POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR How Can I Flourish at School, Wor.docx
C. Acey
1. To Whom it May Concern,
It is a privilege to write a letter of recommendation on behalf of Jon Botten.
I first met Jon in August of 2014 when I applied for a position as a grants and communications manager
at Children's Therapy Center (CTC). Several months later, my job evolved into the communications
director role in which I now serve. I reported directly to Jon and also became part of his senior
leadership team. I have known him as both a supervisor and a coworker, and have tremendous respect
and admiration for him.
Jon’s natural humility belies his multiple talents and abilities. While many (or perhaps most) people tend
to exhibit strengths in one primary area – finance, writing, entrepreneurship, social interactions,
creative pursuits – Jon is unusually gifted in many. Although he could use his knowledge to intimidate
others, I cannot recall a single instance in which he claimed any portion of the spotlight despite being
more than capable of doing so. I saw this first hand upon arriving at CTC as an inexperienced grant
writer and discovering that Jon had been extremely successful in obtaining six-figure grants for many
years’ prior – and this was in addition to his “day job” as CEO. However, I don’t think Jon even
mentioned his role in obtaining these grants until many months later, and even then he did so in a very
unassuming way. This is a testament to Jon’s strength of character as well as his commitment to put the
success of the whole organization above and beyond any personal gain. He prefers to allow his staff to
shine; however, he can always be relied upon as a supporter and mentor.
Jon approaches decisions with an eye towards making the most out of any potential he sees. As such, he
is a leader unafraid to take risks when the situation warrants. Years ago, Jon took a risk many other
nonprofit organizations considered unthinkable when he refused to turn away children whose families
couldn’t afford therapy. The drive to stay true to CTC’s mission and the children we serve compelled him
to not only recommend taking this step but to persevere in the face of hardship when the nonprofit
healthcare market became more volatile and unpredictable. Instead of giving up or turning back, Jon
doubled down and stayed the course while accepting full responsibility for the risks. His leadership
abilities were never more evident.
Jon’s mind is always working and connecting dots in unexpected, creative ways. Previous EDs or CEOs
with whom I’ve worked tended to focus on what was right in front of them, often postponing long-term
strategic planning in favor of dealing with the daily (frequently uphill) battle of nonprofit existence. That
was not Jon’s way. He not only tackled the daily duties of running the organization but never stopped
looking ahead. Recently, he implemented a system to help his leadership team focus on strategic goals,
priorities and strategies. It was immensely successful and helped all of us stay focused and committed.
Finally, Jon was someone that the staff wanted to follow versus someone who commanded an audience
simply because of a title. I feel that this is at the core of Jon’s leadership style. He was unfailingly
passionate about the mission of CTC and took every opportunity to convey that to staff through his
words and his actions. Jon is a person who is always striving to better not only himself but also the
organization he leads.
CTC has grown to be a great organization under Jon’s thoughtful and effective leadership. I know that
after many years here, he is ready for new challenges and new horizons, but I also know he will be
greatly missed. Any organization lucky enough to employ Jon will find themselves buoyed by his
commitment to excellence, his compassion and empathy for others, and his desire to make the world –
and by extension, those of us who inhabit it – a better place.
