Building Skills in our National Parks

Dee Falvo is no stranger to the National Parks BPI consulting experience. Last summer, she worked with Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where she developed a business plan and performed a fee assessment for Bighorn Canyon.

The park assumed the fee program wasn't making money, but Dee's analyses showed the opposite: The fee program was essential. I pointed out challenges and made recommendations on how to maximize its benefits to the park.

After such an successful summer, NPS didn't want her to leave. In Summer 2011, they asked her back to do a gap analysis of nonprofit partners at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. At Golden Gate, her analysis gave the park evidence to measure their nonprofit partners against the park's five-year strategic plan. The goal was to ensure nonprofit partner missions aligned with the park's mission and goals, and to gain efficiencies in collaborating and supporting each other's work.

What does Dee most remember about her BPI experience? The relationships I formed with my project manager, co-consultant, and park staff, she says. I got to know people both personally and professionally. It's a unique way to gain invaluable experience that affords you the opportunity to grow as a person.

When she first began at Boston University's School of Management, Dee wanted to develop financing and analytical skills, and expand her knowledge and abilities managing people, analyzing trends, and creating strategy. Her summers with BPI helped her implement those skills and prepared her to create revenue models for nonprofits.

All of that came in handy when it came to finding future employers. Dee says, They were impressed with the level and amount of work I did in a short time. It's powerful to be able to say, 'This is the impact I made.' Especially for those interested in nonprofit work, BPI gives you a lot of credibility. Dee tell us, BPI sets you apart because in addition to passion, you also have skills that a lot of people in the nonprofit world don't necessarily have. Today, she's proving just that in her full-time role as Assistant Vice President at CCS (a nonprofit consulting firm).

The BPI opportunity was a dream come true for Dee: I grew up going to National Parks and always thought I would love the opportunity to work in one, but didn't think I could as a business person. That was before she found out about the internship program. It was my way to do something I'm passionate about, use the skills from my MBA program, and get work experience - it brought all three things together.

Plus, BPI came with extra perks for Dee as a National Parks fan: One of the coolest parts is you get to live in a National Park for the summer, she says. Seeing how it exists from the inside, how it works, and the level of access you have is really incredible.