Executive Committee Considers $12,000 Strategic Planning Initiative with University of St. Francis

Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee is considering a proposal from the University of St. Francis to lead a six-month, $12,178 strategic planning process. The initiative is aimed at improving collaboration among board members, identifying shared goals, and increasing efficiency.

Strategic Planning Proposal Key Points:

• The proposal from the university’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence would cost the county $12,178.

• The process would involve confidential surveys, interviews, workshops, and a team-building assessment for all board members.

• Board members expressed support for the initiative to bridge partisan divides, with a formal vote expected at a future meeting.

JOLIET, IL – The Will County Board may soon embark on a journey of self-reflection after reviewing a proposal for a comprehensive strategic planning initiative designed to foster better teamwork and establish a unified vision for the county.

Dr. Maribeth Hearn, founding director of the University of St. Francis’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence, presented the $12,178 proposal to the board’s Executive Committee on Thursday. The six-month process would involve confidential surveys and interviews with all 22 board members, team-building exercises using the CliftonStrengths assessment, and two in-person planning workshops.

“It’s really hard to work on your business, if you will, when you’re in it,” Hearn said. “We have to start from strength. So what is working and how can we move forward?”

The final deliverable would be a written plan with 12-month, three-year, and five-year insights. Several board members voiced strong support for the idea, which was initially brought forward by Democratic Leader Sherry Williams.

“It’s kind of nice to have an outside party come in and identify some things that we agree on and where the whole team can work together to actually move the county forward,” said board member Daniel J. Butler.

Member Jackie Traynere noted the board undertook a similar process in 2009, which produced the mission and vision statements currently displayed in the county board room. While member Sherry Newquist expressed concern about the timing with an election year approaching, others felt the effort was necessary.

“I think it needs to be done again because that was like half my lifetime ago,” said member Destinee Ortiz. The proposal was presented as a discussion item and will return to the committee for a formal vote at a future date.