Past Conferences
Dr. Thenera Bailey, President/CEO
SISGI Group
Dr. Thenera Bailey is the President/CEO of the SISGI Group. She has had an accomplished career as a trainer, consultant, nonprofit leader, grantmaker and technical assistance provider to nonprofits/NGOs, programs, government agencies, corporations, and school systems throughout the country. Her work as a strategy consultant has included leadership of projects for clients such as the American Diabetes Association, Boys and Girls Clubs, Volunteer Alaska, Schultz Family Foundation, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, Connecticut Department of Higher Education, AARP Foundation, Kettering Foundation, America’s Service Commissions, and many more national, state, and local organizations. Her consulting projects cover a variety of areas of expertise and services including developing programs, training, expansion/replication of program models to new communities, strategic planning and capacity building.
Jada Brown
Miss Tennessee Volunteer
A native of Tampa, Florida, she is a senior at the historic Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., where she majors in biology with a minor in chemistry. With a 3.6 GPA, she serves as the captain of the Lane College volleyball team and plays a role in the S-STEM program. After graduating, she plans to pursue a career as a healthcare professional. As the Governor's spokesperson, she travels the State of Tennessee speaking to thousands of school children spreading the message of her character trait 'care'. She promotes the importance of American Sign Language through her platform, 'the beauty within our hands.' In June, she will be Tennessee’s representative for the Miss Volunteer America Pageant.
Chelsea Crawford, Chief of Staff
Tennessee Department of Education
As Chief of Staff, Chelsea leads the communications, engagement, policy and legislative affairs, and program and financial performance and evaluation teams to support student achievement in Tennessee's K-12 schools. Before joining the department in January 2020 as assistant commissioner for communications and engagement, Chelsea previously worked in the private sector, including serving as Vice President for a public affairs firm that supported corporate, government, political, and non-profit clients, and earlier in career serving federal defense contractors. A proud native Tennessean, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and personally serves on various boards for organizations aligned to her values and interests.
Daniel Irwin, Research Scientist
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Daniel Irwin is a research scientist at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the Global Program Manager for SERVIR—a flagship NASA and US Agency for International Development (USAID) program with activities in over 50 countries throughout Eastern and Southern Africa, West Africa, the Hindu Kush Himalaya, lower Mekong, and Amazonia regions. He has over 25 years of experience in satellite remote sensing applications and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the developing world. Daniel also served as a lead remote sensing specialist in support of NASA’s space archeology program, with a focus on detecting structures of the ancient Maya. He received his master’s degree in environmental science at Miami University in 1993.
Melissa Ortiz, President/CEO
Capability Consulting
Melissa Ortiz identifies as a “happy warrior” and is enthusiastic about driving a dialogue between people living with disabilities or chronic illness and policy makers across the political spectrum. She has worked in the classroom in Nashville, Tennessee and in the nonprofit sector in New York City and Washington, DC. She was honored to serve as President Trump’s Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities. Founder of Capability Consulting, she currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Tony and her retired Service Dog, Annie Oakley the Dachshund. When she isn’t working on disability policy issues or giving a motivational speech, her hobbies include reading historical fiction and doing crossword puzzles in ink.
The Well Outreach
The Well Outreach is honored to offer our Food Pantry services to anyone in need, with no geographical boundaries. Families in need of food can come to our pantry to receive groceries up to twice monthly. By working alongside community food drives and through partnerships with local grocery stores, The Well is able to serve anyone in need with about a week's worth of groceries.
Bailey Hufstetler - Volunteer Program 101
Room: Morgan
Bailey Hufstetler is a Christian, Husband, and a father who resides in Dayton, TN. Bailey has worked in the volunteer/ non-profit sector ever since he was 11 years old volunteering at several different organizations himself. Since becoming an adult, Bailey has founded his own non-profit organization, developed several flourishing volunteer programs, and has helped run volunteer fundraising campaigns across the State. Bailey is a licensed Real Estate Agent, former President of his local Chamber of Commerce, A business owner, and a leader in his community.
