The Situation
Where service goes, Meg Stagina will follow. After all, as Executive Director of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, the recognized professional resource for dentists in both their business and in their patients’ care, she knows a thing or two about how exceeding service standards leads to patient acquisition and retention for her members. That’s why she followed the Society’s long-time accountant, Jeanne Dee, to Anders CPAs + Advisors when she left her previous firm.
“We were entering a new era and continuity of the high standards Jeanne had been providing was essential,” said Stagina. “The fact that Anders had an entire department dedicated to not-for-profits and extensive resources was a bonus.”
The Challenges
The Greater St. Louis Dental Society had an idea: they wanted to establish a new 501(c)(3) entity under their existing organization. Was this feasible? Did it make sense? How did one even begin? Would the Board approve it? When should it launch? The questions and uncertainties seemed endless, yet there was also potential for something great.
“This was and is a huge undertaking; we are creating an entirely new financial entity,” Stagina shared. “There were questions from a variety of different perspectives—operational, financial, etc.—and from a multitude of stakeholders. It is a very intricate and complicated undertaking.”
The Solution
Jeanne, a partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors, and the not-for-profit team at Anders were there every step of the way.
“They helped answer all of the questions we had and address the complexities involved. Jeanne even sat in on meetings with our Committee to answer questions about what this could look like and the impact it could have.”
The team at Anders walked right beside Stagina and her team from concept to where this idea is now—an entity that is almost ready to launch and that will impact opportunities for future dentists in our region.
The Results
“The consultative layer of service we receive from Jeanne and the team at Anders is unparalleled,” said Stagina. “We were creating something from nothing and she was there providing thoughtful, educated responses to guide us in the right direction.”
Innovation can sometimes feel lonely, Stagina suggests, but she never feels alone with the Anders team backing the Society. She notes that Jeanne was instrumental in providing the Committee with the data they needed to feel secure in making a recommendation to the Board, which ultimately voted in favor of bringing this idea to fruition.
“Anders is a true partner; they have a passion for not-for-profits and their success,” said Stagina. “And they don’t just say that. They dedicate resources to their not-for-profit department to back it up. I know I have a trusted, reliable partner with the Society on our journey.”
Learn more about the Greater St. Louis Dental Society or the Anders Not-for-Profit Team.
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