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Meet the ENF Staff

Jim O'Kelley
ENF Director


Jim shows off his teamwork
and his cooking skills
at the ENF's annual staff retreat
How long have you worked at the ENF?
A little over 16 years. Started Aug. 1, 1997.
What projects are you working on right now?
Well, I’m trying to finish the last of my reviews, which is already long overdue. And I’m following up on some things from last weekend’s Board meeting. And I’m reviewing Impact Grant applications.
What are you doing to celebrate ENF Month?
We’re holding our annual staff retreat this month. I always look forward to that.
What’s your favorite part of working at the ENF?
We have a great team here, and I enjoy working with most of them all of the time and all of them at least some of the time. Okay, that was a nod to the book question below. (Bilbo at his birthday party.) Seriously, the Foundation is the greatest achievement of the Elks organization to date, and every day, I get to help realize the dream of the man who founded it. That’s pretty rewarding.
Describe your average day at the ENF.
The days typically aren’t that average, which is one of the reasons why the job continues to be rewarding, even after 16 years. But I spend most of my time facilitating the Board’s accountability to the public, planning for the future, and trying to make our processes as efficient and effective as possible.
What’s one thing about you that might surprise people?
I have an extensive board game collection.
What book would you bring to a desert island?
Ideally, it would be one I could eat in a pinch, just in case. Failing that, probably The Killer Angels. Honorable mentions to Watership Down, The Secret History, and The Lord of the Rings. Oh, and A Song of Ice and Fire, although the verdict is still out on that series as we await the final two installments.



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