Developed in collaboration with Gwen Rukenbrod Smith of Mountain BizWorks, Get on Board became a six-part leadership series equipping young professionals with the tools for impactful board service. Over the course of six classes, participants explored the roles and responsibilities of board members, nonprofit financial oversight, strategic planning, board dynamics, fundraising, and ethical leadership. Attendees who completed all six earned a Certificate of Completion; those who attended at least three were pinned and eligible to be matched with a nonprofit board in September.

Participants took the program seriously—Comeaux recalled people making up missed classes to graduate. “Every single student was like, this was incredible,” he said. “They feel so brave and they feel so ready now.”

Building a Pipeline of Board Leaders

The program’s impact was felt by both aspiring board members and nonprofit leaders. At a recent meet and greet, nearly 30 organizations pitched themselves to the 24 graduates. For many nonprofits, sourcing younger, skilled board members can be a challenge.

Leah Craig Chumbley is the executive director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, a nonprofit partner with the Get on Board program. “We share the program’s passion for effective board leadership and meaningful contributions to nonprofit organizations,” said Chumbley. “Our board of directors play a key role in the overall health, longevity, and impact of the organization. They trust the staff to carry out the work…while ensuring that the organization is programmatically aligned with our mission, financially healthy…and adaptive to the changing needs of our community.”

Chumbley said the meet and greet carried a special energy. “It’s always incredibly uplifting to be surrounded by people who are putting their passion into action to help others,” she said. “We were able to connect with several potential board members, and it was great to have a forum to do that through.”

For student participants like Jennifer Hoffman, the program struck the right balance between education and real-world application. “Every class had at least one ‘Ah ha’ moment,” Hoffman said. “This program has a nice balance of teaching and immediate application of those skills through real-life scenario analysis.”

She also emphasized the confidence boost it provided. “It can be intimidating, especially as a young professional, to approach a board about service,” she said. “This course taught us that you have gifts of your own to bring to the table. The Get on Board program will teach you how to read financial documents, think critically about programming initiatives, and understand your role as a board member for a nonprofit—but combining those skills with your unique experience is what will make you an asset.”

Hoffman sees the program as a link between eager young professionals and nonprofits in need. “This unique program can only better our community and provide opportunities for personal, professional, and nonprofit growth,” she said.

Expansion Into Civic Leadership

The success of Get on Board has spurred AYPROS to launch a companion program: 828 Lead. While Get on Board prepares young people for nonprofit board service, 828 Lead is a civic bootcamp designed to demystify local government and campaigning.

Held October 3–5, 2025, at Hatchworks Coworking, 828 Lead will bring 30 emerging leaders together with elected officials, campaign strategists, and nonprofit executives. The weekend features workshops on campaign building and public speaking, lectures on government basics, and panels with sitting officials. Participants will leave with personalized leadership plans, mentorship pairings, and certificates co-signed by elected officials.

Get on Board will return as an annual program. “All the nonprofits said, ‘This is so important, I wish I had this when I was your age,’” Comeaux said.

With two bootcamps now in place, AYPROS is carving out a space where young professionals can step confidently into both nonprofit and civic leadership. In doing so, they’re building a pipeline of engaged, prepared leaders ready to shape Asheville’s future.