The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was created by Congress in 2010 to conduct an innovative form of patient centered medical research. The PCORI Board decided immediately to manage the start-up through contractors to allow its ultimate Executive Director to build a staff.
Transition Management Consulting (TMC) assembled a cohesive, talented team of contractors, led by Pat Nichols. In a matter of weeks they built an organizational framework and then, for roughly a year, supported PCORI in clarifying its mission, strategy and course forward.
Pat’s leadership was outstanding. From our earliest days Pat demonstrated great energy and meticulous attention to good process. His unfailing sense of humor, his self-awareness and his grace in raising difficult issues helped PCORI act on a commitment to build a culture of partnership, innovation, transparency and experimentation.
--A. Eugene Washington, Chair, and Steven Lipstein, Vice-Chair, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Pat Nichols led the team, contracted through Transition Management Consulting, that managed the start up of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) before my arrival as the Executive Director – from November 2010 through July 2011.
I continue to marvel at how much had been accomplished…at PCORI…by the time I arrived, in terms of laying the foundations for what PCORI would be and do, for how it would operate in a transparent and efficient manner, how it would present itself and integrate itself into national research efforts, and in terms of how engaged, active and supportive the Board was and remains to this day. The Board made excellent choices in creating the interim team, starting with their choice of Pat and his TMC colleagues. Pat pulled the team together and led it through its early days. Their diligence, preparation, commitment and deft touch in this transition were substantially a product of Pat’s careful, patient but determined leadership.
--Joe V. Selby, MD MPH, Executive Director, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Pat Nichols joined our organization in November of 2006. It was a demoralized organization having seen a turnover in staff of about 67%...He is a quick study, a gifted leader and mentor and tough as nails when the situation calls for him to be. He has stabilized our organization allowing us to concentrate on our compelling mission. He has helped us to achieve a platform from which we now have an opportunity to grow and prosper.
Pat is moving on…because his special gift is to come in to a struggling organization, quickly assess the situation and guide the organization to a new and better place. This is Pat’s special talent, this is what he should be doing. I wish him well in his next position. They will be lucky to experience his unique talent.
--Diana Goldberg, Chairman of the Board; Safe Kids Worldwide
At Safe Kids Worldwide Pat Nichols was the Interim CEO of a subsidiary of Children's National Medical Center (CNMC), a $700 million a year research medical center with seven subsidiary organizations. In that capacity he reported to me and I, in turn, to the CEO of CNMC.
Safe Kids had experienced a period of substantial strategic, operational, staffing and governance difficulty and had become estranged from the rest of the CNMC family. Pat was retained to address those issues for a(n)…organization with a very entrepreneurial culture while navigating the complex systems and relationships of the large parent organization and strengthening relationships with three key sponsors, all of which are Fortune 100 companies. He took the lead in making the operational changes and in bringing us together around some major strategic choices (particularly the international strategy). He did so in ways that won the support of the corporate sponsors, CNMC's senior management and several shared board members. Along the way Safe Kids consistently met revenue and other board approved goals, reversing a number of years of shortfalls.
--Raymond Sczudlo, Esq., Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Children's National Medical Center
I've known Pat Nichols well for seven years, and have learned a great deal from him. My view, simply put, is that Pat is the best in the turnaround business. He not only is one of the most experienced interim leaders in the country, but excels in every dimension of intelligence that exists, and uses his talent with wisdom, compassion, clarity, and highly effective results.
--John W. Corwin, Principal, Corwin Consulting, LLC (professional interim CEO)
A resolution in Honor of Wm. Patrick Nichols
Whereas Wm. Patrick “Pat” Nichols is a professional and gentleman capable of embracing challenge,
Whereas Pat demonstrated his fortitude by entering the perfect storm at The Campagna Center in February 2006,
Whereas this storm required the ability to rebuild the ship and sail it at the same time,
Whereas this also demanded a remarkable blend of skills to be in full force, including discernment, financial acumen, patience, leadership and did we say financial acumen?,
Whereas Pat, demonstrated untold grace and respect in every instance and an unwavering commitment to the mission of The Center and the children and families we serve,
Therefore be it resolved by the Campagna Center Board of Directors that….we will always hold Pat in highest esteem and gratitude for being and authentic and capable captain and lantern holder to us as we navigated rough waters together and arrived safely to a new and better shore.
--The Campagna Center Board of Directors
Pat Nichols, as the Start-up Executive Director of Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships, created the organization I now manage. Some years later I invited Pat back to launch a marketing department for our sister public charity. As a result, I have observed his transition leadership skills from two distinctive and crucial angles, as the inheritor of his work and as someone who contracted for his services.
