By Jennifer Pellersels, Generation Next Vice Chair, Altec Industries

Have you participated in a strategic plan? I know when I first started out my career at Altec I never thought about a strategic plan; all I wanted to do was to do a good job, to do the task at hand, and to volunteer in the community. Yes, I took business classes in college where I learned about business planning. I don’t know about you, but when I graduated college I didn’t remember everything I was taught.

Early in my career, I was what you call a “tasker”; I put out fires or accomplished tasks for the day. I never thought about projects or strategic initiatives that would show an impact two to five years in the future. It wasn’t until two years into my career when my current boss, who has been my mentor and friend, taught me about strategic planning. Since then, I have had the opportunity to put together a few strategic plans for nonprofit organizations and the department in which I work. I now know how important it is to have a plan. I am much better at having a vision by focusing on projects that support the overall plan. More