Jared Peer - Data-Driven Benefits of Senior Volunteerism
Room: Saddlebred
Jared Peer leads the RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) for Knox and Blount Counties in East Tennessee. His work involves connecting aging adults with community partners to put their experience and skills to work meeting local needs through volunteerism. In his free time, Jared can be found outdoors gardening or indoors building with Lego.
Taylor Wilder - Recruiting and Managing Skilled Volunteers
Room: Appaloosa
Taylor enjoys working with the public and currently works as a skilled volunteer program manager.
Don Sowers – Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for Individuals & Organizations
Room: Highland
Don has been a professional first responder, emergency manager, and volunteer leader for governmental agencies and volunteer organizations. He is currently the Manager of Disaster Volunteer Services for Volunteer Tennessee, the Governor’s commission for volunteerism and community service. He is also an Emergency Services Liaison to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). And he provides administrative support for local Tennessee Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Melissa Ortiz – That’s (Not) Helpful & That's Why
Room: Morgan
Melissa Ortiz identifies as a “happy warrior” and is enthusiastic about driving a dialogue between people living with disabilities or chronic illness and policy makers across the political spectrum. She has worked in the classroom in Nashville, Tennessee and in the nonprofit sector in New York City and Washington, DC. She was honored to serve as President Trump’s Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities. Founder of Capability Consulting, she currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Tony and her retired Service Dog, Annie Oakley the Dachshund. When she isn’t working on disability policy issues or giving a motivational speech, her hobbies include reading historical fiction and doing crossword puzzles in ink.
Sidney Enns - Succession Planning: Preparing for Future Volunteer Engagement Coordinators
Room: Saddlebred
Sidney has over 13 years of volunteer engagement experience and service. As the Director of Volunteer Engagement, she is responsible for helping to recruit, train, retain and recognize volunteers for all programs the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) administers across the state. She is also an adjunct professor at Indiana State University teaching a course on Volunteer Engagement for the Nonprofit Leadership Minor.
Madison Wood - Volunteering for All: Incorporating Universal Design into Service Planning
Room: Highland
Madison Woods (she/her) is a Program Coordinator for Vanderbilt University’s Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service. She primarily engages with Vanderbilt service initiatives by providing service leadership trainings and managing community partnerships between student volunteers and local organizations. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2021 and her master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University in 2023. Her professional interests lie in the intersection of community engagement, leadership education, and justice.
Vincent Phipps- Amplify Your Attitude to Transition your Listening.
Room: Appaloosa
Vincent Phipps is called the Attitude Amplifier! This is because of his high energy and interactive presentation style. Vincent is a communication intelligence expert. As owner of Communication VIP, Vincent specializes in conflict resolution, leadership and presentation skills. Vincent’s passion is developing training programs based on his book, Lead Out Loud, designed for professionals wanting to amplify their interpersonal communication skills. Vincent’s philosophy is “If I can get you to laugh, I can get you to listen. If I can get you to listen, I can help your communication skills amplify!”
Laurie Gavilo-Lane, PhD - Civic Engagement and Social Change
Room: Williamson
Laurie Gavilo-Lane, PhD is Assistant Professor at Belmont University. She’s taught graduate/undergraduates, owned and operated a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic, worked for Mayo Clinic, and Tulane Drop-In Center. Dr. Gavilo-Lane volunteers with Alive Hospice, Cumberland River Compact, Urban Housing Solutions | Mercury Court, and Second Harvest Food Bank, and several non-profit partners whose mission is to promote community well-being and public health.
Angela Hill- Parks in a Changing Climate
Room: Morgan
Angela’s career includes 15 years of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation experience. She has served as the Administrator of the Parks & Neighborhoods Department and the Executive Director of the Conservation Board for Shelby County Government. In these positions, she oversaw 6000+ acres of parks and conservation lands, which included two cemeteries (active), and a thriving award-winning community garden. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Administrator for the Shelby County Health Department Environmental Health Services and Sustainability section.
