Patience, perseverance and support: a sweet mix for charity administration

With a 97 per cent program participant satisfaction rate, Wounded Warriors Canada is doing a lot of things right.

Laurie Sweet, National Director of Finance & Administration at Wounded Warriors, and valued Sargent client, is proud to play a part in the good work of this mental health services charity. “My job with Wounded Warriors is not just a job,” says Laurie. “It’s a passion that I came to know. I just have such an appreciation for everything they do.”

Laurie came to her current role after a diverse career in administration that took her from fashion to insurance to finance, including a 20-year period as consultant. “What I liked about consulting was the autonomy I had,” says Laurie. “I just really like that independence.”

And, now, as a member of the Wounded Warriors Canada leadership team, she has a deep appreciation of working closely with other professionals to achieve shared goals. She works out of Vancouver, B.C. and most of her colleagues are based in Ontario, but they connect easily and often. “We have an awesome team,” says Laurie. “I just cannot imagine working for another organization.”

The national charity provides a range of clinically facilitated programs specifically developed to support the unique needs of veterans, first responders and their families. With 330,000 hours of clinical treatment provided annually, a robust funding commitment for military and veteran health research, a K9 service dog program and $33 million invested in program delivery, Laurie’s finance and administration portfolio is wide-ranging and critical to the advancement of the charity’s mission.

“Tech support and support of any kind is huge for my role,” says Laurie. “When I have an issue, I cannot wait a week when I put in my work order.” She found that responsive support in Sargent Solutions.

Wounded Warriors Canada was referred to Sargent by Blackbaud in 2016 to support their database administration needs. “What was important to me was to have someone who would pick up the phone when I had a problem,” says Laurie. “The initial setup with Sargent, I remember sitting in our boardroom. There was a lot of patience, perseverance and support. I cannot say enough about it. They’re always there and just take care of the problem.”

There’s a palpable resolve in Laurie to ensure the Blackbaud system supports the essential work of Wounded Warriors Canada efficiently and precisely. “We do not use it like every other organization uses it and we were trying to define that,” says Laurie. “Sargent always gets what I need, and that’s all I need and more.”

With database administration solutions right at hand, Laurie can be confident she is supporting Wounded Warriors Canada’s vital mission: helping veterans, first responders and their families feel safe, supported and understood.

https://woundedwarriors.ca/