by David Chapman
Staff Writer
After six years as president of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, Debbie Verges decided it was time to move on.
Her talents as a “turnaround person” helped different Clubs in Dallas and Waco, Texas, Lafayette, La., Bradenton, Fla. and Las Vegas before she arrived in Jacksonville in 2002. During her tenure, Verges helped the Northeast Florida organization get back on track to success.
Turnaround complete, she’d normally move on to the next city or organization in need — but not this time. She simply enjoys the area too much.
“I couldn’t be happier,” she said from her Ponte Vedra home. “I’m staying in Jacksonville ... I have a lot of friends and contacts here and I’ve got the water.”
She also has a new business, Deborah J. Verges Consulting, that will incorporate what she does best: assist non-profits of all kinds with development issues.
For Verges, getting struggling non-profits back on path is generally done through looking over the books for fiscal adjustments and responsibility, implementing and restructuring a non-profit’s governance and establishing a plan for resource and program development.
The Boys & Girls Clubs will always be near and dear to her, she said, and it’s the firsthand stories of making a difference in children’s lives she’ll miss the most.
During her time as the Northeast Florida Clubs’ president, Verges helped grow the organization in both budget and size. Upon her arrival, the organization had an unstable financial situation in need of repair and nine clubs. Today, the organization has a healthy annual budget of $4 million along with 12 clubs, including two 20,000 square-foot facilities.
“I didn’t do it alone, though,” she said. “We (Clubs of Northeast Florida) have a great board of directors and a very caring and dedicated staff that has helped the organization tremendously.”
Though time with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida was extraordinary, Verges is excited about assisting non-profits of all kinds with her new business.
“I’m really looking forward to learning about all the non-profits out there that I don’t know much about yet,” she said. “Of course I will always love the Boys & Girls Clubs, but there are a lot of organizations out there who might need a hand.”
She’ll be offering her assistance from a new workplace — her Ponte Vedra home — and any roadblocks a nonprofit might have she’ll find a solution.
“I’ve always said ‘If you’re static, you’re going backwards,’” she said. “I want to help non-profits of all kinds progress.”
And as for being able to do all this from home?
“I’m going to love it.”
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