Penny Willis- Setting the Stage for Change
Room: Highland
Penny is an international speaker, conference, and non-profit organization workshop facilitator with more than two decades of experience leading the research, development, and training of internationally recognized, positive youth development programs and adult professional development in social and emotional learning, character education, service-learning, and prevention of substance and alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy. Current projects include developing research-based tools to foster social and emotional teaching practices including curriculum, adult social and emotional competence building, classroom observation and professional learning strategies.
Mary Graham- Engage Youth in Solving Community Problems While Mastering State Educational Standards and Exploring STEM Careers!
Room: Saddlebred
Mary Graham is president and CEO of United Ways of Tennessee. In this role, she builds the capacity of local United Ways to better serve their communities, and she visions and implements collective work to improve the lives of all Tennesseans. This encompasses public policy work, disaster relief, and ALICE research and promotion, as well as securing and leading state grants on a wide array of areas, including the Tennessee Afterschool Network, United for Digital Access (older Tennesseans), United We Heal (substance use), Afterschool Serves Tennessee (service-learning), and more. Prior, Ms. Graham was Senior VP at National Mental Health Association, Director of Economic Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association, and Director of Clinical Affairs for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, where she focused on disability rights, advocacy, and public education. Ms. Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary.
Natalie Patric- Strategies to Increase and Retain Corporate Volunteers for Community Development
Room: Appaloosa
As the Director of Community Engagement for United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Natalie aims to support corporate and nonprofit volunteerism needs. With years of volunteer management experience, Natalie works to curate individualized volunteer opportunities for corporate companies, elevate nonprofit needs, and build creative strategies for access to engagement opportunities. Natalie is also passionate about providing innovative ways for young professionals and students to support their local communities. Natalie, born and raised in Canada, completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from York University. Natalie, her husband Bryce, and their three daughters Lillian, Isabelle, and Juliana are thankful to call Chattanooga their home.
Andrea Hill- Empowering Change: Advocacy, Public Policy and Volunteerism
Room: Morgan
This interactive workshop will explore the powerful connections between advocacy, public policy, and volunteerism. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how public policy is shaped and how they can use their voices and actions to create positive change in their communities. Through engaging activities, participants will learn effective advocacy strategies, develop their understanding of the policy- making process, and discover how volunteerism can be a powerful tool for social change.Andrea has nearly 20 years of experience in capacity building, programming, volunteer management, project and event management, fund raising, and resource development. She is a connector for the greater good of our community. She has served as a speaker, including Keynote and Plenary opportunities, on the local and national conferences level. She is a mentor to young women in the business, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit fields. She currently serves as the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer for Tennessee Nonprofit Network.
Dan Rieves- Honing Personal Resilience: Life is Tough, but You’re Tougher
Room: Highland
Dan specializes in how to develop and strengthen our resilience in the heat if a stressful moment. through extended times of trials and building a lifetime strength to draw from in the long run. Students will learn practical techniques proven by warriors, athletes, and leaders who have time and again risen to the challenge, to become champion on the battlefield or in the boardroom.
Megan Bennett- National Service as a Career Launching Pad
Room: Saddlebred
Megan is the Founder and Facilitator at Career Currents, a workshop and training company dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations maximize their impact and unlock the full potential of their teams. She believes teams do their best when supported, equipped, and have a sense of purpose (and joy!) at work. She has held roles in community and organizational development. She is a two-time AmeriCorps alumnus and currently lives in Nashville. In her spare time, you can catch her reading a good novel, chatting in Spanish, and going on an adventure.
Kelly Knowles- Standing Out While Standing In: 5 Strategies to Differentiate Yourself with Authenticity and Integrity
Room: Appaloosa
Kelly is an exemplary public speaker who has provided customized workshops and presentations throughout the US. Her specialties include certification in Color Code Personality Science, business skills training, and business technology training. She is adept at conducting workshops and training for groups of all sizes. Kelly is a published author who is passionate about adult learning, helping people realize and develop their potential, and enabling adult learners to improve their everyday effectiveness by authentically maximizing their skills.
