you've got quite an extensive background with Big Lakes, yeah, so I'm sure you probably know this. What is going to be some, or what are some, of your biggest challenges that you'll face?
Speaker 3:I think that the challenges are going to be trying to meet all the new regulations that are coming from government, as well as funding and really staff recruitment, because that's a national problem for direct support. So being able to try to provide as much service and community inclusion as you can with the limited resources that we have for funding and things.
Speaker 1:I know that probably you know the timing of the transition here between you know, from Lori to Liz, it seems, and I don't wanna get political but there is a looming sense of uncertainty, primarily from the funding perspective.
Speaker 2:There certainly is, you know, although again, you talk about perspective and looking over my 30-year career, there's always something, as you said, and funding has always been an issue. And what the future looks like I don't know, but we'll adapt. What the future looks like I don't know, but we'll adapt. We always find a way to move forward and be able to continue to provide support as we can. Liz and I just went to a national conference here not too long ago and if misery loves company, we had lots of it. You know, that's one of the things that it's universal across the country is Everybody's struggling with having adequate funding. Everyone is struggling with finding staffing the way that they need to and to be able to provide the supports that we want, and struggling with regulation.
Speaker 1:And funding is consistently a challenge from every level, whether it be local, state, regional or national.
Speaker 2:And one of the things that Big Lakes that's one of the things Liz is learning about because, of course, she hasn't been on the administrative side of it, so there are things that she's picking up on very fast is it's a patchwork quilt of things that we put together funding-wise to keep things going. It isn't any one certain thing, although Medicaid and our home and community based service waiver under Medicaid is the vast majority of the money that we get for service supports, but it takes other things. Like I said, transportation, we get from another source, and housing we get from another source, and there's multiple things that we have to patch together in order to make the whole thing work.
Speaker 1:Let's Grow Green Match Day is eight days away. This is a big day for every nonprofit. How does Big Lakes benefit? On Grow Green Match Day?
Speaker 3:Well, our campaign for this year is to purchase a vehicle, Actually we're hoping to get two used vehicles out of it.
Speaker 1:Yes, we hope Okay, keeping our fingers crossed. Yes, two used vehicles out of it. Yes, we hope Okay, keeping our fingers crossed.
Speaker 3:Yes, a big concern is having enough operational vehicles that aren't being worked on somewhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, our fleet is aging and the cost of vehicles have gone up significantly, especially since COVID, and because of that we've been hanging on to vehicles a lot longer than we normally do, and so we need to do some replacements. We really do to help keep our maintenance costs down and continue to provide reliable transportation for our folks, because 99% of the people we serve cannot drive, so transportation services are greatly, greatly needed. We do partner with our public transportation here in town, atta Bus is a great partner, but not all of the individuals we serve can navigate a public transportation system. They just don't have that capability, and so we continue to have to provide transportation.
Speaker 1:How about staffing challenges? That always seems to be a challenge for basically just about every business and every entity.
Speaker 2:Especially anything in human services is really tough.
Speaker 3:I think we're really fortunate that we have some really dedicated and amazing staff. A lot of them have been with us a very long time and are used to putting in a lot of overtime to help just meet the need for our clients, so we're very fortunate for that. We're currently exploring ways to try to maximize those resources and still provide the quality of service that we want to provide. You know, looking at is technology in our future to help do that.
Speaker 1:I know also, you are key on developing the current staff and giving them new, new initiatives. I saw Amy at the professional development day that the chamber had last week and that's always it's. I get to know some of your staff because of what we're going to be talking about in our next topic, which is the the parties, which what a joy that is. But every time I get to work with one of these events, you know what your staff looks like. They're having almost as much fun as the clients, for sure.
Speaker 3:For sure I think we have clients who feel the same as I do that we have just an amazing group of people that we have the privilege to support, and so coming to work is pretty exciting most days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so the client party June 20, if I remember correctly, I believe so. Are you going to be able to attend, lori, because Ith, if I remember correctly, I believe so yes, Are you? Going to be able to attend Lori Because I mean you're done officially.
Speaker 2:I have been asked and, with Liz's permission, I will be there.
Speaker 1:Way to go. Liz, that's really nice of you.
