Volunteer Researcher #1 - Jen Maestre
Jennifer Maestre completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in the Urban Geography program.  She interned with Framework from September 2008 to April 2009. Jennifer learned lots about civic engagement and the non-profit sector's place in the urban landscape. Her interest is understanding about programs and courses pertaining to how NGOs manage the "human factor".

Volunteer Researcher #2 - Blake Connoy
Blake Connoy helps transform the thinking about partnerships, collaboration and planning between public, private and non-profit sector organizations.  Through his consultancy, InterSector, Blake enables deeper relationships between “socially-minded” people, increases the awareness of social challenges in our communities and improves the capacity of our organizations to meet those challenges.  Previously consulting for Deloitte & Touche LLP in the areas of strategy, governance and risk management to Canada’s banks, insurance firms and government agencies, Blake leverages his experience to foster a stronger community of socially-minded people, building more effective, significant and sustainable social impacts.  While with Deloitte Blake also created new roles and led initiatives locally and nationally to make positive differences within the firm and with the community-at-large; if Blake was not aggressively and progressively leading the initiative or project he was at least participating in it!  Outside of work, Blake volunteers with United Way Toronto, the Toronto City Summit Alliance and Engineers Without Borders Canada.

Staff Support - Emily Hazell
Emily graduated from Guelph University with an Honours degree in Geography and Cultural Anthropology. She is relatively new to the non-profit sector, beginning at Framework Foundations in Fall 2008. The theme of collaboration and integration is what interests Emily the most about this sector. She believes that this research will expand on that collaboration and help define the gap between non-profit education/skill development and the reality of professionalism in the sector.

Staff Support - Anil Patel
In 2002, Anil enrolled in a course at Ryerson University to learn about how to set up a non-profit organization. Not only did he learn a lot about the challenges a new NGO faces to successfully become sustainable, he began to understand the diversity of Canada's non-profit and voluntary sector. Since then, Anil has spent a considerable amount of time understanding the capacity challenges for a variety of organizations, whether it be a small social service, medium sized environmental cause or a large arts & culture organization. This research project interests Anil because he believes that a clearer understanding of the type of professionalization that is happening in the sector through skill/credential development will help shape smarter professionalization of the sector in the long run.

RESEARCHER QUALIFICATIONS
Each researcher:

    * has the ability and willingness to be self-directed once formal training has been provided;
    * has experience in quantitative or qualitative research methods;
    * works well in a team;
    * is a strong communicator;
    * embraces technology as a way to effectively collaborate on projects; and
    * is willing to commit approximately 40 hours during the project (January through to June) to complete the project;