Tracy Eilers, Foster Care Director at Cenpatico, was a keynote speaker at the Collaboration College Conference on Sept. 7, 2011 in Nashville, TN. The Collaboration College is a year-long initiative dedicated to community building that was created by Lipscomb University, the Center for Non-profit Management, and the HCA Foundation. Lipscomb hosted the one-day conference, with representatives from the Center for Non-profit Management and the HCA Foundation in attendance.

Eilers was requested to speak at this event because of her previous role as Executive Director of the Adoption Coalition of Texas, where the organization won the 2011 National Collaboration Prize.  As a keynote speaker, Eilers spoke of working with organizations at the community level as well as building partnerships and exploring partnership options with state agencies and corporations. Eilers also shared about her new role as Foster Care Director at Cenpatico, the organization’s mission of Improving Lives, and how it takes everyone, working together, to accomplish this goal. She has been asked to serve on the Collaboration College Advisory Board over the next year to assist with any questions and provide consultation.

In her presentation, Eilers said, “Collaboration isn’t forced. You look for common goals and the passion to work together. You check your ego at the door. The mission is what drives you as well as the realization that, by working together, you can achieve more than alone.”

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