Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Barb Clapp of Dwyer Workforce Development Is Helping To Change Our World
Leadership can be both compassionate and effective. When a leader prioritizes creating a positive and supportive culture where individuals feel valued and heard, the rest of the business tends to align naturally. Employees who experience respect and satisfaction are more likely to deliver productive outcomes.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Barb Clapp.
Barb Clapp joined Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) as the CEO in 2021 and was chosen to transition Dwyer Workforce Development as a new venture from concept to a full-scale, national workforce development organization.
In her role, she leads nonprofit program development, operations, strategic partnerships, marketing tactics, and board development while leveraging past entrepreneurial and nonprofit success to develop an immediate and sustainable market presence.
A successful entrepreneur and national business leader, Barb was the founder and CEO of Clapp Communications, an international communications company that she sold in 2019 with the goal of taking her expertise into the nonprofit world.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
My volunteer work has largely focused on giving a voice to those who are often unheard. I have served on various boards, such as the homeless board and the board of social services, as well as animal rescue organizations like the Maryland SPCA and the Humane Society of the U.S. In addition, my early childhood experiences shaped my dedication to advocacy.
I was given up for adoption at birth and spent my first year in a foster home, which, from what I understand, was not particularly nurturing. Records from that time described me as a very fussy child, likely due to missing my biological mother. I was then adopted into a family with a very abusive, alcoholic head of household, making my early years extremely challenging. By the age of 11, I felt so desperate that I contemplated suicide, but thankfully, I did not go through with it.
To escape my difficult home environment, I took on various odd jobs, such as cleaning houses, babysitting, and working at the front desk of a real estate firm.
With my earnings, I eventually bought an issue of Vogue magazine and was inspired by a Chanel advertisement. This moment marked a turning point for me, as I realized that my life did not have to remain difficult; it could change for the better. This revelation also solidified my commitment to ensuring that others would not have to endure the kind of life I experienced.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
When I began the workforce development nonprofit organization, I also undertook the significant responsibility of closing a $570 million acquisition of 50 skilled nursing facilities in Texas. Given my background as an English major and my experience running a communications company which I founded in 2001 and sold in 2019, managing a deal of this scope was unprecedented for me. Despite having strong support from the finance team, much of the load rested on my shoulders. I collaborated closely with numerous attorneys, bankers, and finance professionals. We successfully completed a $300 million HUD deal, but the bond deal was delayed due to the invasion of Ukraine, necessitating a restart.
Eventually, we secured a traditional bridge deal, closing in September 2022. The objective was that once deal covenants were met, the nonprofit would benefit from a steady revenue stream if the portfolio performed well. Subsequently, we added 17 more facilities to the portfolio. This process was incredibly challenging and stressful, yet extraordinarily enlightening. Concurrently, I was also building the nonprofit workforce program, which provided me with a valuable learning experience.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Jack Dwyer, a philanthropic entrepreneur, conceived the idea of starting Dwyer Workforce Development to address the lack of opportunities for individuals and to alleviate the healthcare staffing crisis. Dwyer, who owns several companies, including CFG Funding, has significant experience in financing skilled nursing facilities, making him acutely aware of the staffing challenges in the healthcare sector.
I became acquainted with Jack when he was a client of my company, Clapp Communications. After selling my company, I intended to transition into the nonprofit sector. However, the onset of the pandemic coincided with my earnout period, resulting in a scarcity of job opportunities due to Maryland’s shutdown.
In late spring 2021, during a conversation with Jack, he inquired about my plans post-pandemic, and I expressed my desire to lead a nonprofit organization. Reflecting on our brief 15 to 20-minute discussion, I had taken minimal notes. But Jack assured me that by accepting the role, I would significantly impact many lives and have substantial financial resources at my disposal. Although I should have sought clarification on what he meant by “substantial financial resources,” I agreed with the position.
As it turned out, this entailed leading the acquisition of 50 skilled nursing facilities in Texas — a responsibility that was both challenging and enlightening. Although I didn’t ask many questions initially, the experience taught me invaluable lessons.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
DWD brings a holistic approach to workforce development: providing comprehensive support to individuals who lack opportunity and aspire to pursue a career in healthcare, alleviating a severe healthcare workforce shortage, and improving the lives of seniors and the community at large.
Current programs tend to focus on traditional education and training paths. But for prospective and current workers juggling educational responsibilities with personal obligations, lack of childcare, inadequate transportation and unstable housing can become significant barriers to entering and remaining in the healthcare field.
DWD’s model for growing the pool of talented CNAs is uniquely effective in its holistic approach, offering person-centered case management to individuals who are juggling the demands of their personal lives yet still want a map for achieving career goals.
Groundbreaking training programs like those offered by DWD are an essential part of the solution. DWD’s personalized Certified Nursing Assistant training program boasts an 81% completion rate, with 86% of graduates securing nursing jobs shortly after completion.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
DWD has helped 6,000 Dwyer scholars complete training and remove barriers to start meaningful healthcare careers since our inception in 2021. You can find our success stories highlighted on our website (dwyerworkforcedev.org) or on our social media channels.
I’m inspired by the stories we get from our case managers and training partners. We share these ‘good news moments’ periodically and some of them include assisting a scholar with their utility bills because they had to miss work due to two major hurricanes in Florida or advocating and supporting a scholar who was wrongfully terminated due to pregnancy-related absences.
We say, “Once a Dwyer Scholar, always a Dwyer Scholar,” and we’re committed to helping you through every stage of your life and career.
What are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Politicians should invest in workforce development programs with measurable outcomes, such as DWD.
- Resources must be allocated for essential services like childcare, transportation, and housing. For instance, long wait lists for subsidized childcare can prevent immediate employment after training.
- To enhance efficiency, it is important to ensure CNA certification testing dates are readily available and that certification postings are timely. Delays between class completion and available testing dates should be minimized.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership can be both compassionate and effective. When a leader prioritizes creating a positive and supportive culture where individuals feel valued and heard, the rest of the business tends to align naturally. Employees who experience respect and satisfaction are more likely to deliver productive outcomes.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. Believe in yourself
2. Be fierce but kind
3. Don’t take everything so seriously.
4. Take risks
5. Time goes so fast. Relax a little
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would do exactly what I’m doing now. Dwyer Workforce Development significantly helps those without opportunities and addresses the healthcare staffing crisis.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Always, always, always, do the thing you’re most afraid to do”
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would like to meet with MacKenzie Scott because she is utilizing her personal wealth to drive significant positive change in our world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Visit DwyerWorkfoceDevelopment.org
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Barb Clapp of Dwyer Workforce Development Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.