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Mary Virtue | Carol Coren | Mark C. Halsey

Carol Coren

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Carol Coren has been actively engaged in the nonprofit sector as an agency founder, director or consultant for the past thirty years. After working as a television and news film editor for Philadelphia area broadcast stations, she joined the staff of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women in 1976 and while there produced innovative multi-media programs to advance equal employment and educational opportunities for women.  She left that post to become the first Executive Director of a tri-state Women's Way campaign and played a key role in introducing United Way Donor Option programs through her work there. Since then, she has held executive positions at numerous organizations.

Ms. Coren brings significant experience in strategic planning and program development, economic and community development, micro-credit, rural and women’s services, public affairs, media relations, nonprofit/NGO management, Internet communications, distance learning, and organization development to her work with clients.  Ms. Coren has helped a broad array of individuals, agencies, institutions and organizations in their efforts to become self sufficient and to build up services and client bases. Among her most distinguished accomplishments are securing US Treasury Community Development Financial Institution Certification for two nonprofit micro-enterprise lenders, one in Appalachian Pennsylvania and the other in the Pacific Northwest . She has raised venture capital for emerging technologies and worked with real estate developers, community action agencies, cultural institutions, schools, and nonprofit groups focusing on the arts, culture, education, environment, sustainable agriculture, rural and urban development initiatives and tourism.

In recent years, she has applied her media background to Internet based distance learning and e-commerce initiatives and created websites for a statewide arts campaign, for microenterprise entrepreneurs, for low income savers participating in Individual Asset Development (IDA) programs and for food security initiatives. She has been recognized for the scope of her work and knowledge by the US Department of Commerce which has used her to review Technology Opportunity Program Grants and by the USDA which enlisted her to serve as an advisor to two Secretaries of Agriculture as a member of an E-government Advisory Board.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Economic Development

• Worked with five Local Development Districts to launch a Community Development Financial Institution
• Formed a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) for an international relief and development organization  
• Organized and managed three Individual Development Account (IDA) programs including an American Dream Demonstration Program

Marketing and Distribution

• Worked with growers in the Northwest US to support development of technologies to extend shelf life of raw foods and to develop distribution strategies for fresh produce to local and domestic markets
• Worked with promoters of Food Incubators and Food Innovation Centers in Oregon and other parts of the USA on Market Access Programs
• Conducted statewide assessments of Community Farmers Markets and farm direct marketing initiatives
• Developed and implemented a statewide branding campaign for the arts
• Worked with an international NGO to develop capacity building strategies for agricultural communities and agricultural improvement programs
• Facilitated development of brand identities and implementation of branding campaigns for service, educational and cultural organizations

Emerging Technologies

• Monitored development of Electronic Medical Records industry and assessed its impact on patient health care and portfolio portability
• Raised capital for high tech businesses with special focus on ventures involving food preparation and production technologies, environmental restoration and remediation, construction, process engineering and risk management
• Facilitated strategic planning initiatives for of several women’s healthcare, social and economic support services
• Worked with arts organizations throughout New Jersey to develop and implement a statewide ArtsPlan that advanced use of arts centers, theaters and concert halls as community development anchors and helped facilitate communities’ uses of Cultural Bonds for construction and capital improvement programs

Social Enterprise Development

• Supported development of grant funded social enterprises involved in wetland nurseries, Native American salmon marketing, cultural tourism and agri-tourism
• Served as a founder of Individual Development Programs that provide financial management training to microenterprise entrepreneurs
• Provided Board Development Training and development advice to a UN affiliated educational technology service
• Participated in development of a feasibility study regarding uses of distance learning and videoconferencing by rural communities

Community Action/Human Services

• Revived and expanded a county-based rape crisis program that is now part of the national Network for Victim Services
• Organized Non-Traditional Job Training Program to help women meet requirements for skilled crafts and trades
• Played a role in organizing a regional campaign to encourage income eligible taxpayers to file for Earned Income Tax Credits (resulting in millions of dollars being returned to individuals in economically challenged communities
• Worked with trade unions and workforce development managers on a program that helped women secure remedial and vocational training needed to secure apprenticeship opportunities
• Served as a member of an industrial development board for a community facing dramatic plant closures and changes in workforce demands.

Communications

• Helped found a youth radio station for Tashkomur, KZ
• Produced films and broadcast programs for ABC and CBS affiliates and for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network

Business Association Management

• Organized a statewide program to help entrepreneurs and community groups form or strengthen cooperatives. 
• Served as Executive Director for a regional Trade Association that provided marketing and purchasing services to members
• Developed a statewide training program to stimulate consideration of cooperative business models for rural development. 

Contact Carol

Carol Coren
610-696-8149 phone
215-939-4094 cell
carolcoren@aol.com