Barbara McCrory became a CFO before age 30 and is proud of that accomplishment, and of being a woman in the C-level suite, especially at one of the state’s largest nonprofits.
She said she’s achieved success by surrounding herself with a great team, being proactive in preparing for challenges and always being open to any learning opportunity.
McCrory joined the Centers for Youth & Families in 2004. The nonprofit has seen its share of coronavirus-related challenges recently, but she said the biggest change her office has seen is the transition to provider-led Medicaid. That affected everything, from how services are documented to how the nonprofit bills for them.
McCrory said she has relied on her team to face such challenges. “I’ve tried to surround myself with a great team of people. And I’m not afraid to hire somebody who knows more than me about something because I think that’s what makes the team better, is having people who know for sure about whatever they’re doing,” McCrory said.
“I want my staff to always know that I’m invested in them. I want them to grow. I want them to better themselves.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and a master’s in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, then started her career at the Thomas & Thomas CPA firm. She was at that firm from 1998-2004, but had always been drawn to nonprofit work and transitioned to Centers because helping kids — albeit indirectly — spoke to her.
McCrory helps children more directly as president of her local soccer club in Vilonia, spending 20-25 hours a week making sure that about 250 kids, including her own child, are registered, have uniforms, have fields to play on and more.
