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Douglas Riske
Managing Director at NDR Consulting
Professional Background
Douglas Riske is a distinguished figure within Canada’s arts and cultural community, renowned for his extensive career spanning over 40 years. His most notable role was serving as the Executive Director of The Manitoba Arts Council, a leading provincial funding agency in Canada, where he dedicated 17 years of service culminating in his retirement on December 31, 2015. During his tenure, Riske provided visionary leadership, skillfully navigating the organization through significant transitions and growth during a pivotal time in the arts sector.
Before his impactful role at The Manitoba Arts Council, Douglas Riske was instrumental in the Yukon arts community as the Executive Director of the Yukon Arts Centre, where he served for two years starting in 1996. Riske’s influence in the arts is underpinned by his rich background as an actor, stage manager, director, producer, consultant, and teacher. This cross-functional expertise has allowed him to make significant contributions to various organizations and initiatives across Canada.
Riske co-founded Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary and held the position of Artistic Director at both the New Bastion Theatre Company and the Sunshine Theatre. He was also Assistant Director at the prestigious Stratford Festival, a significant cultural institution in Canada, and directed numerous productions at prominent venues such as the Stage West Dinner Theatres and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Riske’s deep commitment to the arts has led to active involvement in various industry associations including the Canadian Actors Equity Association and ACTRA, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Canadian theatre.
Upon his retirement from The Manitoba Arts Council, Riske continued to nurture the growth of the arts community as a consultant, specializing in Board and staff development, strategic planning, community relationship building, and government relations. His extensive experience positions him as a highly respected thought leader within the sector, consulting with various organizations to strengthen their governance and operational effectiveness.
Education and Achievements
Douglas Riske’s educational background is a solid foundation for his illustrious career in the arts. He has pursued comprehensive studies in theatre, including coursework at the University of Alberta and the Banff School of the Arts, where he honed his skills in theatre management and artistic direction. Additionally, Riske participated in specialized Certificate Courses focused on Board and Staff Leadership and Senior Management at the Banff School of Management.
Riske's contributions to the arts have not gone unrecognized. He received the prestigious Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, honoring his dedication to community service, along with the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, acknowledging his significant impact on the cultural fabric of Canada. These accolades are a testament to his unwavering commitment to the arts and the positive changes he has fostered in the community.
Notable Contributions to the Arts
Among his many noteworthy accomplishments, Douglas Riske played a crucial role in shaping the Manitoba Arts Council, notably by managing the orientation of 15 new Board members and introducing innovative funding programs tailored for major arts organizations. He facilitated the growth of the Artist in the Schools program, enhancing arts access and education for students across Manitoba. Riske also championed improved communication and consultation processes within the Council, demonstrating his dedication to fostering a collaborative environment.
In 2019, Riske took on the role of Conference Chair for Creative Convergence, an event orchestrated by the Canadian Network for Arts & Learning (Le Réseau canadien pour les arts et l’apprentissage), further highlighting his deep commitment to advancing arts education and collaboration across Canada.
Current Ventures
Today, Douglas Riske continues to contribute to the arts community through his consulting work at NDR Consulting, where he focuses on empowering organizations by improving their frameworks for board governance, staff training, and community engagement. His wealth of experiences and skills offers valuable insights to the organizations he assists. Riske’s dual roles as a leader and a mentor cast a bright light on the potential of the arts sector to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
Douglas Riske's impressive journey, marked by decades of dedicated service, innovative leadership, and community engagement, showcases the impact one individual can have on the arts and culture landscape in Canada. His legacy is not just a personal achievement but a collective gain for the entire arts community, inspiring future generations to nurture their creativity and foster cultural enrichment in their own communities.
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
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