KARL

Since 1990, Kansas Agriculture & Rural Leadership, Inc. (KARL), has played a vital role in training future generations of agricultural and rural community leaders. In June 2017, the KARL board of directors needed an interim president for the organization as they conducted a search for a permanent professional staff leader. J.J. Jones, was selected to fill the interim position.

During the 90-day interim period, Jones fulfilled the organization’s needs in managing the day-to-day operations of the office, maintaining the organization’s donor base and fundraising programming and preparing for the fourteenth class of young leaders who would begin their two-year KARL experience 60 days into the interim period. The charge from the executive committee to Jones was to lead the organization with a “status-quo plus” mentality.

While 90 days is not a long time, it was still imperative that the organization grow and fulfill its purpose during the interim period. Key successes during the interim were:

• Management of a successful golf tournament that raised more dollars for KARL that the 2016 tournament with more golfers than the past year
• Updating of the 2017/2018 curriculum for KARL Class XIV
• Working with KARL staff to establish processes for newly-acquired relationship management software
• Maintaining and enhancing relationships with KARL supporters and alumni
• A successful, seamless transition to the organization’s permanent president, Jill Zimmerman