Meet Nichole Archer | Nonprofit Development Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nichole Archer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nichole, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
One of the mentors early in my career drove this lesson home every time we talked… “what you focus on expands.” By focusing on the positive, the “how can we” instead of the “we can’t because,” you plant and sow seeds of growth and prosperity. The more attention you give to something, the more fruit it will bear. Every time I feel like something is off, personally or professionally, I can hear him in the back of my mind reminding me to reassess my focus.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently the Development Coordinator at Victory Therapy Center. It was a long and interesting road to get here, definitely not where I thought I would be 10 years ago! My first long-term position was as a martial arts instructor. The values I learned from the training are things that have carried into my personal life and into the job positions that followed. In my time at the martial arts academy, I learned the importance of developing relationships with your clients and with your community partners. Something that I’m most proud of with every business I’ve worked for is using that knowledge to make connections and build wherever I work into a local household brand. I’m excited to see that same effect on Victory!

Starting out as a volunteer at Victory two years ago, I saw first hand the impact that our organization had on countless lives. Hearing the riders’ and volunteers’ stories of how Victory has directly impacted them really drove the mission home. So, when the opportunity to join the staff and have a direct influence on the positive change that was happening arose, I couldn’t pass it up! It wasn’t necessarily an easy decision to make- there’s always risk involved in changing careers- but I knew it was the right thing to do. I think one of the most important things I’ve learned and something that I attribute my success to is the value of teamwork and surrounding yourself with like-minded people. It’s difficult to be successful or mission-focused when you don’t have the support of a team that shares your passion and creativity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first place I take anyone who visits is our barn! I love showing off the property at Victory and sharing the history of our organization. Meeting the therapy horses on staff and getting some pony nuzzles is the perfect way to start any day!!

Another must-see is the Stockyards. I feel like there is always something new happening, but it’s also so full of history. I love visiting the shops and watching the cattle drive. The John Wayne Museum is fantastic! We haven’t met a restaurant we didn’t like in the Stockyards, but we always find ourselves going back to Los Vaqueros or Riscky’s. There’s so much to do and see that this is a full-day adventure all by itself!

A couple new (to me) places that I’ve been introduced to that I love sharing is Chicken N Pickle and Marty B’s. These are both great family-vibes restaurants that have fun activities and amazing food. Marty B’s has a full live music line up, so there’s always quality entertainment, and their brisket tacos and mules are the best in DFW!

Acre Distilling does a tasting in downtown Fort Worth that I also always recommend! They have a lot of history and the bartenders and owners are incredibly kind and and knowledgeable, so it’s always a guaranteed good time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to the volunteers at Victory Therapy Center! When my husband and I moved to DFW, I felt out of place, I didn’t have the same support network or outlets, and something was missing that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. When I started volunteering at Victory, I immediately found a sense of belonging and the instructors and volunteers became like a second family.

Website: victorytherapy.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorytherapycenter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkenin.com/nichole-archer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoryTherapyCenter/