Heather Bawyn has dedicated most of her finance career to serving nonprofits, even before she joined ADRC of Brown County in May 2022.
“I’m deeply passionate about supporting community initiatives that uplift vulnerable populations and foster strong local connections,” says Bawyn, who is proud of her personal and career growth, particularly since she holds an associate degree versus an undergraduate or advanced degree.
“This meant I had to put in extra effort to prove my knowledge and skills were up to the challenge,” she says. “It wasn’t always easy, but the dedication paid off.”
One of Bawyn’s recent challenges is the impending end of American Rescue Plan Act funding that has helped the organization through COVID-19 and rising operational costs. Now, “we are confronted with a substantial budget shortfall,” she says, adding that the organization has had to make tough choices to reduce staff and scale back services: “These adjustments are necessary as we strive to sustain operations while ensuring we meet the needs of the community, despite the reduced resources.”
She says a successful financial leader must combine their technical expertise with exceptional interpersonal skills.
