Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to George Wallace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, George thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

One of the most important things I learned at a previous job is that things are not always greener on the other side. After 10 years of being an executive director of a large arts and cultural organization, I felt a bit of burnout. I was encouraged to apply for a position out of state for a similar organization that was smaller and sought a level of expertise that I possessed. I was offered and accepted the position and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in April 2017. After working for several months, it was obvious that the organization was not a good fit for me, nor was I a good fit for them. I left the position in November 2017 after only 7 months in my role. I felt terrible leaving, however, I knew for my own wellbeing, it was necessary. My partner and I uprooted our entire lives to move and settle into a new life in the Midwest. I of course still was connected to Orlando, living here since 1992. I served previously on the board of directors of The Center Orlando from 2014 until I left in 2017. I returned to Orlando in December and have never been happier!

George, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have worked in nonprofit my entire adult life. I have always wanted to give back to the community and started working with adults with developmental and cognitive disabilities in college. I became director of adult education at a large human service agency in Boston before relocating to Orlando. I worked for several years at Quest, Inc., one of the largest agencies in Orlando and eventually discovered my love for arts and spearheaded Orlando Fringe for just over a decade. Working at The Center has afforded me the privilege of combining all my skillsets serving our community. I am most proud of the work we do daily to serve our marginalized communities, whether through health screenings, legal referrals or mental health counseling. I work closely with victims and family members of the 2016 Pulse tragedy and honor those we lost.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Being the CEO of an organization comes with a level of recognition for the accomplishments of the company. I always make sure I acknowledge the hard working and dedicated staff for their work. A leader is only as strong as the team that supports them and I am fortunate to have surrounded myself with an amazing team. My other advice is to reward your employees–sometimes it is the little things, like a Friday afternoon pizza party or providing handwritten thank you notes.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I 100% would choose nonprofit work and being a servant leader to our community. Whether I stayed in New Hampshire or moved anywhere else in the world, I am confident that my DNA would not allow me to work in a corporate setting. Nonprofit work is not easy and sometimes I get discouraged, but I would not change my career for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thesenterorlando.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeInOrlando
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-wallace-72759793/