Lines From Linda: Candid Candidates Part II
BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR continued
serve as the Judges Ed Coordinator for last 15 years and am a Chair of the Education committee and Parent Club mentor for the Fort Worth Kennel Club: 1989 to present, Delegate since 2014. I serve on the Audit Committee, Show committee and Agility Trial committee for the Lone Star Whippet Club: 1997-present, am a Founding Past President and serve on the specialty show committee. In the past I have been a member of a couple of other all- breed clubs in Texas and was instrumental in helping to form and obtain licensed status for the Stephenville KC of Texas. While living for a few years in my home of Vermont in the 90s, I was a member of the Green Mountain Dog Club.I have been the delegate for the Fort Worth KC since 2014 and was recently elected to the delegate By Laws Committee. 3. Please share any leadership experience in other non- dog activities that will prepare you for Board service. I have served on the financial oversight committee for the Fort Worth Safe Cities Commission. This group oversaw sev- eral programs for the Fort Worth Police department—Crime Stoppers Tip, Anti-Gang Violence Conference, downtown Police bike patrol support, Police K-9 unit support and Police horse patrol support. Members of the commission included several prominent business owners, assistant chiefs of police, municipal judges and city council represen- tatives. Over the years I have served on the boards of some university student organizations—as a CPA typically asked to be a treasurer or audit committee member. 4. Please share significant highlights of your profes- sional career and how they will complement your AKC Board service. In my working profession I am a licensed CPA in the state of Texas. I started out working in public accounting for one of the country’s largest firms doing tax compliance and litigation support services for the high-wealth indi- vidual and entrepreneurial group. I moved into private industry after a few years and worked as a controller/ CFO for a commercial real estate developer and construc- tion management company in Fort Worth. I currently work as the Chief Financial Officer for an architecture and engineering firm in Arlington, Texas that serves the retail sector with some large and well-known clients. I have a Bachelor of Business Administration in Account- ing—Magna Cum Laude and Master of Science degrees from the University of Texas, Arlington. I believe this background gives me strong business acu- men for the analysis and evaluation of real world business situations. As a CFO I am accustomed to having to make recommendations and come up with plans of action to further the company’s strategic goals. 5. What role should AKC play in the years ahead and do you believe AKC is on track to accomplish it? I think the AKC should be at the forefront for all pure- bred dog issues. I see the AKC as the leader and primary source of information for anything DOG! The AKC should be looked upon as the standard of excellence that people think of when considering all aspects of the dog world.
We should be a leader that is not afraid to confront those that would attack our sport. I do think the AKC is “generally” heading in the right direction regarding business issues because the Board does seem to be thinking “outside the box” at least in ways to generate the needed revenues for the organization to continue. They all obviously care a great deal about dogs and the survival of the AKC. That being said it is difficult at times, for even we del- egates, to come to terms with some of their actions since the dialogue between us is so limited or nonexistent. I do understand the need for confidentiality when establish- ing and operating a new business but feel there should be some way to better convey information to the delegate body so that we can keep our club members informed. There would be far less incorrect or unfounded assump- tions if that were done. With the ever changing demands, challenges on varying fronts and concerns of the world of dogs, it is paramount that the Board be proactive to address these issues yet they still need to maintain an understanding of our core mission and purpose when coming up with those solutions. 6. What is your motivation for wishing to serve on the AKC Board of Directors? What difference do you hope to make? I believe my motivation is the same as most of the other candidates—to add my expertise and knowledge to the discussions and decisions of the other 12 directors. I don’t have a grandiose plan to single-handedly change the AKC, but feel I have a background of vast and varied purebred dog experiences plus the business knowledge to be a contributing member of the Board. As a CFO I am accustomed to researching, learning and evaluating vari- ous scenarios. This practical analysis is the basis for mak- ing proposals and implementing the decisions that need to be made. I am someone who likes to listen to the facts and circumstances being presented and then offer my opinion. I will definitely not be one to sit on the sidelines and simply agree with those in charge but will be some- one who has his own opinion and is not afraid to express it once formulated. Being someone who is still active “in the trenches” almost every weekend, I will bring a point of view that reflects the people that are out there every weekend—the owners, exhibitors, professional handlers, club members, stewards, judges and especially that all of this is about the dogs! 7. Bringing and retaining new people into AKC sports is essential if our sports are to survive. How would you address this challenge? I truly believe we need to be more proactive with the youth who are interested in dogs. I think we should expand our interaction and support of the 4-H program as a way to attract more of the youth to come over and try AKC events. I can say from personal experience that it seems like a big and difficult step. Lucky for me that what I found was not what I had envisioned. It was far more exciting. But most importantly, I also had the good
178 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , D ECEMBER 2017
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