Glaze and Grit
Glaze and Grit
Tim Eissinger: CEO, Anne Carlsen Center (Episode 12)
Tim Eissinger is the Chief Executive Officer for the Anne Carlsen Center, serving over 4,000 individuals and leading an organization of 700 team members across North Dakota and western Minnesota.
Tim is a life-long North Dakotan and has over 35 years in the non-profit sector, where prior to Anne Carlsen he worked in the adolescent residential treatment field. He is known as a servant leader, a trust builder, and a leader with a talent for approaching problems from multiple points of view.
Tim resides in Fargo with his wife, Becky, and has two grown daughters. In his limited spare time, he likes to build his own computers and has produced computer graphics and animations which have aired on networks such as the History Channel, Discovery Health and PBS.
S2:E4 // December 15, 2020
I'm not someone who's interested in staying in the spotlight or having that type of attention. The value that I feel in the career opportunities that I had, the value comes from being able to see others accomplish, to build and recognize their own strengths in ways that help them be successful.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Glaze and grit is a podcast where honest and real conversations are front and center. A conversation where Fargo, Moorhead area, business owners, thought leaders, advocates, and visionaries share their lessons learned and provide a fresh perspective to better inform and support you in your journey. It's about sharing the real story to inspire lead and encourage. All right here in my backyard of Fargo, North Dakota, it all starts with a conversation and honest one. I'm Jessi Woinarowicz, and this is Glaze and grit. I had the unique pleasure of connecting with Tim Eissinger, CEO for the Anne Carlson Center, a servant leader who oversees an incredible impactful organization, whose mission is to make the world a more inclusive place where independence is a gift to all in a world full of noise. It was such a wonderful opportunity to lean in and learn. My goal is I hope our conversation leaves you motivated to take action on how we as a community can support and lift up our fellow community members with a disability. Here's Tim Eissinger. Good morning. Hey, good morning. How are you?
Tim Eissinger:I'm doing good.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Thank you so much for coming on and chatting with me this morning.
Tim Eissinger:Happy to do it.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Well, are you ready to get started, Tim? All right. It sounds great to provide a bit of background for our listeners. You are the chief executive officer with the Ann Carlson center of position you've held for the past three years. As the end Carlson center is an essential organization to our community and it has made a profound impact on so many lives. Can you share, what was your motivating factor to serve with Anne Carlson?
Tim Eissinger:Yeah, I appreciate the question, Jessi. It's been an interesting journey for me, I guess across my professional career and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to join Anne Carlsen in 2014 as their chief operating officer. And then in 2017 to move into the CEO role, you know, having spent 37 years in the field, you know, and one of, one of the organizations I've worked in was a 30 year stint. And of course, as I can see 60 from a year, I know that that's no longer the model that modern business works within, but I didn't know there was a significant change in mission for my previous employer. And it was one which mentioned, was given second billing to margin and it's been my entire career really focusing on the ability to be a difference maker and to make the world a better place. And I really struggled at that time, knowing that the, uh, where was I going to fit? I mean, I had spent 30 years in that particular organization wanting to make that difference. And suddenly the mission pulled out from under me, where, where would I land? And it certainly took a little bit of recruiting and effort to get me out of my comfort zone, but, you know, it was really quick to see with the inquiry from the end Carlson center, the amazing scope of services they offered and the ideology that Dr. Ann Carlson had built into the institution was alive and well. And that there were so many opportunities available to every team member at Anne Carlson to be that difference maker that I, uh, I made the jump, I have never regretted a single second of it and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Jessi Woinarowicz:And that's so interesting to him. You knew you had to make a leap or do something, but you still struggled or wrestled a little bit with stepping out of your comfort zone.
