Judy Sharken-Simon

Author Profile

Bio: 

Judy Sharken Simon brings a rich understanding of nonprofit organizations to her MAP (Management Assistance Program) clients and to MAP volunteers. Judy joined MAP’s staff in early 2006. She is responsible for MAP’s volunteer program, which each year places many Twin Cities management experts on the boards of directors of Twin Cities nonprofit organizations, or in other roles with nonprofits. Judy also provides board training to board members and prospective board members, ensuring that they understand the importance and responsibilities of their nonprofit board roles.

Prior to joining MAP, Judy worked with nonprofit organizations for more than 12 years. She served as a senior consultant with the Community Services Group of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation for more than ten years. While there, she authored "The Nonprofit Field Guide to Conducting Successful Focus Groups" as well as "The Five Life Stages of the Nonprofit Organization:  Where You Are, Where You're Going, and What to Expect When You Get There. Judy has a B.A. in Employee Relations from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Organization Development from the University of Minnesota. Judy has worked with nonprofit clients in areas of nonprofit organization development, including board development, life stages work, and strategic planning. She developed and coordinated the Twin Cities Southeast Asian Leadership Program and served as a consultant, supervisor and instructor for the Bicultural Training Partnership which trained twelve Southeast Asians to be nonprofit management consultants. Judy has also worked as project manager for a county government human services department, as a mentorship coordinator in human resource development for 3M Corporation in Austin, Texas, and as a public workshop trainer on topics related to nonprofit management. In her work she has consulted with very small, grassroots organizations, medium-sized social service agencies, and larger governmental entities.