Reeves Encourages Leaders to Think Big and Bold During Challenging Times

HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) — Neiman Group CEO and Chair of WITF's Board of Directors Tim Reeves shared advice for leading in challenging times with over 100 of Central Pennsylvania's prominent business and non-profit leaders. Reeves spoke recently on the topic during Leadership Harrisburg Area's first monthly Leadership Speakers Series of 2010 at WITF's Public Media Center in Harrisburg.

"Tim Reeves is a dynamic individual who could have shared his insights on any number of topics, but leading through challenging times offered such a relevant message to so many business and non-profit leaders," said Una Martone, president of Leadership Harrisburg Area. "With the state budget impasse affecting WITF last year, we believed Tim could offer some best practices and strategies that the audience could take away and immediately apply."

A member of the WITF Board of Directors since 2001 and Chair of the Board since 2008, Reeves spent much of his first year as Chair facing — and leading through — adversity as WITF was threatened with major funding cuts, making him the ideal candidate to speak on the topic.

"WITF is a beacon of aspirational leadership in the region," Reeves said. "In any organization there will be ebbs and flows of achievement. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to share what I've learned from these experiences with colleagues, fellow leaders and friends."

At the luncheon, Reeves shared personal rules for guiding a successful non-profit organization. His remarks, which included a moving video clip of close family friend Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" testifying before a U.S. Senate committee in 1969 to restore funding to PBS, were met with a standing ovation and positive feedback from attendees.

"Tim was the perfect person to launch our 2010 Speakers Series and we are so thankful to him and Neiman Group for their involvement," said Martone. "One of our board members recently referenced Tim's remarks at a meeting to say she's thinking big and has great aspirations for the project she's leading, so it's clear his advice resonated. As Tim said, adversity is not forever, but relationships are. We should all remember this as we move forward and face challenges."

Reeves is currently leading WITF's first geographic expansion of FM service (93.3 FM in Chambersburg) since 1971.

Leadership Harrisburg Area is designed to produce well-informed, motivated leaders who are willing and capable of working together for a better Capital Region. Since 1986, its mission is to engage, develop and mobilize a diverse group of skilled leaders to shape our region's future, strengthen our communities and enhance the organizations they serve.