Tim Eissinger:You know, I, I think that's a modern day challenge for leadership. And especially if you know, it you've spent the majority of your career in one or two industries that you feel as if you're locked in. And I just think the current operating environment is such that people have to be willing to take new risks, um, evaluate new opportunities. I know I liken it to and looking at the many challenges that the individuals we serve at the end Carlson, if I had a quarter of those physical or intellectual challenges, I mean, I, I can't help, but feel like I'd be totally debilitated. And yet the courage that has shown by the families and the individuals we serve to get up each and every day and aspire to not only improve themselves, but make the world a better place to work towards independence and be a contributing member of society. Well, we should all aspire to that. And it's just such an incredible example of courage. They're truly living examples for all of us and certainly function as my role models.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Can you share more about the center's namesake, Dr. Ann Carlsen, along with the services and support the team provides?
Tim Eissinger:Certainly, you know, Dr. Ann was really kind of a legend in her own time. She was recognized by presidents. Um, she is in the theater Roosevelt Roughrider hall of fame. You know, there's just so many aspects of celebrity. And yet, you know, her beginnings were very humble born in 1915 and Grantsburg Wisconsin. I mean, there were significant challenges. I get the opportunity to greet all new employees that Ann Carlsen is a part of our general orientation. And I get a chance to talk about Dr. Ann and her amazing accomplishments in our life. But I also spend a little bit of time talking, Dr. Ann's parents, Alfred and Marin Carlson. And the reason I note that is, again, the, the opportunities given to so many were directly related with Dr. Ann's birth, born with a significant physical or intellectual disability in 1915, the almost first response would be, do we institutionalize this child? Or if we do raise her in our own home, do we put her in the basement? Do we put her in a back room, you know, nodding engaged and the courage of Alfred and Marin Carlson to say, we don't care what the social conventions of the day are. Our opportunity here is to give our daughter every possible opportunity to succeed in our church, our school, our community, um, in, in our family home. And they set the bar so high. And I just tell our teams, we need to each and every one of us have the courage that Dr Anne's parents have, because that will to take on all the naysayers who don't see possibilities or don't see potential. And given the opportunity to showcase what Dr. Ann accomplished in her life. That's a living Testament to their courage. I said each and every one of us has to demonstrate that same courage as we, uh, move forward in our work with, within Carlsen.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Okay. And I know you've mentioned previously, that team member, and you touched on it in here. Team members are always empowered and expected to do the right thing at the end Carlson center, and to be bold and courageous and their thoughts and actions as the CEO, how do you empower your team members to be bold, courageous, and empowered to do the right thing?
Tim Eissinger:I think it's really important to be not just someone who leads by words, but who leads by example. You know, you have to ensure that you're setting the bar high, you aspire to you give and support the organization as much as any other team member. Our pediatricians had mentioned the other day just saying she really appreciated that when at the center, we had to go to both face masks and face shields, that, that wasn't just something that was done by those individuals directly working with the persons we serve that was from the top down. And I wore it in our chief operating officer at the entire executive team role model that and said, this is the example that you set, and this is the expectation we have for the organization. I think that's a critical component is to lead by example. The other aspect that I think is important is, and I know that different companies approach this differently, but from a leadership perspective, recognize that leadership can come from anywhere within an organization. You know, my, my generation tended to be a tenure based leadership. If you were there and you survive the organization longest, you were allowed to lead. And I think more creative, innovative organizations today certainly respect loyalty to an organization, but they also believe very strongly that it's based on what you're willing, willing to give and contribute to the organization. And that everyone's voice should be heard and people should be empowered to act upon their environment and make a change. If we don't support that in terms of our employees and their ability to grow and understand that impact their environment, how do we empower them to ensure that those we serve also have the ability to act on and feel empowered within their environment and make those kinds of systemic changes? I think it builds upon itself as those, we serve gain new skills, they gain new confidence in their abilities, are willing