Janet Carlson Baker

About Janet Carlson Baker

Janet Baker serves a unique role in business leadership with successful executive experience in the public, private and independent sectors, and has served as executive director, board chair, corporate funder, civic volunteer, trainer, nonprofit consultant and facilitator. She has facilitated tenuous collaborations both at the systemic and grass roots levels, with significant experience in legislative advocacy. Janet has held executive, policy, federal relations, strategic plng, mkting and external relations roles with nat\'l corporations in business, academia, professional membership and health and human services nonprofit organizations, She has worked with more than 100 organizations and has served on 25 boards of directors and mayoral commissions under two Kansas City mayors. She is an experienced government contractor, founding director of the Kansas City area’s workforce development agency (Full Employment Council) and served as the first Executive Director of the regional US Green Building Council - Central Plains chapter. Her sustainability work includes policy level and best practices, facilitating the KCMO Climate Protection Plan and co-creating the speaker series Conversations on the Environment. Specialties: Nonprofit and Professional Association Executive Management; Health Policy; Legislative Affairs, Executive Coaching, Organizational Strategy; Board Development & Governance; Strategic Planning; Facilitation Svcs; Workforce Development/ Green Collar Jobs; Sustainability; Event/Conference Planning; Community Development & Grass Roots; Education Administration (Prenatal - Higher Ed); Marketing strategy; Human resources; QIP/CPI

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Kc Shepherd\'s Center

   Nov 2019 — Present · Kansas City, MO, US

   Offered by older adults, for older adults, our peer-to-peer programs increase social engagement, improve food security and provide peace of mind for older adults and those who love them, providing a unique peer-led continuum of care that meets the changing multi-faceted requirements of older adults as they age - it may begin with a meal, and then becomes so much more. In 2021, our 2,800 clients were 60 percent female, 65 percent BIPOC, and 50 percent 75 or older, made possible by 330 volunteers contributing 57,067 hours for a total in-kind value of $1,628,706, doubling our operating budget and ensuring KCSC continues to be good stewards of the community’s resources.KCSC serves a unique population, one where the experience of ageism and other” isms” intersect. Race, ethnicity, nationality, being a member of the LGTBQ community, etc. has for many aging members of our community also included a lifetime of systemic racism, and marginalization. Drivers of inequitable social, economic, built, and physical conditions within and across place and race dramatically reduce opportunities for better health and well-being. Low-income seniors and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes are often forced to make difficult trade-offs—cutting back on necessary medications and doctor visits in order to afford basic living necessities—to the detriment of their health and well-being. KCSC\'s established model of frequent in-home visits reduces the negative impact of these risk factors through unique opportunities to meet nutritional needs, combat social isolation, address safety hazards and provide holistic care.Under Baker\'s leadership, starting 3 months before COVID, the organization has erased a significant inherited deficit now operating sustainably in a net positive position, while growing from 7 to 17 employees. Meals on Wheels has grown from serving 50 homebound older adults to more than 1,400, and KCSC won multiple community impact awards under her leadership.

Education

• Shawnee Mission North High School

  High School, college prep

• The University of Kansas

  B.S., Human Resources

• University of Kansas School of Law

  Bachelor of Science (BS), 1st year law student - general coursework

  1980 — 1981

Skills

• Sustainable Energy
• Sustainability Consulting
• Organizational Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Policy
• Start-Ups
• Higher Education
• Nonprofits
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Executive Coaching
• Non-Profits
• Health Systems
• Sustainability
• Human Resources
• Business Networking
• Research
• Grants
• Proposal Writing
• Management Consulting
• Executive Management
• Fundraising
• Public Policy
• Event Planning
• Strategy
• Project Management
• Strategic Planning
• Program Development
• Management
• Team Building
• Health Insurance
• Project Planning
• Leadership Development
• Sustainable Business
• Public Speaking
• Volunteer Management
• Training
• New Business Development
• Health Care Professionals
• Change Management