ELT & Director Talking Points Nate Morabilo, Investigative Reporter with WCNC made a public records request in late October regarding expenses the CRVA incurred over the past decade with one of our professional service providers Doug Bacon. Doug is the owner and Managing Director of Throwing Words, LLC. We understand the story may air in the coming days, so we wanted to ensure our leaders were aware and felt confident fielding any questions from our valued team members. Throwing Words, LLC was originally engaged by the CRVA in 2013 for Executive Leadership Team development work, following my hiring in 2012. I was keenly focused:oneollaboration and employing a strengths-based approach to performance management, understanding strengths-based leadership can be 2 powerful tool for increasing motivation and performance. Doug is a Gallup-Certfed Strengths coach and was one ofthe first seven Independent coaches in the world to achieve this qualification just prior to our engagement. Throwing Wordswas chosen based on Doug's specialized knowledge, experience, expertise, and professional qualifcalians in addition to the CRVA’s working knowledge of Doug in leadership posttions with The:Lee Institute arias Board President of Leadership Charlotte in 2014 In general, the CRVA seeks service providers based on experience and proven success in @ specified subject matter or topic, qualifications and reputation cast efficiency and technical skills, Our staff confirms a consultant's collaboration and problem-solving abiliies; checks referenens of work and compares capabilites with the CRVA’s-mission, and goals toweterminetalignment. The CRVA is a public entity and complies with North Carolina General Statutes for publie contracting: including service contracts for professional services. Since our inital engagement with Doug in 2019, the CRVA has continued to work with Doug on a fee and time basig 6 provide CliftonStrengths assessments (also known as StrenghtsFinder), new employeeltrtanager Strerigthis:reviews, 360 assessments, Strengths coaching and leadership coaching, Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is rooted in our Core Values and viewed as a responsibily of everyone at the CRVA. We value building trusted relationships with all of our partners and vendors, and continugusly seek to expand the supply chain so that it reflects the diversity of Chariotte's guests, customers and the broader epmmunity. Strengthening engagement in our MWBE program is vitally important to the CRVA's goal.of ensuring those we do business with reflect the community's diversity and aligns directly with the oraanizational mission of elevating community prosperity.