Jason Scott- Developing a Voice for Tennessee-Based AmeriCorps
Room: Morgan
Jason is a two-term alum of AmeriCorps and the Director of CAC AmeriCorps in Knoxville, TN, an AmeriCorps intermediary that operates State/National and VISTA programming. CAC AmeriCorps places between 50-60 full-time members with as many as 40 community partners in Knox and surrounding counties in East Tennessee. In addition, Jason serves on the Governor-appointed commission of Volunteer Tennessee as well as Friends of Volunteer Tennessee, and America's Service Commissions. Jason is an advocate for the expansion of equitable access to national service.
Geng Wang - Everything You Need to Know about Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement
Room: Highland
As the CEO of Civic Champs, Geng leads our team of dedicated change leaders in providing nonprofits and their champions with the most intuitive and impactful volunteer management software. Prior to Civic Champs, Geng co-founded and sold two companies, RentJungle.com (an apartment search engine), and Community Elf (a social media management firm). In addition, Geng has had the honor of spending 4 years at McKinsey & Company, advising senior executive clients at Fortune 500 companies - helping them solve their most pressing strategic and management issues.
Jennifer Bennet- Volunteer Relationships for the Future: Moving Beyond the 3Rs and Focusing on the One Big R
Room: Appaloosa
Jennifer leads VolunteerMatch’s Learning Center, and designs tools, trainings, and resources to help VolunteerMatch’s community of nonprofits better recruit and engage volunteers. She shares her knowledge with leaders of volunteers through the trainings in the Learning Center, through the LOVs Newsletter and the VolunteerMatch Blog, and at conferences around the country. She also co-hosts the Time + Talent Podcast with Tobi Johnson from VolunteerPro, which finished its fourth season in December 2022. She serves as the Director of Knowledge on the Board of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. She is the current Co-Editor and a contributing author for the 4th Edition of Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice, published by LexisNexis Canada in January 2021. She is the current Co-Editor and a contributing author for the 4th Edition of Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice, published by LexisNexis Canada in January 2021.
Kimberly King- Volunteers and Veterans
Room: Appaloosa
Kimberly King was born in Baton Rouge, LA in 1960. She has a bachelor's degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University. Kimberly currently serves as the commander of VFW Post 10904 and VFW District 5 in Tennessee, which is comprised of 10 VFW posts. Her post has earned many state and national awards including the VFW National All-American Post Award for the past five years, the All-State Awards and the VFW Department of Tennessee (State) Community Service Award for the last two years.
Hope Alexander- Branding Your Volunteers
Room: Highland
A Tennessee native, Hope has extensive experience in marketing, communications and engagement in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas and is currently using her skills to further Volunteer Tennessee’s mission. She is a Union University alumna and graduate of both Leadership Jackson and WestStar Leadership. For 30 years, Hope has been an active volunteer and servant leader in West Tennessee and is a Leadership Jackson Alumni Association Harbert Alexander Servant Leadership Award recipient. She currently serves on the Therapy and Learning Center’s board of directors and is a member of Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals, which promotes women in STEM. Hope lives in Jackson with her new husband, Barry, and is the proud mother of Cole Cooper, a senior studying electrical engineering at Tennessee Tech University.
Candace Taylor & Zipporah Robinson, MPC – Unleash you Grant and Investments Skills: Mastering Your Development
Room: Saddlebred
Candace Taylor, conference coordinator, has over 15 years of nonprofit and grant writing experience. From Memphis, TN, Candace enjoys volunteering and working with start up businesses. To name a few of her recent accomplishments, Candace is treasurer of Blues City Cultural Center, board member of Friends of Volunteer Tennessee, Lean Six Sigma Certified and an Unpacking Racism Graduate with the National Civil Rights Museum. Graduate of MTSU, Candace is also a proud AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni.