to try new things. The same rules apply very effectively to employees. And as we have more confidence in their skills, they're more willing to take on more roles and responsibilities. And, and Carlson is very invested as a value of the organization in lifelong learning and ensuring that we provide opportunities to individuals who want to make a career of social services, or want to make a career of Anne Carlson, that they'll have opportunities for that within our organization. And I'm sure that this is true and in other businesses, well, you know, how diverse should an organization become in some respects, as we've grown and added, you know, our seven locations in North Dakota, one in Minnesota, you know, we still have aspirations to continue that growth because there are so many unmet needs, but the more diversity that you have adds to your infrastructure and I'd add to, um, you know, the oversight responsibilities and things become complicated. Um, and yet when we've kind of reflect back on, you know, how we approach business as an organization, just as diversity has been our strength in recognizing and building abilities and talents of those we work with, it has also been a strength of the diversity of services as an economic strength to the work of Anne Carlson. And I just think the sky's the limit where you're just really kind of getting off the ground in terms of where we want to make major impacts as an organization, we've been able to connect with Microsoft. We've been able to connect with Apple, you know, look, to find major innovators and creators who are able to look at where technology can be a major assistance for individuals who might need that support to be more independent. And so we're, uh, excited. Uh, my, uh, my mentor, Eric Munson, previous chief executive officer, you know, also saw that potential. And he was the primary architect of our last 10 or 12 years of growth. You know, he just told me, Tim never take your foot off the gas. You know, we, as an organization, have a responsibility to address these unmet needs. We've got an incredibly loyal supporter of donor base. You've got team members from all across the state and therefore it's our responsibility to address and meet and exceed the vision of doctrine and Carlson and be the different makers that we have, the capability of being
Jessi Woinarowicz:Beautiful, Tim, with the disability community, making out the largest minority population in the world, how can Fargo Morehead become more of an inclusive society to better support and rally around our community members who have a disability or a delay
Tim Eissinger:Everyone's lives are so busy and hectic. And we're pulled in so many different directions that I don't know that we always, unless we're directly associated or know someone with a disability that we're taking the time to listen to the disability community and those advocates that we have all across the state, they have such powerful voices and they know what can be of assistance for them interacting with the world. I was on a panel recently where they had the conversation about advocacy and I was able to pull up or go back and find some of the letters that Dr. Ann Carlsen had wrote in accessing the Capitol in Bismarck. And she gave them an earful. She said, you know, we, we deserve the respect, the investment to ensure that all citizens all across the state of North Dakota can participate and make a difference in our government. The nice thing about Dr. Anne, she had the clout to ensure that she was heard by the governor. And now I think our challenge is, is to make sure we maintain that high level of advocacy so that those voices don't get drowned out by all the other noise that's going on outside.
Jessi Woinarowicz:You are also proficient in modern technology where you have built your own computers and have produced computer graphics and animations, which have aired on networks, such as history, channel discovery, health, and PBS. What made you step into building computers?
Tim Eissinger:Here's kind of an lit in some ways. And I think it's just kind of my own intellectual survival. I really enjoyed my work in the human services, uh, and being a difference maker for people. I've had that inspiration since I was a child. I'm second oldest of seven. I had the responsibility and accountability for my siblings and I, it seems like that's followed me for my entire career, but I also understand that working with people is the infinite shades of gray. And so my interest in computers is largely based on, it was somewhat of a break in that computers are binary. They're zero in one, they're very black and white. I think for me, it provided some balance to my life. Okay. This is the very ordered part of what I do and build. And you can still allow creativity within that environment. And then the infinite shades of gray that are part of human services that are equally as rewarding and challenging.
Jessi Woinarowicz:How much do you find that your background and understanding the importance providing state of the art technologies to your clients has assisted Anne Carlsen in general, along with, especially during COVID 19, were so many organizations and businesses were behind the eight ball in ensuring their communication systems or general processes or not on modern technology.