Speaker 2:Very kind gesture Well as you know, our clients and our staff for that matter always look forward to our parties. We have our summer party, which you just mentioned, and we always have one during the winter holidays. And I have to share with you, Dave, a funny thing that happened when I announced my retirement back in February. I knew the hardest part was going to be telling our clients, because I've had relationships with them for so long, and there was a lot of sadness. But as soon as I announced that there would be a retirement party that they would be going to, we had a lot of cheers after that.
Speaker 2:So I've got to follow through and make sure that we have a party before I leave.
Speaker 1:You haven't done that yet.
Speaker 2:We have something scheduled. We do have something scheduled. I think it involves ice cream and ice cream sundaes, so there you go yeah, that's going to be just horrible for those, those kids, yeah yeah, all right, well, that is uh, and and the and the summer party.
Speaker 1:Do you have a theme for for this year?
Speaker 3:yes, party in the desert in the desert yes, they have. We have a whole theme of cactuses and cool desert kind of color schemes and stuff the clients actually we have a client steering committee that chooses the party theme.
Speaker 1:I have several pictures on my Instagram and I put them on Facebook of the DJ booths that the kids create for me.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:So I'm sure that there's going to be some sort of Cactus Dave setting.
Speaker 3:Oh, yes, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, great, looking forward to that. Oh, yes, for sure. Yeah, great, looking forward to that. Well, we got this big transition here, but you know the one thing, and I think that you know, knowing both of you and the experiences that both of you have had and shared at Big Lakes, there doesn't seem like there's going to be any challenges really with the transition.
Speaker 2:I think it's going to go very. It is going very smooth, and one of the things that I'm very proud of at Big Lakes is the consistency that we've had in leadership. We've only had two CEOs since 1978, and that was. Jim Shaver and myself, and, turning this over to Liz, I couldn't feel more confident and thrilled.
Speaker 1:How many years were you in that capacity as?
Speaker 2:the CEO 20.
Speaker 1:20. Liz, you got 20 in you.
Speaker 2:I think I do. I've been at Big Lakes for almost 31 now. Wow yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for everything that you've done for Big Lakes and all these, not just the clients, but their families too, Because what sense of relief you bring those families and giving these kids a greater sense of purpose. That's just a Herculean effort.
Speaker 2:Well, that isn't me. That is the amazing stafferculean effort. Well, that isn't me. That is the amazing staff that we do have. Especially, as Liz mentioned, we have some very dedicated DSPs that have been with us for a very long time.
Speaker 1:Well, it's good to know you did nothing.
Speaker 2:Yes, I did nothing. It's not me.
Speaker 3:Well, I would say that Lori's been a great leader in really investing in our staff. You know, I personally can say in the different roles that I've had, even talking to Lori about something that's going on in my life she always cares a lot about our staff and I think that's what's made that dedication and the good support that we have. We're only as good as our staff are, so really investing in them is important.
Speaker 1:It's quite obvious that the staff appreciates, you know, not only the leadership but also the experience of what they have there as an employee at Big Lakes. So that's, do you have some initial goals, liz? Maintain.
Speaker 3:Well, right, I think right now there's a lot that's looking to change in the next year or so on the government level. So, trying to kind of figure that out, I'm working with, actually on some work groups with the state to to kind of figure out all the details of those things. So once we figure out what those changes are, then we can kind of really move forward. Like I said, you know, using technology and we're really have been working to increase the amount of involvement clients have and how we develop programs. We have that client steering committee and having a client in charge of that committee and really telling me what I need to do better which is one of my favorite parts of my job so that we're giving all of that back to them and they're really the driver of our services.
Speaker 1:Well, congratulations on the appointment. I'm sure that this is something that you will be able to cherish throughout the rest of your career to be in that capacity to serve in this clientele, and I know you've got a lot of cheerleaders that are going to have your back. Yes, yes, I do so. Liz Hawley is the incoming president and CEO of Big Lakes and that girl that's heading out in May, lori Feldkamp. Congratulations, best wishes. I'm looking forward to still seeing you around.
Speaker 2:I'll still be around. I bet you will yeah.
Speaker 1:You're going to be a grandma full time, aren't you?
Speaker 2:Yes, I am.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there you go. Coming up next, emily Wagner is the Executive Director of the Manhattan Emergency Center. They've got a big event coming up. We'll talk about that and more. And don't forget Grow Green Match Day. Got to put a quick plug in there for that. No-transcript.