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Allyson Drinnon, CVA, is the Director of the Volunteer Resource Center with Habitat for Humanity International. Working towards “A world where everyone has a decent place to live”, she oversees a team that develops training and educational resource development for volunteer professionals. She joins other leaders serving on the Volunteer Groups Alliance Steering Committee to develop global partnerships that celebrate volunteerism as a means of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Her current work includes an organizational change initiative to increase opportunities for measurement and innovation. She is editor of the Voices section of the eVolunteerism Journal. Mrs. Drinnon is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in Psychology, and holds a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the School for Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She enjoys living in a rural community, is active in the downtown Main Street program and is a founding Board Member of the Furlow Charter School, a K-12 public charter school serving low- income students in her community. She is a member of the Grateful Threads quilting guild and enjoys working on projects with her two daughters.Andrea Hill, MA, CVA
Memphis, Tennessee South East Region
Director of Volunteer Memphis
Andrea Hill has received her Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Master in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University. She is certified in Volunteer Administration through the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. In May 2020, Andrea was able to recertify through the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration because of her accomplishments in the field of volunteer engagement and management. Andrea is the Director of Volunteer Memphis. As Director, Andrea is a humble servant leader, knowledge and has a "work alongside you" attitude which makes her a powerful leader in our community. She has tremendous experience in the areas of volunteer management, project and event management, fund raising, resource development, and youth development. She tirelessly strives to encourage volunteerism across the greater Memphis community. Her work fosters collaboration between various non-profits and corporations. In the 5 years Andrea has been back in Memphis, she has taken the city to new heights in volunteerism and community engagement. Most recently, Andrea has worked to develop the COVID-19 Skilled Volunteer Labor Pool initiative with the City of Memphis/Office of Emergency Management, Innovate Memphis, and Medical Reserve Corp. She assists with recruiting volunteers for various COVID-19 projects that aide various service agencies address the needs in the greater Memphis community. Additionally, in her position as Director of Volunteer Memphis, she prepares and mobilizes leaders to work together for the good of the whole community with an emphasis on volunteerism, volunteer leadership and an understanding of the differences/similarities between volunteer leadership and community leadership. She leads a number of Mid-South campaigns including MLK Days of Service, 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, Make a Difference Day, Family Volunteer Day and the Volunteer Memphis Awards. Audrey Kidwell
Tallahassee, FL South East Region
Volunteer Generation Fund Program Manager, Volunteer Florida
Audrey Kidwell, Volunteer Florida, is the program manager for the Volunteer Generation Fund, a program increases the capacity of organizations to recruit, manage, support and retain skills-based volunteers to serve in high-value volunteer assignments. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso, West Africa. After returning to the United States, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership. Audrey has 10+ years working with recruiting and managing volunteers. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Southern Indiana and her Master’s (M.S.Ed) in Community & Social Change at the University of Miami.Alana Knoppow
Ann Arbor, MI Great Lakes Region
Volunteer Program Manager
Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice
Alana earned her BA from the University of Michigan in psychology with a minor in biological anthropology, as well as a MSW from the U of M, with concentrations in Aging and Management, and a minor in interpersonal practice. She has served in the Volunteer Services department at Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice for nearly 8 years. Prior to this role, she was the Volunteer Coordinator and Marketing Associate at the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley ReStore. Alana has also assisted with volunteer management during her social work internships at Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County and Michigan Community VNA. She has volunteered with many organizations as well: Hospice of Michigan/Arbor Hospice as a pet therapy volunteer (6 years), Michigan Pug Rescue (2 years), and Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County as a friendly visitor (6 years). Alana is a founding member and community moderator at Tobi Johnson's VolunteerPro.Michael Mulhern, CVA
San Jose, CA - Pacific Region
Volunteer Director, Ironman
Michael Mulhern has been working to forge connections between individuals and organizations for close to 20 years. Michael fell into his volunteer management career upon being hired as a customer service manager at a Silicon Valley nonprofit. The job included management responsibilities for the organization's volunteers, and in a system akin to paint by numbers, Michael taught himself the ins and outs of volunteer management over the course of several years. During this time, Michael's focus on being an operations professional that helped with volunteers reversed and his chosen career path became focused primarily on volunteer management. Since that time Michael has directed volunteer programs in multiple cities within the United States. In addition to working with volunteers in his career, Michael is also an active volunteer himself donating his time to support youth shelters and food pantries. Michael takes great pride finding opportunities to serve on boards in order to provide sustained and strategic support for organizations that create positive impact. When not working or volunteering Michael regularly seeks out new restaurants and attractions to do "market research" and keeps himself knowledgeable of the region's latest offerings. Travel tops his list of self-indulgent activities whether it be international excursions or a weekend road trip. Michael is a keen appreciator of food trends which he frequently worries will be evidenced by his waistline. Always ready for an outdoor adventure, Michael camps, hikes and above all else, loves fishing. Kayla Paulson, CVA
