Coppola, Firth to be speakers at national convention

Dr. Nicholas Coppola
Dr. Nicholas Coppola

VERO BEACH — Dr. Nicholas Coppola, CEO of the Mental Health Association of Indian River County, and Sheana Firth, director of marketing, have been invited by the Mental Health America to be presenters at the 2020 National Convention in September.

Dr. Coppola and Firth will deliver the pre-conference day session, “The Big Turnaround: Profiting in a Nonprofit World.'' The presentation will cover how treating a non-profit like a for-profit increased revenue and turned the organization around. Dr. Coppola will enlighten attendees on how the MHAIRC made a “big turnaround” that increased funding within just 13 months despite having stepped in as CEO with a challenging budget. Though it may seem counter-intuitive, hiring more staff, increasing community awareness, and investing in the company’s brand can make a big change in a non-profit organization.

Dr. Coppola will expand on why he started by applying for additional funding resources and implementing new ways to make meaningful contact with new and lapsed donors alike. “A non-profit executive also needs to realize you have to spend money to make money. Status quo is keeping doors open by playing it safe, but I had a new plan; to run MHAIRC like a for-profit to increase revenue.''

Sheana Firth
Sheana Firth

In her presentation, Firth will demonstrate how to utilize “Design Thinking” to inform the creation of marketing materials, core messaging, and brand identity made a difference in defining MHAIRC’s values, soliciting donors, and gaining brand recognition. Firth executed the association’s “Tidal Wave” campaign, which encourages people to come out of their shells about mental health.

MHAIRC has been active in Indian River County since 1978. In 2007, the association opened the Walk-In & Counseling Center in Vero Beach. The Walk-In & Counseling Center is unique in that it offers immediate access to emotional and behavioral health care for children and adults on a walk-in basis for the initial visit, and by appointment for continuing treatment and services. It also runs three Drop-In Centers for people with severe and persistent mental illness in three counties – Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.

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