Monnica Rose, DTM

Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a Board Member:

As a retired mechanical engineer with over 35 years of experience, I led, mentored, and managed teams on complex projects supporting aircraft modifications at L3Harris Technologies. Extensive global experience was gained working on military contracts in the United Kingdom (Royal Air Force), Australia (Royal Australian Air Force), and the United States (US Air Force), providing the ability to navigate international defense standards and collaborate across time zones. This role required effective coordination with global teams and consistent reporting on supply chain issues impacting delivery dates. I managed budgets of more than 24 million and performed monthly workforce forecasts. My focus was always on understanding our global customer needs; effectively presenting ideas and designs, problem-solving, and delivering high-quality products. Additionally, I held a Secret Security Clearance, giving me a deep understanding of the importance of data security and the critical nature of confidential project management.

In my role as Board President for Women of Visionary Influence, I lead board meetings and guide the discussions to shape the direction of the organization based on bylaws, business issues, strategic planning, and member needs.

The skills and experience I bring from both my professional engineering career and nonprofit leadership will serve me and the Board well as a member of the Executive Committee.

What experience do you have in strategic planning?

At L3Harris, I led ongoing strategic planning to meet customer goals and complete engineering tasks on time and under budget. By working on the diverse military projects, I understood each country's priorities, culture, and strategies. We seized all opportunities to leverage designs across customers with similar aircraft platforms. In 2017, our team achieved the Top Star Award for Exceptional Performance for our efforts. I learned that effectively forecasting the workforce and resources required was vital to meeting engineering release dates on a compressed schedule and increasing customer satisfaction.

In Women of Visionary Influence, I develop strategic plans for monthly programs, special training, and leader development to achieve the organization's mission. Our Board conducted a SWOT analysis to learn our opportunities to better position the organization to thrive. Following the pandemic, our programs have continued to meet members' and interested guests' satisfaction and we have been able to attract new members. The key indicators were attractive programs and the continued growth of the organization through online chapters. We have another chapter currently in the process of being established.

As a Toastmasters International Director, I had the opportunity to participate in a Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, and Results (SOAR) analysis which rolled up to our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan. My strategic planning experiences from my corporate and nonprofit roles will allow me to directly contribute to discussions on the Executive Committee with the goal to plan effective positioning of our organization to compete and prosper in an evolving market.

What experience do you have in the area of finance?

At L3Harris, I successfully managed budgets for my engineering segment over multiple projects and played a pivotal role in the budgeting process. I spearheaded the bidding process and provided production estimates for both the mechanical and manufacturing teams. Additionally, I monitored project progress and reported project statuses to senior management, ensuring transparency and effective decision-making. With a deep understanding and forethought of the financial requirements needed by both teams, I ensured that we secured adequate funding to design and manufacture for product installation.

With our need for up-to-date financial information to make informed decisions in the nonprofit arena, I monitor the key Women of Visionary Influence events and ensure they meet members' needs while staying within budget. Additionally, I manage the submission of annual financial reports for the chapters and maintain a close working relationship with the organization's accountant. This ensures each chapter properly records income and expenses for effective chapter management and financial stewardship.

On the Toastmasters Board of Directors, I reviewed, approved, and provided organizational financial oversight of monthly reports and approval of the annual budget.

What experience do you have in developing policies?

To remain agile in these changing times and support the growth of our Women of Visionary Influence organization, I oversaw policy updates and set guidelines for allowing existing chapters to meet online and to form an exclusive online chapter. In September 2020, the initial online chapter for Women of Visionary Influence was launched.

As a member of the Policies and Procedures Committee for Delta Sigma Theta, a community service organization, I review and recommend changes to the chapter's policies and procedures and the Grand Chapter Constitution and Bylaws. The committee works with the Regional and National Scholarship and Standards Committee to ensure compliance with appropriate guidelines.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role as International Director was when I realized the gravity that our collective efforts make in shaping the future of our organization. I had an opportunity to serve on several committees. On the Governing Documents Review Committee, as a sub-committee member, I made recommendations to update policies for clarity, and inclusivity, and to positively impact our global membership which resulted in proposals for our members to vote on at the Annual Business Meeting. On the Policy Review Committee, serving as subcommittee chair, the subcommittee's charter was multi-faceted. I led the team, leaning on my corporate experience at L3Harris to break down complex issues, think strategically, and anticipate needs ahead of time to bring policy recommendations to the Board for the benefit of our members.

What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?

In addition to our Toastmaster core values, teamwork, consensus, and collaboration are foundational truths I live by. A powerful realization came when I connected the dots between all my learning experiences from various roles - starting from Club leadership to District service, and finally, serving on the Board of Directors. Each experience equipped me with the necessary skill set to fully embrace the responsibilities of this role. This journey taught me to trust the process, appreciating that every step, every learning opportunity, plays a vital role in shaping our capabilities. I often say that those who fully embrace all that the Toastmasters program has to offer will truly have a life-changing experience.

Through my experiences and Board committee work, I learned the value of planning, teamwork, and the shared experiences of the team. You do not have to be the smartest one in the group. That is the beauty of teamwork. Get to know your team, build relationships, and have a growth mindset.