Bailey Hufstetler - Volunteer Program 101
Room: Morgan
Led by an individual that has developed and managed several volunteer programs with several different organizations, Volunteer Program 101, is a workshop designed to teach the audience members how to not only develop a robust volunteer program, but how to retain volunteers for that program, and how to manage that program effectively.
Jared Peer - Data-Driven Benefits of Senior Volunteerism
Room: Saddlebred
Countless seniors with a lifetime of experience retire every year, trading in a full-time job for what? This workshop explores the substantial impact seniors can have on their communities by volunteering. We’ll discuss the benefits society gets, the benefits to organizations who intentionally seek to engage seniors, and the wide-ranging benefits seniors get out of volunteerism. Volunteerism is an integral part of remaining healthy and active while aging. How can we better communicate these benefits when recruiting? Come here what the data has to say about the benefits of senior volunteerism in America.
Taylor Wilder - Recruiting and Managing Skilled Volunteers
Room: Appaloosa
It’s no secret that the long-term, skilled volunteer is instrumental to your organizational impact. Engaging community members’ skills and tailoring them to your mission can provide both an excellent organizational resource and meaningful volunteer experience. In this session, we’ll discuss ways to develop and maintain a skilled volunteerism program for your organization.
Don Sowers – Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for Individuals & Organizations
Room: Highland
Life-threatening emergencies and disasters can happen suddenly. So, it helps to have a better understanding of the potential threats to your home, school, or workplace. Emergency preparedness training provides you with the skills to properly react to these emergency situations. And you may be able to save a life by taking simple actions. Please join us for a fast-paced overview of common emergency situations and the actions you can take to better protect yourself, your family, students, and co-workers until first responders arrive.
Melissa Ortiz – That’s (Not) Helpful
Room: Morgan
How to get volunteers to be flexible and embrace any role given to them while being firm when dealing with balkers. Play Doh provides the object lesson and participants will leave with a supply list and instruction sheet to replicate the activity with their volunteers.
Sidney Enns - Succession Planning: Preparing for Future Volunteer Engagement Coordinators
Room: Saddlebred
Your long-time volunteer engagement coordinator just accepted a new job. One of your most valued volunteers retires or moves way. How do you react? If you first instinct is stress or panic that this is the session for you to attend! We will be discussing strategies to continue continuity of programs and services, what YOU want in your next staff member or volunteer and where to find amazing candidates to fill empty roles. Get ready to share your thoughts and ideas as we have open discussion on ways to ensure your volunteer program thrives during times of transition.
Madison Wood - Volunteering for All: Incorporating Universal Design into Service Planning
Room: Highland
In this interactive session, we will explore the importance of universal design in service. Whether you are a service-learning educator, practitioner, or volunteer coordinator, understanding universal design is vital in enhancing the impact and strength of service initiatives. Universal design prioritizes the diverse needs of all community members, whether this be the community you are serving or the volunteers themselves. We will define universal design and its relevance to the communities we serve. We then will engage in hands- on activities to practice creating inclusive and equitable service programming.
Vincent Phipps- Amplify Your Attitude to Transition your Listening.
Room: Appaloosa
Laugh, listen, and learn from this interactive presentation. Vincent Phipps presents this dynamic message about our attitudes and communication styles impacting both relationships and revenue. This message is filled with impactful take-a-ways, lighthearted humor, and engaging segments that will leave you motivated about how to adapt when applying elements of conflict resolution, leadership, listening, and emotional intelligence. The best skill in today’s professional environment is the communication ability to demonstrate adaptability.
Laurie Gavilo-Lane - Civic Engagement and Social Change
Room: WIlliamson
Empower students to transform their world with intelligence, courage, compassion, and faith. Service learning is distinguished from volunteering because of its emphasis on promoting students’ civic and social engagement and connecting classroom content to real-world problems. Join faculty and student co-leaders as we share a template, tools, and lessons learned from our efforts to integrate Service Learning (SL) programs into college courses. Be prepared to learn through hands-on activities in this conference session.
