Each consulting engagement provides a forum for me to hone my associative thinking skills – an opportunity to make connections across ideas and customers – and to see patterns.  I did just that in 2008 when I designed a new, synergistic service delivery model for Rebuilding Together Metro Denver while consulting on their strategic business plan.  RTMD was part of Rose Community Foundation’s 3-year BOOST initiative.

Little did I know at the time that I was on the forefront of a movement – to name and claim the nonprofit business model.  After my ah ha with Rebuilding Together, I found myself continually going back to that initial idea and fleshing it out.  I read, chatted, learned, and absorbed what I could on this nonprofit business model notion.  Then, ta da (and two years in the skunk works), the Synergistic Business Model^™ framework was born.

Foresight – Perception of the significance and nature of events before they have occurred. Sometimes foresight is easier to see after it has occurred.

If you’re looking for consultants to bring foresights to you, give Team Corona a call.

Corona has worked with CML for several years and this is the third year in which Corona has conducted the research to inform the State of Our Cities and Towns annual report.

Visit the Denver Post to see a recent article by CML referencing the State of Our Cities and Towns report.  To learn more about the Colorado Municipal League, visit their website.

You may have noticed some other recent changes to Corona’s website. We apply proven research methods and strategic insights to all of our customers, across sectors and industries. Keep checking back to find out how we can help your nonprofit, business, government agency or higher education institution.

We were pleased to learn that lucky project #1001 was for the Iliff School of Theology. Corona has engaged with Iliff since 2007 when we created an influential Strategic Enrollment Marketing Plan for the institution, as well as a strategic business plan . Since then, Corona has led various research projects for Iliff, looking into new market segments, student enrollment opportunities and testing new curriculum ideas.

Our ongoing relationship with Iliff is a hallmark of Corona’s brand – combining our market research and strategic consulting expertise in the higher education field to provide ongoing data-driven insights that lead to proven results. Learn more about Iliff’s success as well as their 2010 and 2011 awards. Click here to read a testimonial from their VP of Marketing Communications & Strategic Partnerships.

Cheers to project 1001!

The next era nonprofit is being (re)created right now.  It embraces community relevance and impact as it searches for the Holy Grail – sustainability.

Corona Insights is leading a workshop for Denver’s Social Venture Partners on the five fundamentals of sustainable, next era nonprofits. Join us on February 17 from 7:30-9:30 am to learn about these fundamentals, Corona’s cutting-edge approach to business model sustainability, and the insights and foresights we’ve gathered on the future of the sector .  The SVP workshop, open to 50 participants, will focus on:

• The fundamentals of nonprofit sustainability
• The importance of strategy and business model design for sustainable nonprofits
• The board’s role in sustainability

Contact Pat Landrum, Executive Director of SVP Denver, for more information and to RSVP.

Recently, Corona donated four desks and three bookcases to The Journey Institute and a set of cubicles to the JeffCo Action Center.

Corona has always supported the nonprofit sector through our work, volunteering, and donations.  Corona was recently featured in a new book on the topic as well, Strategy for Good.  Check out our blog post on the book here. And stay tune for more information about our move!

Karla Raines, Corona's CEO (right) and Dafna Michaelson of The Journey Institute

Corona's furniture on the way to the Journey Institute

Corona enjoyed another banner year helping our clients find the answers to the questions most important to them and guiding them to action. As we look ahead to 2012, what burning questions are on the horizon? How can we help you face that uncertain future together?

From all the Coronitas, have a wonderful holiday season and a joyful new year!

Corona Staff Retreat at The Brown Palace

Ski Day at Arapahoe Basin

This article also heralds Corona Insights’ partnership with CausePlanet.org, an online resource for nonprofit leaders. For years, CausePlanet.org has been showcasing the latest thinking in the nonprofit sector through their Page to Practice™ book summaries, as well as blogs and relevant articles. Through this ongoing relationship, Corona and CausePlanet.org will continue to synthesize the best thinking and publications out there for you.

David touches on changes in the market research industry that he is seeing and how those shifts have impacted our work here at Corona Insights.

Read his interview here.

TED builds community through story telling.  It’s as simple as that.  Stories are shared around the globe.  In the old days we had pen pals (remember those?) and actually wrote letters to people we didn’t know.  Now, the power of video brings us together via smartphones, tablets, a PC or the TV on your kitchen counter, building a bond as we share a lesson.

At yesterday’s TEDxCrestmoorParkWomen, many of us spoke about our quests – for fulfilling lives and meaningful work, for clues about how to relate to one another and lessons learned about community and the power of patience.  Sometimes we must rely on a community of one – ourselves.

My quest began with a question – an inspiration to explore.  I felt compelled to discover the answer.  Others didn’t embark from the same point – the inspirational question.  Their quest began when their original journey hit a road block.  Detour ahead.  Breakdown on the highway of life.  Though like me, they yearned.

So, here’s to yearning.  While we’re at it, let’s quest and conquer too.  Let’s call it what it really is – epic.

Let’s shout Eureka!

Heartfelt thanks to our curator and my dear friend Dafna Michaelson Jenet.  I met Dafna in 2008 in Leadership Denver.  At the time she was beginning to yearn for something more in life.  She walked smack into the “detour ahead” sign and, being the gutsy woman she is said, “Let’s go.”  Who would have thought she’d embark on the quest that would so transform her life?

A special shout out to Triffany Hammond for inspiring me to dust off some vocabulary.  I’m channeling my inner Lewis and Clark.