Debra Berg's Bio
Debra J. Berg
Debra J. Berg is a recognized speaker, author, and the founder and president of the National Institute for Civic Enterprise (NICE). Affectionately known as the NICE Network, its mission is to merge technology with human service solutions inspired by citizen innovators in order to teach them worldwide. Debra enjoys speaking to both business and nonprofit audiences and equipping them to realize the power they have to change the future.
Debra jokes that she seemingly does things in three's. She's worked in three state legislatures, three corporations, owned three businesses, and has worked in and run three nonprofits. She's a native of East Central Illinois and holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Illinois as well as three nonprofit certifications from the highly acclaimed Rollins Philanthropy Center and Crummer Graduate Business School.
As an undergrad, she was awarded the Charles E. Merriam Scholarship for research on Illinois local government and the High Distinction in Political Science designation. In addition, she was awarded three government internships, a Congressional Internship, an I.R.S. Internship, and an Illinois Legislative Internship. Debra served for a decade as a legislative finance analyst for the Illinois, Kentucky, and Minnesota state legislatures. She was recruited by the largest HMO in Minnesota to be their senior finance analyst. Later, Amdocs, Inc. hired her to manage large clients including Nextel, Verizon, and Southern Companies where she was a troubleshooter on major product support issues. Following, that she was hired by Gcom, Inc., a protocol software company founded by the author of LINUX protocol software.
In the nineties, Debra turned to building a successful international marketing company in the U.S., Mexico, and the Netherlands. It was during that time that she came across everyday people making sacrifices to invent solutions that rescued the less fortunate. Over an 8-year period, she uncovered the innovations of dozens of social entrepreneurs whose successful initiatives are now replicating nationwide. The results have inspired a new trend in local solutions, which Debra refers to as The New Civic America. It was this journey which culminated in the book The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday heroes changing America.
Debra is also the bestselling co-author of Living in Abundance. Her first book, The Power of One, was reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times, WE-TV, and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. She's been interviewed on 80+ radio talk shows and TV stations and she's hosted a talk show on VoiceAmerica.com, The Power of One: What's Your Mission in 2007. On that show, she showcased well-known nonprofit founders and business professionals who are successfully reversing a myriad of social problems.
Debra is presently pursuing more research on nonprofit founders with Dr. Kathleen Wilson-Robinson of Clemson University and building the NICE educational network Teach-A-Cause. Currently, NICE is funded through donations as well as through NICE Change Productions, the social enterprise arm of NICE. NICE Change Productions provides coaching and publications to small nonprofits. To promote the NICE Network, Debra regularly speaks, writes, and connects with business and nonprofit leaders across the nation. She keynotes on topics which spotlight the power of the individual and ingenuity. Her books and speaking proceeds support the efforts and research of the NICE Network.
Debra resides in Florida with her husband Paul, a retired city administrator. They have two grown daughters and two grand-daughters.
Debra jokes that she seemingly does things in three's. She's worked in three state legislatures, three corporations, owned three businesses, and has worked in and run three nonprofits. She's a native of East Central Illinois and holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Illinois as well as three nonprofit certifications from the highly acclaimed Rollins Philanthropy Center and Crummer Graduate Business School.
As an undergrad, she was awarded the Charles E. Merriam Scholarship for research on Illinois local government and the High Distinction in Political Science designation. In addition, she was awarded three government internships, a Congressional Internship, an I.R.S. Internship, and an Illinois Legislative Internship. Debra served for a decade as a legislative finance analyst for the Illinois, Kentucky, and Minnesota state legislatures. She was recruited by the largest HMO in Minnesota to be their senior finance analyst. Later, Amdocs, Inc. hired her to manage large clients including Nextel, Verizon, and Southern Companies where she was a troubleshooter on major product support issues. Following, that she was hired by Gcom, Inc., a protocol software company founded by the author of LINUX protocol software.
In the nineties, Debra turned to building a successful international marketing company in the U.S., Mexico, and the Netherlands. It was during that time that she came across everyday people making sacrifices to invent solutions that rescued the less fortunate. Over an 8-year period, she uncovered the innovations of dozens of social entrepreneurs whose successful initiatives are now replicating nationwide. The results have inspired a new trend in local solutions, which Debra refers to as The New Civic America. It was this journey which culminated in the book The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday heroes changing America.
Debra is also the bestselling co-author of Living in Abundance. Her first book, The Power of One, was reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times, WE-TV, and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. She's been interviewed on 80+ radio talk shows and TV stations and she's hosted a talk show on VoiceAmerica.com, The Power of One: What's Your Mission in 2007. On that show, she showcased well-known nonprofit founders and business professionals who are successfully reversing a myriad of social problems.
Debra is presently pursuing more research on nonprofit founders with Dr. Kathleen Wilson-Robinson of Clemson University and building the NICE educational network Teach-A-Cause. Currently, NICE is funded through donations as well as through NICE Change Productions, the social enterprise arm of NICE. NICE Change Productions provides coaching and publications to small nonprofits. To promote the NICE Network, Debra regularly speaks, writes, and connects with business and nonprofit leaders across the nation. She keynotes on topics which spotlight the power of the individual and ingenuity. Her books and speaking proceeds support the efforts and research of the NICE Network.
Debra resides in Florida with her husband Paul, a retired city administrator. They have two grown daughters and two grand-daughters.
