William Patterson
- Chief Financial Officer, Via Mobility Services
After successfully growing and operating companies I had ownership in for over 30 years, I transitioned into the not-for-profit world 9 years ago to lend my skills to an agency I believed in. Via Mobility Services is a fantastic local nonprofit that provides crucial transportation services throughout the region. Beyond operations, the organization is transitioning our fleet to zero emissions and our facility to a renewable, sustainable, resilient future. The job is endlessly interesting and provides many teaching moments, especially for me.
My advice to students...
People are the foundation of any organization. Learning how to effectively manage your teams and your staff not only ensures the success and longevity of the organization, it provides you satisfaction and purpose. With the changes in work habits since the pandemic, this has become more challenging. It requires a rethinking of old paradigms. Whether for-profit or nonprofit, whatever the industry, good management skills will always be valuable to an organization. Good managers will always be in demand.