Tim Eissinger:That's a really good point, Jessi, though, I think the component for Anne Carlsen and my own personal view on it is that those types of technology initiatives are not luxuries they're. They tend to be necessities. They push us out of our comfort zone to reinvent what we can do as an organization. And the difference that we can make with the organization. The other component that I think is been really effective for us is our interest in public private partnership. Uh, we have an event coming up called an adaptive thumb in which we'll be adapting toys or individuals we serve that might not be able to interact with them normally. So working with university of gemstone and the students there, we have an opportunity to convert those, to switch based. And, um, sensory-based that opens up a whole new window for both the children that are receiving these toys and inspires a new generation of students to be difference makers as well. Um, again, the sky's the limit in terms of what can be accomplished with those types of partnerships.
Jessi Woinarowicz:And I want to segue a little bit to your early beginnings. You grew up on a dairy farm, which provided a strong foundation on which you build a career in the nonprofit sector. Can you share a little bit more about your early years on what those experiences taught you?
Tim Eissinger:The elements of working at a dairy farm for those that can relate to the experience that is, I mean, that's seven days a week. There are no breaks, there are no vacations. Those types of things are just not a part of that kind of lifestyle. And they set the foundation for me. Certainly my parents drove the values of initiative, hard work, ensuring that you had honesty and integrity and always to value family. My brothers and sisters are gathered somewhat, but we're really have close relationships. Unfortunately I lost my dad to cancer just two weeks into my role, starting with Ann Carlsen. And, uh, but I know he certainly would have been proud of the accomplishments and how I've worked to live out those values being a part of Anne Carlson. Yeah. And I think they have, uh, certainly exceptionally well and, uh, blessed with the family that I have.
Jessi Woinarowicz:What made you decide to go into counseling?
Tim Eissinger:You know, uh, kind of a haphazard journey. Unfortunately, I was one of the first in my family to go to college and so went to MDSU. My interest is wasn't helping others. And so I elected to go into psychology, which was, uh, was a wonderful major. I certainly enjoyed myself until I graduated and was told that you basically can't do anything with a psychology degree. It afforded me that opportunity get into a social service mission with a strong Christian ministry to it. You know, it, it just kind of set the, uh, set the stage for, uh, continued opportunities and growth across my entire journey in this nearly 40 years that I've been in the field know, I don't know that I've ever been in a position where I set a goal of achieving a specific target. Like, you know, someday I'm going to be head of this particular organization. I always tended to find myself in a position where whatever role I was in, I was going to do the best I possibly could in that role. And I remember people telling me, why do you do extra? Why do you add more to this role than is asked of you? You don't get paid anymore. They don't recognize anymore of what you do. Why is that important? And probably it was more luck than anything, but I said, it's definitely one thing that can never be taken away from me is the experience that I'm gaining with each and every new initiative. I'm a part of. And what I found in my leadership journey is that I typically haven't said, I want to be involved in this particular leadership opportunity, but I've been asked Tim based on what you demonstrated in this role. I think you'd be a very nice fit in moving into this area. I mean, I feel very blessed and fortunate in the opportunities that have been presented to me, but it hasn't been with a real major initiative on my part to say, I need to be in that particular role. And I don't know that it necessarily speaks to the values that I bring. I'm not someone who's interested in staying in the spotlight or having that type of attention. The value that I feel in the career opportunities that I had, the value comes from being able to see others accomplish, to build and recognize their own strengths in ways that help them be successful. That that component with it is when I worked with delinquent adolescent, if I told them what to do, oftentimes they were successful. But what they learned from that particular exercise is they needed to have Tim icing her around in order to be successful because he would tell them what to do the true value in being what I consider myself as a servant leader is to, to lead those people, to find their own strengths. So rather than telling someone how I think they should approach a problem or how I would do it, I tend to ask questions, you know, have you ever considered, what do you think would have happened if, and put them in a position where they come to their own conclusions and develop their own internal strengths and confidence in their skillset. And that I think from an, on an ongoing basis, build strength and capacity across your organization. And then, you know, from there, I think that only makes an organization stronger. Thank you for sharing. You're welcome.