Cedar Rapids, IA Midwest Region
RSVP Director & Service Enterprise Trainer United Way of East Central Iowa
Kayla Paulson has spent the last six years fighting for more strategic and impactful volunteer engagement in her community, state, and nationally. During her tenure with United Way of East Central Iowa she has worked with over 75 local agencies, more than 500 senior volunteers, Iowa Commission on Volunteering & Service, Points of Light, and United Way Worldwide to help improve volunteer engagement practices. Kayla Paulson has spent her professional career in marketing, training, community relations, and volunteer management both in the senior healthcare and nonprofit industries. She is an experienced trainer at state, regional, and national levels, delivering interactive and empowering workshops. She has taken 25 organizations in eastern Iowa through Service Enterprise, an organization change management program to effectively and efficiently leverage volunteers to deliver its social mission. She has served as President and Marketing & Communications Chair for Leaders in Volunteerism, Vice-Chair for RSVP Directors of Iowa Association, Walk to End Alzheimers Chair, Echo Hill PTO Hospitality Chair, Linn County Triad Board Member, Alburnett Community School District Foundation Board Member, United Way Worldwide Boomer Engagement, Service Enterprise Curriculum Design Team Member, LAP-AID Emergency Volunteer Center Core Team, and as a pro-bono volunteer for various nonprofits sharing her skills in volunteer management, strategic planning, training, marketing and communications.Ashley Ramsdell
Memphis, TN - South East Region
Sr. Liaison, Field Support, Volunteer Program Operations
Ashley began working for ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after completion of college in August of 2010. Since working at St. Jude, Ashley has served in several roles working directly with donors, staff and volunteers. Ashley has expertise in leading multi-million dollar revenue generating operations through national program development, fundraising, strategic planning, and improvement processes. In her current role, Ashley serves as the liaison to 38 Regional Fundraising Offices around the country related to volunteer management and engagement efforts. In this role, Ashley leads and drives the adoption of volunteer initiatives in the Field, in collaboration with a cross-divisional team to ensure the resource needs of remote offices are met. In addition, Ashley identifies and assesses trends related to volunteer engagement in Field Offices, and works with various departments at the National Executive Office to develop training and other resources to support staff and volunteer needs.Nicole Smith
Miami, FL - South East Region
Manager, Volunteer and Internship Services, Adrienne Arsht Center
Nicole is a Panamanian-American, workforce development specialist, published author of Game On! Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams and the 101 Note-taking Affirmation Journal Series, dancer and motivational speaker. In 2019, She joined the Board of the Arts and Business Council of Miami, was listed as one of WLRN’s “Local Women Who Inspire You” and was selected as one of Legacy Miami’s MOST PROMINENT AND INFLUENTIAL BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY OF 2019. She is the Volunteer and Internship Services Manager at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. She joined the Arsht Center in 2012 as a Marketing Coordinator and remained in that role until she joined the Volunteer Services department in November of 2014. She is currently responsible for managing 300+ volunteers and interns in all aspects of the business including recruiting, training and team building. Smith continuously works with the Arsht Center’s Front of House team to staff more than 100 performances and programs presented by the Center each year. She also leads the Center’s Internship Program which serves 13 departments and offers a life-changing immersive learning experience to approximately 20 interns per semester. In addition, she is an Accountability Coach for Center’s Apprenticeship Program and has worked as a mentor with the School-to-Work Big Brothers Big Sisters program for two years.
Jennifer Thompson, CVA
Tulsa, Oklahoma - South Central Region
Volunteer Coordinator, LIFE Senior Services Tulsa OK
Jennifer is a native Tulsan but has also lived in Colorado and San Francisco CA. She attended both Tulsa University School of Business and Tulsa Community College where she earned associates degrees in Applied Science/Physical Therapy and Human Services – Gerontology. IShe is a lifelong volunteer in addition to working in the Volunteer Administration Field for more than 20 years, most managing in hospice programs. Jennifer earned the designation of a Certified Volunteer Administrator in 2007. She has been an adjunct faculty member with Tulsa Community College, teaching volunteer management, as well as a faculty member for the former organization Volunteer Tulsa presenting the Volunteer Management Series in Northeastern Oklahoma. She has been an active advocate for the CVA designation and as a mentor for those perusing this designation. She serves on many boards: VP of membership of TulsALIVE, president of Silver Hair Legislators, secretary of Broken Arrow Youth Baseball Organization, Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. Tri-Country Area Agency on Aging (legislative committee).