From my corporate experience at L3Harris, I discovered that the skills that I honed in my day-to-day work were highly transferable to my responsibilities on Board committees, which allowed me to excel in my role. This demonstrated my ability to think strategically and have the foresight to anticipate future needs. My experience collaborating with multinational and diverse teams in the engineering field prepared me very well for service on the board and to lead teams effectively. It gave me a stronger appreciation and value of their insights. We are better and more effective together.

What experience and key strengths would you bring to the Board of Directors?

Innately, I bring my diverse engineering experience as an analyzer, critical thinker, and problem solver. However, my experiences and key strengths reveal a balanced temperament in my role as a leader. We need to have a cool head when leading in tough times.

I would continue to focus on our global membership, consistently placing their interests at the forefront of our priorities. We need to ensure that consideration for every decision keeps the member first.

One of my notable strengths is approachability. This is a key strength when leading teams because members are comfortable expressing their thoughts, and concerns, and are excited to share ideas without fear of judgment. I have also experienced this while serving our members as an ambassador of our organization.

While being open and approachable, I do not shy away from making tough decisions when the situation calls for it. I am decisive and guided by governing documents. However, I can assess and weigh the available information, make choices promptly, and take responsibility for those choices.

In my approach to decision-making, I am dedicated to sharing the "Why"! It is extremely important to explain the rationale behind decisions and actions. This helps create transparency and alignment within the organization. Sometimes we need to know the "why" to make better, more informed decisions.

Lastly, I bring my strong work ethic to the Executive Committee and Board activities. Dedication, hard work, and commitment to efficiently accomplish tasks and goals, inspire me. I have successfully led teams using this strength to drive progress and achieve objectives.

Why do you want to serve as an International Officer/Director?

As we step into a future driven by innovation, I recognize the importance of staying connected with each of our members, no matter where they are. We need to continue technological advances in real-time connection with members having a singular message delivered over multiple platforms. Delivering a unified message is key to helping our members feel seen, heard, and supported in their personal growth and transformation and inspiring us all to uphold our Toastmasters promise.

Serving on the Executive Committee would provide an opportunity to review and revise existing policies as necessary to keep up to date with modern technology and best practices and improve the direction of the organization.

I am excited to contribute to the innovations that propel our organization into the next 100 years of providing programs that change lives! My experience, skills, and strong teamwork ethic will enable me to introduce new solutions, influence the decisions happening, and collaborate effectively to bring these ideas to life. I am ready to make an immediate, impactful contribution to the Executive Committee.

What volunteer experience do you have outside of Toastmasters?

It is an incredible feeling to experience the joy of volunteering. I am thrilled to share some of my experiences:

• Spoke to young women on careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
• Taught at-risk youth through Junior Achievement
• Participated as a caroler for Project Christmas Spirit
• Served as a high school science fair judge
• Presented to middle-school students during National Engineers Week
• Provided Thanksgiving baskets for families
• Contributed clothing and toys through the "Delta Love for Families" event

I am honored to have received the Excellence in Community Service Award from L3Harris for my efforts.

Have you worked with other Boards of Directors outside of Toastmasters? If so, describe your experience.

In Women of Visionary Influence, I plan and lead scheduled and ad hoc board meetings. During the pandemic, we held more meetings than normal and have continued to hold meetings as needed to further the mission of the organization and meet the needs of our members. In September 2020, I led a successful Leadership Summit and awards presentation, marking the first time our organization hosted the event online. Members embraced this new normal, as evidenced by their attendance and participation.

As an overall assessment, our product is solid; however, the market is dynamic and is constantly evolving. We will continue to champion strategic discussions in how we operate, position the organization for growth, and guide chapters in meeting the needs of its members.

In your opinion, what are Toastmasters International’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?

Toastmasters International's mission stands that "We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders." I believe its key objectives are central to delivering a high-quality program, fostering organizational growth, improving member retention, and leadership development. Achieving success in these areas is critical to the quality of our Clubs, member engagement, and the longevity of the entire organization.

As an Executive Committee member, I am committed to working collaboratively with others to research, gain member feedback, benchmark solutions that are applicable for our members worldwide, and build upon a solid base of successive strategies of innovation and automation to enhance our member experience.

With a forward-thinking approach and focus on sustaining success, I am excited to contribute to the continued growth and success of Toastmasters International.

Additional information about candidate:

Driven by opportunities to engage both mind and body, I earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and am a certified scuba diver. I actively pursue running 5K races and solving Sudoku puzzles. Traveling and exploring different cultures have deepened my global and cultural understanding, as I embrace diversity and lifelong learning. Whether it is through disciplined activities or new experiences, there will always be a time when you will find me doing something!

As a leader, I'm passionate about mentorship and teamwork - both are essential for success. We thrive with mentors and succeed as teams!

After attending a Toastmasters event outside of my Home Club, I was hooked on all the exciting opportunities the Toastmasters program offered. I am overly excited to have met my husband, Edward, right here in Toastmasters. A priceless opportunity!