Jessi Woinarowicz:One of the focus areas of glaze and grit is sharing that there's so many of us that may not know if we're on the right path in our journey, and it can be so easy to look back at an area your time in your life. And in retrospect, see that it made sense, but in the moment, it can be challenging holding the position of CEO, which for many as a pinnacle position, were you always confident in your career path,
Tim Eissinger:Certainly throughout the entire career, there have been setbacks. Absolutely. There have been challenges. Have there been questions? You know, you, you doubt your abilities, your doubt, the direction you doubt the strategy that you've chosen. And that is the blessing of having talented people around you to help ensure that you can validate those things and come to conclusions. You also had to give yourself permission to make mistakes, always knowing that you have the ability to learn from them and recover the human services, kind of a different circumstance. We have to be very careful, you know, in a COVID 19 environment, mistakes can be deadly. And so I don't mean those types of mistakes, but I do reference your stretch goals. You know, what if, if you were trying to raise$2 million and you went for three or, you know, for an individual that believes they can get to a B grade level in school and you say, let's go for a minus. Those are all, I think, a crucial part of our makeup and then living true to the role modeling of Dr. Ann Carlsen. I mean, that's what she inspired people to do. Don't, don't dwell so much on those things that you understand you cannot change or can't make a difference in focus on what you know, or understand what could be possible and give that 200% of your effort. And even if you don't meet that 100%, you will gain, you will learn. You will be able to take that experience into your next challenge and will most surely benefit from it. Those are just examples to live by. Absolutely an amazing lady.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Absolutely. Tim, what is your finish line?
Tim Eissinger:I don't know that there is a finish line. I want to be part of making a difference. Um, as long as I possibly can and that's not me being selfish and wanting to focus on what I can do, but what can I contribute to what processes, what legacy, what aspect of what the needs are in our current environment and into our short-term future? Where is it that we can continue to have that effect as I've gotten older? It certainly as occurred to me, you know, this aspiration to retire, but you know, it doesn't make sense to gain all of the experience and the, and wherewithal and means by which to effect change, and then just step away from that. For me, I'm actually excited if once retirement comes to move into more of consulting, support board roles, et cetera, and continue, I just don't see that ever stopping for me or the members of my team. That's just not in our DNA to, uh, to step away when probably when many of us will be needed the most definitely Tim, as we wrap up our conversation, I do want to ask how can people become more involved and learn more about Ian Carlson? We certainly like to direct people to our, uh, our website and gain additional information at anncarlsen.org. We have information there about our new capital campaign and our new building venture in Jamestown. That's going to revolutionize the services that we provide there and set us up for the foreseeable future. We are available for a speaking engagement, if that would be an interest for you in terms of upcoming events and Carlson last year did probably our best performance ever with giving hearts day and, you know, just incredibly proud of the work of quota, medical foundation and their leadership in making this truly an amazing annual fundraising event, but would certainly encourage participation from all across the state of North Dakota, Minnesota. We had donors from all across the country last year and are certainly looking to make that another fantastic event for Ann Carlsen in 2021 as well. So we'd love to have everyone participate with us.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Their day is February 11th, 2021. Thank you so much for coming on and joining. I absolutely enjoy listening to you and inspired by your life journey, all of your work and all that your team is doing to support those in our community. So thank you.
Tim Eissinger:Well, thank you, Jessi. I just appreciate you giving voice to themes that are really difference makers for this community. So thank you for your work is very much.
Jessi Woinarowicz:Thank you. Hey, thanks so much for listening in today to learn more about Tim Eiseinger and the Anne Carlsen center. Check out our show notes at glazeandgritpodcast.com. I also encourage you to stay in the note with the Anne Carlsen Center at annecarlsen.org. And finally, if you enjoy this episode, please let us know by subscribing rating and sharing. Thanks again for listening. I'm Jessi Woinarowicz. Talk to you soon.