Jennifer Ginnetti only knew the basics about Indian Creek Foundation before she met Dean Stoesz in 2014. Dean, our recently retired CEO, visited Gwynedd Mercy University with Janice Nuss, who helped launch Wraparound Services at ICF in 1996. When Janice left Indian Creek to join the Social Work program faculty at Gwynedd Mercy, she fostered a relationship between her department and our organization that still continues today. During one of Dean’s visits to campus, Janice took him to meet Jenn. Dean was intent on building a strong Finance Committee on the Board, and Janice felt that Jenn would be a good fit.
Jenn was drawn in by Dean’s passion for the mission of Indian Creek Foundation, and she found it hard to say no to learning more. She took the next step and came to our campus for a tour, which included a visit to the Day Program. As she watched Dean make his way around the room, knowing everyone’s name and what they were up to that day, she knew she wanted to be part of ICF. She was moved by the energy in the room and how well the staff and individuals being served all cared for each other and what they were doing. Having a sister-in-law with special needs, Jenn felt that joining the Board would serve her just as much as she could serve ICF.
As the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Gwynedd Mercy University, Jenn was immediately placed on the Finance Committee of the Board. Now in her final term, Jenn is the Finance Chair. She will be stepping down with confidence that the organization is financially stable and that her successor is ready to lead the committee.
Working with Dean and now Tim as CEO has been a great experience for members of the Finance Committee, in Jenn’s opinion. “Dean and Tim both have a very strong grasp on financials and being fiscally responsible, which makes the Board’s job much easier. It’s helpful to have a responsible CEO, because then we can focus on forward thinking and providing guidance about plans and ideas coming from the Leadership Team.”
Jenn believes that the Indian Creek Board stands out as a sounding board for leadership support. The Directors and Chief Officers are subject matter experts in their fields, which allows them to manage the operations responsibly. They know they can bring their financial questions before the Board to benefit from an even deeper understanding of how regulations, investments, accounting, real estate, and debt impact their departments and the organization’s health. The united strength of the Board and Leadership Team drives Indian Creek’s ability to focus on serving both employees and consumers in a way that improves the entire community.
Jenn appreciates all that she has learned in working with ICF. She believes that the organization has a huge local impact, and she is grateful that she could introduce her own sons to the work we are doing. Her family has volunteered during the Holiday Friendship Dinners and participated in the Roll Stroll & Run event. During COVID-19, when the Board was helping to deliver holiday meals to Indian Creek group homes, Jenn was delightfully surprised to find that there were homes right in her Pennridge school district. She was amazed at how far our reach really is.
When recalling what she is most proud of from her tenure, Jenn mentioned her team’s guidance through appointing the current CFO, Colleen Kelly. During the interim period following the previous officer’s retirement, the Board stepped in to make sure that Indian Creek always had fiscal guidance and strength. The Board took responsibility to make sure that the gap in leadership would not negatively affect the overall organization, and it was successful in those efforts.
For anyone considering a role with Indian Creek’s Board of Directors, Jenn encourages curiosity. There is a lot to learn about our operations, but everyone is eager to talk about what they do and why it matters. Prospective Board Members should spend time getting to know staff at all levels as well as the individuals we serve. Their passion can convince anyone that being part of Indian Creek is the right choice! People are the most important priority for anyone serving on the Board, in Jenn’s opinion.
“Especially on the Finance Committee, you have to understand the human aspect as much as the business aspect. We always have to think about who is being affected and how; we can’t just look at the numbers to make decisions. People’s lives are impacted by every decision, so we have to have compassion and understanding for that.”
Indian Creek’s biggest impression on Jenn has been to grow her awareness that organizations like ours are not the norm. What Indian Creek does is special, and the people who benefit from that are enjoying services and a lifestyle that is lacking for many of their peers. She would like to see a model of service like ours grow throughout the nation. With new, experienced leadership in place, Indian Creek is poised to grow and influence other organizations with our values and exceptional standard of care.