Jay Whitlow, host of The Catwalk Show podcast, said nonprofits need year-round support, and companies should invest in dedicated roles to build community connections, with his own company considering the creation of an internal nonprofit. Whitlow was a guest on a recent episode of the Best of Midland Podcast.
“Nonprofits need help in Feb. and May, so organizations must be intentional about making a full year's investment,” said Whitlow on a recent edition of the Best of Midland Podcast. “One way to do this is to hire someone specifically to make those connections and manage that investment throughout the year. I've often visited oil and gas companies and asked how they got involved with certain organizations.”
“The response is usually that they told their HR person they had four hours a week to spend on this, which isn’t truly investing in the community,” Whitlow said. “Instead, if you assign someone the role of connecting the company to the community and finding places to engage, it can make a significant difference. Looking ahead, we are considering creating our own nonprofit within our company.”
Whitlow, is the host of The Catwalk Show, a podcast focused on discussions with industry professionals, community leaders, and social entrepreneurs in Midland, and aims to provide informative and engaging content.
Best of Midland Podcast is hosted by Ryan Shewchuk and Terra Avery. It is an extension of the broader Best of Midland program, which aims to support small, local businesses by showcasing them and the people behind them. Their website lists top businesses and upcoming live events happening in the area.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.