Melissa Le Roy - Promoting Nature and Nurturing Leadership

Intro: This is our fifth interview with a nonprofit leader from around the Western North Carolina region.  Through this feature, we want you to get to know the person, their passion, and how they are working to strengthen our community. 

Melissa Le Roy found her dream job eight years ago, working with horses and the environment at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) in the rolling hills of Polk County.  

Le Roy grew up in Hendersonville, helping out at the family-owned hardware store.  Then as an adult, she climbed the ladder at Lowes home improvement stores, first “working the floor”  before moving to human resources and operations.  Now, Le Roy applies those skills to the nonprofit sector.  Here, she shares her perspective on being an executive director. 

What do you like about your job?

No one day is ever the same.  We have 400 acres, 24 structures, and 65,000 people we serve each year with a staff of six people and 300 volunteers. 

How would you describe your leadership style?
One of my favorite quotes is “The difference in a boss and a leader is a boss says ‘go,’ a leader says ‘let’s go’.”  I believe in rolling up my sleeves.  You’ll see me at events on the weekends, out on a tractor, or perhaps meeting with volunteers, and then during the week I’ll be meeting with business sponsors or major donors.  I try to always be accessible and have an open door policy, because I believe the true key to leadership is to listen.

What other qualities are key to success as a nonprofit executive director?

• Stay involved and have a presence – not just in your nonprofit but with other organizations in the community.  It’s a balancing act but you must be visible.
• Have a great volunteer recruiting program and give them something meaningful to do, so they will participate and gain ownership of the organization.  Many of our volunteers are also donors.
• In the financial area, always be up front, honest and open.  No one can help you if they don’t know what’s going on.  This is especially important in difficult times.
  
• Make sure you work closely with the board chair.  Take the time to hash out who does what… what each of your roles and responsibilities are.  There are a lot of gray areas and as long as you have a good idea of who’s doing what, there shouldn’t be any conflict.
• Always keep an open mind and encourage feedback.  We need to be careful not to get bogged down and say “I already tried that” or “my predecessor did that.”  We use email surveys a lot at our organization to get input on various things.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

Our outreach programs.  We have two – one that serves children through hands-on nature and science education, and our therapeutic riding program.  My reward is seeing the look on the children’s faces when they’re learning new things, or seeing a person with an emotional disability come out of their shell whenever they are involved with our special horses.  It makes it all worthwhile. 

What renews you the most?

I like to spend as much time as possible with my husband, who is a detective.  We love to go boating.  Professionally, I love mentoring younger people and teaching in the nonprofit field – I always learn more than the participants!  (Le Roy is an instructor in the Duke Nonprofit Management Program, authors a column in the local Tryon Daily Bulletin on leadership issues, and serves on the statewide board of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits.) 

What advice would you offer to someone entering nonprofit leadership?

Find someone in close proximity who has been in the sector.  Invite them to be your mentor.  Don’t go it alone!  This work is far too challenging.  Take as many classes as possible for the knowledge and networking that you gain.