“It’s time for nonprofit organizations to embrace the spirit, soul, and swagger of running a business.”

Raised in North Carolina by his grandparents, Patrick is a first generation college graduate, professor, lawyer, and southern gentleman with 18+ years of demonstrated expertise in educational and organizational leadership, corporate diversity and inclusion, corporate governance, business planning, compliance, management, and assessment. He is experienced with helping organizations achieve the fundamental business ingredients of success as they navigate through critical management and legal decision-making processes.

Patrick conducts management seminars for local and national nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. His teaching experience includes courses in management, law, strategy, leadership, ethics, and small business consulting. Published in management journals, law journals, and conference proceedings, Patrick’s research explores interdisciplinary approaches to small business and nonprofit “matchmaking” and social entrepreneurship.

BusinessInterviews.com: Where does your passion for entrepreneurship come from?

Patrick: It stems from the reality that for-profit and nonprofit corporations can work together to solve some of society’s greatest issues. My mission is to show them specifically why and how to collaborate and end community hunger, homelessness, poverty, illiteracy, etc. This also includes developing systems and structures necessary to maximize community impact and revenue.

BusinessInterviews.com: Can you elaborate on your plan to use business/legal tools to solve societal issues?

Patrick: Part of my b-harmony concept includes helping businesses to better maximize their brand and business acumen. Part of this includes conducting business/legal audits and strategic planning with boards of development. Ultimately, the reality of managerial and legal insight decision-making is absolutely critical for nonprofits and social entrepreneurs who work to change society and provide sustainable outcomes.

BusinessInterviews.com: What are some common issues that you see managers have and how can these issues be avoided or corrected?

Patrick: For nonprofit managers, one big common issue includes knowing how to develop good governance. For example, many of my clients who manage nonprofits recruit the wrong board members. They do this by only selecting their family members without giving much credence to individuals who can further the mission of the nonprofit through their time, talent, and financial contributions. All are critical.

BusinessInterviews.com: Can you elaborate on the advantages of exploring and implementing an interdisciplinary approach when working with small businesses?

Patrick: I can sum this up with my b-harmony approach. For nonprofits, working with small business is essential for many reasons. Both potentially have limited resources; collaborating allows each to maximize their brand, build potential pools of support for their products and/or services, and make others aware of the mission regardless of a profit-driven motive. It’s always good to remember your organization’s mission/purpose.

BusinessInterviews.com: Can you share some highlights from the manual you wrote to help promote nonprofit business relationships with for-profits and small businesses?

Patrick: This paper explored the ways in which small business and small nonprofits can serve as a model for successful collaboration and, in particular, the unique ways that SMEs can remain competitive in both converging and pluralistic market environments. By understanding the importance and role of intellectual capital for community service and creative free-trade, stakeholders of local business environments can benefit from the interactions of small business and small nonprofit partners on a number of different levels. While much research and further development of the notion of B-harmony still remains, the application of technologies that facilitate interaction between various partnership groups, such as digital communication technology, internet applications, and online social networks (OSNs), are anticipated areas of study.

BusinessInterviews.com: What milestone are you most looking forward to reaching in 2014?

Patrick: My honest answer is TBD; however, currently prioritizing is something I struggle with! I’d like to simply build upon the platform I’ve already developed, and work with a national corporation or foundation who believes in the fundamental ideal that nonprofit organizations and social entrepreneurs can make much positive change in society.