Angela Hill- Parks in a Changing Climate
Room: Morgan
This interactive workshop will explore the powerful connections between advocacy, public policy, and volunteerism. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how public policy is shaped and how they can use their voices and actions to create positive change in their communities. Through engaging activities, participants will learn effective advocacy strategies, develop their understanding of the policy- making process, and discover how volunteerism can be a powerful tool for social change.
Penny Willis- Setting the Stage for Change
Room: Highland
Whether you are new to service-learning and volunteerism or a field veteran, this workshop has something for you. Join us as we explore the essential stages of a service-learning experience while learning strategies and activities for facilitating each stage with middle and high school-age youth. Explore best practices that inspire civic responsibility and foster leadership skills. Participants will both learn and share their strategies and approaches to facilitating the experience of each stage of the process in a highly interactive and fun workshop. Participation includes individual, partner, and small group activities.
Mary Graham- Engage Youth in Solving Community Problems While Mastering State Educational Standards and Exploring STEM Careers!
Room: Saddlebred
Learn how to engage youth in solving community problems while mastering state educational standards and exploring STEM careers! Youth-serving programs will leave this workshop with strategies and tools in-hand to empower students to tackle community problems, all while building their leadership abilities, academic skills, and sense of civic responsibility. This session will emphasize working with girls, kids of color, and other populations with limited STEM opportunities. We'll share tools and lessons learned from more than a dozen programs across the state that you can replicate for meaningful youth programming.
Natalie Patric- Strategies to Increase and Retain Corporate Volunteers for Community Development
Room: Appaloosa
Here at United Way of Greater Chattanooga, we are continuously adjusting how to best support our corporate partners and the community at large in their engagement efforts. We found that most corporate companies who participated in volunteer opportunities were in a position of leadership. We wanted to find a way to engage all their employees and the traditional method of volunteering at a local nonprofit was not feasible for hourly employees or those working in production. We asked ourselves how do we make volunteerism more equitable and accessible for them? From the executive leadership to those working on the assembly line, we wanted to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to be involved in supporting their community. The solution? Onsite volunteerism!
Andrea Hill- Empowering Change: Advocacy, Public Policy and Volunteerism
Room: Morgan
This interactive workshop will explore the powerful connections between advocacy, public policy, and volunteerism. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how public policy is shaped and how they can use their voices and actions to create positive change in their communities. Through engaging activities, participants will learn effective advocacy strategies, develop their understanding of the policy- making process, and discover how volunteerism can be a powerful tool for social change.
Dan Rieves- Honing Personal Resilience: Life is Tough, but You’re Tougher
Room: Highland
In this class, we explore how to develop and strengthen our resilience in the heat if a stressful moment, through extended times of trials and building a lifetime strength to draw from in the long run. Students will learn practical techniques proven by warriors, athletes, and leaders who have time and again risen to the challenge, to become champion on the battlefield or in the boardroom. Upon completion of this interactive presentation, the student/learner should be able to: Identify techniques for building resilience in the short term (heat of the moment), mid-term (building blocks for daily life mindsets), and long term (adjust outlooks for health and wellness).
Megan Bennett- National Service as a Career Launching Pad
Room: Saddlebred
This workshop is crafted to equip program leaders with volunteer management techniques and organizational systems, facilitating seamless transition for your volunteers from service to professional success. You will learn how to invest in your volunteers’ success today, ensuring a stronger and more impactful tomorrow, regardless of your budget. The workshop employs current best practices, interactive activities, and case studies. By the workshop’s conclusion, you will be adept at positioning your program as a dynamic force, shaping not only service experiences but also lifelong professional trajectories.
