WHAT CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US
“Drawing on her extensive experience in higher education and non-profit management, Vally brought a unique perspective to her work with us. She is particularly adept at creative problem solving and helped us look at issues from a variety of different viewpoints. She is a great strategic thinker.”
Shelley Semmler
Vice President for Advancement
Ithaca College
“When we launched an alumni development program for our Pan-American agricultural college, we looked for a consultant who could train our newly recruited alumni volunteers from across Latin America in state-of-the-art fundraising techniques. Vally Kovary of IPA was an obvious choice. Her extensive background in higher education, non-profit, and international consulting were a great fit. But we got more than we could have hoped for and success beyond our imaginations.
Vally quickly aligned with our vision, understood our goals and the past and present context in which Zamorano operates. She worked with us to design and lead a high powered seminar in the theory of development, best practice campaign techniques, and a plan to launch the effort. But more than that, she brilliantly helped us to refocus our initial strategy so that it was more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective. Working closely with our staff, trustee and alumni leaders, she helped us learn what we didn't even realize we needed to know, and also contributed to building the enthusiasm needed to launch the campaign. Our volunteers rated her 'outstanding' and I am pleased that our campaign to involve alumni for the first time in institutional fundraising is off to an exceptional start.”
Jose M. Cordero Mora
Campaign Chair, Zamorano Board of Trustees
President, Agrimarketing Latin America
“When Open Hand Theater embarked on our search for a consultant to help us construct a new theater complex, Vally Kovary helped us see that Open Hand Theater needed to reconstruct itself from its very foundation. She has since guided us from the threshold of insolvency to the doorstep of success. Through her thoughtful guidance we has strengthened our corporate image and mission, repositioned our program offerings for growth and success, redefined our Board of Directors, and significantly enhanced our administrative systems and capacity. This was accomplished through Vally’s undying spirit, knowledge, and ability to translate our vision into reality. Open Hand Theater is grateful for IPA’s continued involvement as we forge ahead anew.”
Sam Gordon
Chair, Board of Directors, Open Hand Theater
Founder, Plan-It
“Vally has served The History Center with great distinction. We engaged Vally as a Development, Marketing and Management Consultant to advise us in a thorough reorganization which included changing the name of the 70-year-old organization. [She] provided outstanding guidance and leadership to the Board of Trustees in planning, managing and executing the process of change. An extremely smooth and effective transition has resulted.
Vally has been heavily and closely involved with staff, trustees, committee chairs and members, volunteers, advisers, and community leaders. The management of our operation has improved tremendously as a result of her counsel, our fundraising program has developed very well and is garnering enthusiastic support from both our traditional as well as new donors. Vally's knowledge, understanding and expertise in the field are exceptional. And in all things, she is a true professional!”
Carl F. Gortzig (dec.)
Chair, Board of Trustees, The History Center
Professor Emeritus, Horticulture,Cornell University
Elizabeth Newman Wilds Director Emeritus, Cornell Plantations
“The Ithaca Public Education Initiative had been operating at a modest level when we hired International Planning Associates to help us expand our fund raising efforts. Vally Kovary's breadth and depth of management, marketing, program, and fund development experience has helped us to grow our organization in ways we did not anticipate. Over the last 18 months, Vally has provided powerful help by quickly realizing that we could benefit not only from development advice but also from a more distinctive image, a more defined structure, better administrative procedures, and an expanded marketing program. She facilitated Board Retreats, and helped guide us through the creation of our new logo and “look”, better define our programs, establish a working committee structure, create sound operating and reporting systems, and encourage us to “think big”. As Board Chair, I have personally benefited greatly from Vally's insight, encouragement and guidance as we made the decision to more actively pursue our goals. She is a delight to work with and has received high praise from our Board for having the courage to tell 'it' like 'it' is and then roll up her sleeves to help make things happen. As a result, IPEI and its mission are now increasingly well known, we have clearly defined goals and support from our community growing dramatically. Thank you, Vally!”
Terry Byrnes
President
Ithaca Public Education Initiative
“The results of the Board Retreat you led were more than we ever could have expected. Even though we have many new Board members, we are focused and moving forward together. Your [Vally's] strategic framing of the issues facing us and your ability to move us through a huge agenda was just incredible.”