CONCORD, N.H. – The newest group of Technical Assistance Providers bolstered their skills this past week, and are ready to coach and empower the homeowners they work with.
Jim Domino of NeighborWorks® Montana, Molly Snell-Larch of PathStone Corporation, Julia Curry of Cooperative Development Institute and Andy Kadlec of Thistle all gathered in New Hampshire for a four-day training where they sharpened their skills and collaborated with their peers.
“It’s really great to see such quality people coming into the Network,” said Gary Faucher, ROC USA® Network’s National Training Manager. “Everyone seemed genuinely excited to be getting into this work.”
Focusing on the entire spectrum of the ROC Model, from where it began to where it will go, the agenda for the training covered pre- and post-purchase work and the resources the new affilate staffers can use. Along with market development and strategic planning practice, this week of trainings taught them the critical organizing and TA principles to set the foundation for the work they will do in the field.
Attendees were also able to hear from and work with staff from ROC USA® as well as other affiliate members. This collaboration helps to build the relationships within Network, Faucher said.
“We do so much remote work, so it’s great to have that face-to-face contact,” he said.
During the training, the group was able to join the team at ROC-NH, a program of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, which pioneered the model in the 1980s.
“They see the value of getting connected to where this work began,” said Faucher of the ROC-NH staff.
ROC USA Network consists of nine Certified Technical Assistance Providers who work with the 236 ROCs in 16 states — CASA of Oregon, Cooperative Development Institute, LEAP ROC, NeighborWorks® Montana, Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, PathStone, ROC-NH, ROC Northwest and Thistle.