As start-up CEO, Pat led a fledgling organization in developing and clarifying its mission and its market differentiation. He crafted a novel, sustainable and flexible research grant making program that led directly to our unique and powerful Rediscovery Research Patient Impact grants, which have create inexpensive and effective treatments that are saving lives around the world every day.
On his return as a consultant, Pat laid out a clear marketing strategy, built consensus around it, launched it and set us up for a series of early and continuing successes, which positioned the organization to receive a prestigious Ashoka Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
Pat has, through our work together, become a partner, a confidant and a friend. I know that others of his leadership successors have experienced similar sound organizational structure, powerful programs and committed co-workers and volunteer leaders. This is not a matter of chance, and I would predict that future successors will also derive similar value when they begin working in organizations that have worked with Pat during times of critical transition.
--Dr. Bruce Bloom, President and Chief Science Officer, Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships (Private Operating Foundation), Partnership for Cures (Public Charity)
…Pat Nichols has been an inspiration during a time of immense change and growth...
One of Pat’s most wonderful talents is his ability to draw upon all of the resources in our community and allow us to focus these resources toward common objectives. He has helped bring us all together at a time when we could have all gone different directions.
Pat reminds me of something I heard…not long ago…: “Right is right, even if no one is doing it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” Pat demonstrates this on a daily basis. He asks lots of questions, listens intensely to what is being said, and then acts in a thoughtful and precise manner, doing what he feels is right.
--Richard Liddeke, President 2003-2004; Painting and Decorating Contractors of America
…Integrity, intelligence, experience, professionalism and guts! And a nice guy to boot!
--Victoria Andrews, Executive Vice President, Washington State Council, Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (a chapter of PDCA)
I consider Pat to be one of the most intellectually talented, operationally disciplined administrators I have ever encountered, and my experience spans public, private and not-for-profit sectors. I (have been) challenged by his thinking and impressed by his performance. He is fully willing to confront difficult challenges, deliver difficult messages, and deal with difficult people in ways that lead to positive results. He is a realist with vision; a disciplinarian with a sense of humor. He guides with wit, wisdom and integrity, and I would consider fortunate any organization that could secure his leadership.
--Charles P. Schroeder, Executive Director, National Cowboy Museum
Pat Nichols came to the leadership of Youth Venture at a time when the organization was struggling for momentum. Almost immediately, things started happening. During his eighteen month tenure Youth Venture more than doubled the number of young people served and tripled its annual funding. We also launched a creative partnering program that attracted three much larger youth organizations as pilot partners. In short, Pat left Youth Venture a much healthier organization---more optimistic, more prosperous and with a strengthened sense of direction.
--Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book (board member at Youth Venture)
During my tenure Pat transformed a failing organization into one with a healthy balance sheet, double digit membership growth and the most unique program the industry has ever seen.
As a leader, Pat, through consensus-building with the board of directors and staff, developed a vision of what the (organization) could and should be…This vision enabled the organization to remain focused, and, more importantly, served as the prism through which all staff could make appropriate, independent decisions and efficiently manager their workloads.…Through his own high spirits, constant reminders of our progress and recognition for outstanding performance, Pat made us (staff) feel that we were on the verge of something special and enabled us to reach the next peak.
--Mark Bennett, President, Enzo Group (former direct report at Agriculture Council of America)
I consider Pat to be one of the most significant mentors and examples of strong leadership in my career. Pat engages on a personal, intellectual, and strategic level with the organizations he leads. For me, Pat's leadership style was compelling and motivating.
…He was able to unite diverse groups of constituents around a common goal or shared mission -- and to think strategically, on how to move the organization toward its larger vision. As an Executive Director, I often reflect on my experience working with Pat and attempt to model the leadership traits and skills he possesses in my own organization.
--Katie Hultquist, Executive Director, Northwest Regional Director, Friends of the Orphans (former direct report at Youth Venture)
Not only is Pat an expert at turning organizations around, he is extremely adept at managing staff. He worked with staff members to create individual goals and a vision for the organization. Then, he proceeded systematically to ensure we achieved our objectives and worked toward realizing the vision of the organization. All the while, Pat motivated us to perform at unprecedented levels and maintained a high level of staff morale. The key to Pat's success is his ability to communicate. He outlines expectations, but listens to staff concerns at the same time. I hope I have the opportunity to work for him again in the future.
--Jennifer Sweeney, former direct report at Business and Professional Women/USA