Mary Hiland, LCSW, Ph.D

Mary Hiland is gifted in her understanding of people and organizational dynamics. She is very effective in balancing the needs of people for participation and achieving results. Process design, facilitation, and strategic coaching are her strengths. Deep experience in the nonprofit sector,business experience, blending of practice and research, and cost-effective approaches to organizational and people challenges distinguishes Mary. She brings experience, scholarship, credibility, and flexibility to deliver results for you.

Experience
Mary Hiland has over thirty years experience in the nonprofit sector – twenty as an executive—and over ten years experience as a business owner. Dr. Hiland has led two nonprofit mergers and in her consulting practice has facilitated the mergers and/or strategic restructuring of several nonprofits. Her executive experience includes being the CEO for one of the largest nonprofits in the Bay Area—a mental health agency with over 500 staff and a budget of $25 million. She is a lead trainer and consultant for the Governance Initiative, an executive and board development program of the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits and is an executive coach for new and experienced leaders. Dr. Hiland has had a successful consulting business for over five years and has assisted in the development and success of two businesses with her husband.

Dr. Hiland has served on boards of directors, presented at numerous conferences, taught at San Jose State University, and designed and delivered several workshops.

Education

Complementing years of experience, Mary has a Ph.D. in human and organizational systems (with a focus on nonprofit leadership and governance) and three Masters Degrees: in social work, public administration, and organizational development. She has specialized leadership training from state of the art resources such as Harvard Business School, Peter Block’s School for Leading and Managing Change, and the American Leadership Forum. Mary's doctoral research was on the relationship between the chair of the board and the executive director in nonprofit organizations.

Credibility

Mary has been recognized by her peers and the community with several community
service awards: