Investing in Our Team: Fiver’s Commitment to Staff Growth and Development
As part of our current strategic plan, Fiver is prioritizing the sustainability and well-being of our staff and leadership as we work toward ambitious organizational goals. We’ve taken intentional steps to strengthen how we connect team members to professional development opportunities, build our talent and leadership pipeline, and support the continued growth of our staff.
Our approach to professional development is designed to keep staff informed, engaged, and continuously growing. Each month, our HR on the Horizon newsletter—coordinated by our HR & Operations Manager, Helen Weissbach—highlights upcoming learning opportunities, important updates, and key deadlines. It also includes a curated list of both program and development-focused resources. In addition to the newsletter, Fiver uses a dedicated Slack channel “Fiver University” to share timely learning opportunities and encourage ongoing participation in professional growth activities.
Fiver is implementing several new initiatives to strengthen employee development and career progression in alignment with our strategic plan. We are establishing a structured and dynamic approach to professional development that promotes continuous learning and growth. In addition to role-specific training, we are expanding resources to help staff better utilize key internal systems, including Lattice, CampMinder, Asana, and Google Workspace, and developing clear growth pipelines for each position to support advancement within the organization. These efforts aim to enhance efficiency, confidence, and long-term career success across our team.
Building on these initiatives, our annual staff retreat this year in Montauk focused on strengthening communication, collaboration, and burnout prevention. Through team-building activities and cross-departmental sessions, staff connected more deeply with colleagues and identified shared goals. These priorities stemmed directly from our annual employee engagement survey, which highlighted communication, collaboration, and wellness as key areas of focus. Throughout the year, we remain committed to providing professional development opportunities that help staff advance their careers, achieve their goals, and continue building their capacity to support Fiver youth.
Check out some professional development opportunities that our staff have been able to pursue below.
American Camp Association’s 2025 Resident Camp Tours & Conference
Kaya Henderson, Camp Director & Carlito Atkins, Camp Safety Director
Fiver is proud to share that Kaya and Carlito, joined by Executive Director Christie Ko, attended the conference in Maine in early September. In addition to engaging in sessions with camp professionals from across the region, the team toured several residential campgrounds, gaining valuable insights into facility enhancements, property design, and camp culture. The experience provided fresh inspiration for potential improvements at Camp Fiver, helping us continue to elevate our spaces and strengthen the overall camper experience.
Nonprofit Tech for Good’s Certificate in Digital Marketing & Fundraising
Omar Khan, Development Manager
Fiver is proud to support Omar’s participation in this professional development opportunity—a compilation of live sessions exploring how emerging tools like AI, data analytics, and digital storytelling can strengthen nonprofit marketing and fundraising. As we approach our year-end appeal, we’re excited to apply these timely insights to enhance donor cultivation, deepen engagement, and maximize overall campaign success
Youth INC’s Rise Academy Program
Anthony Silvera, Program Associate
Fiver is proud to celebrate Anthony as the third team member to participate in Youth INC’s RISE Academy, a 15-month program for BIPOC nonprofit leaders focused on leadership growth, mentorship, and community building. Through monthly sessions on personal, organizational, and community leadership, as well as mental and emotional well-being, Anthony developed a three-year leadership plan and a capstone project addressing an organizational need—both of which we are now actively implementing. Anthony will complete the program this December, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with RISE Academy to support future Fiver leaders.