Kelly Knowles- Standing Out While Standing In: 5 Strategies to Differentiate Yourself with Authenticity and Integrity
Room: Appaloosa
This interactive session combines professional presence with the southern flavor and energy of Kelly K Consulting to provide a session that will be remembered and learning that can be used immediately! The webinar will provide practical tools to develop strategies to authentically (and with integrity) stand out from the crowd as you advance while positively developing those around you for continued professional and organizational success. During this fast-moving webinar, we will look at the “Fast Five” specific strategies to accomplish these goals, discover our own driving core motivate and then engage in an interactive discussion to apply what we have learned in this session. This session has a special emphasis on learning about and working with FGPs (First Generation Professionals) to enable you to better develop future leaders in an inclusive environment. You will leave with real action-steps you can take to authentically differentiate yourself as you develop and advance in your professional space with integrity.
Jason Scott- Developing a Voice for Tennessee-Based AmeriCorps
Room: Morgan
A highly interactive workshop that will engage Tennessee-Based AmeriCorps Program Leadership, Staff, and the partners that support them, in developing an actionable model for a statewide network of AmeriCorps programs that allows for resource sharing, collaboration, and collective voice. As a network Tennessee AmeriCorps programs do tremendous good, but often in glorious isolation. This can create confusion, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies that can have adverse consequences and limit our ability to innovate and influence positive change in the communities we serve. Join me in a conversation whose intent is to create actionable steps to creating a more sustainable national service ecosystem for new and old programs alike.
Geng Wang - Everything You Need to Know about Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement
Room: Highland
In this session, we’ll explore the latest trends and insights derived from recent research on volunteering. Learn how to craft a volunteer recruitment strategy, backed by actionable tips and 15+ innovative approaches to enhance your recruitment efforts. Discover emerging strategies for volunteer engagement like micro volunteering and how to activate volunteers as donors through microdonations. Navigate through best practices designed to appreciate and retain volunteers effectively, fostering a sense of commitment and enthusiasm. Additionally, you’ll leave equipped with an array of technologies available to amplify recruitment and engagement endeavors. Embrace the evolving nature of volunteering, where research-backed knowledge meets practical strategies for creating a vibrant and impactful volunteer community.
Jennifer Bennet- Volunteer Relationships for the Future: Moving Beyond the 3Rs and Focusing on the One Big R
Room: Appaloosa
Volunteer demographics are changing, those who are volunteering want different things from their volunteer experience - like more flexibility, and many organizations have long-term volunteers that haven’t returned to in-person work. Nonprofits need a new model! The old model of the 3 Rs - recruitment, retention, and recognition - just isn’t working anymore. In this highly interactive session, we’ll discuss some of the current challenges facing leaders of volunteers and create a framework for a new model - the one Big R. Attendees will have the opportunity to evaluate their current successes and challenges around building relationships with volunteers. The session will provide a framework for re-thinking how relationships are formed with volunteers, and who forms those relationships. Attendees will leave with models and work plans for creating and implementing their own strategies for forming relationships with volunteers, sample feedback survey questions for volunteers, and ideas for messaging to other organization stakeholders.
Melissa Ortiz – That’s Why
Room: Morgan
Volunteering isn't always easy and the people you are trying to help aren't always receptive. This exercise teaches empathy for the people being served by the volunteers. Paper plates, glue and flower petals provide the object lesson. Participants will leave with a supply list and instruction sheet to replicate the activity with their volunteers.
Kimberly King- Volunteers and Veterans
Room: Appaloosa
Hoping and wishing for great Volunteers doesn’t happen magically. Learn how your mission statement is your Unicorn for Amazing Volunteers.
Hope Alexander- Branding Your Volunteers
Room: Highland
Traditionally, we think of branding as logos and printed materials, but it encompasses the overall experience and perception volunteers have with an organization. This session will discuss how pervasive branding is to your organization and will explore strategies to effectively brand and engage your volunteer base.
Candace Taylor & Zipporah Robinson, MPC – Unleash you Grant and Investments Skills: Mastering Your Development
Room: Saddlebred
This session will be an interactive session on exploring your development ideas, grant submissions and staffing with volunteers. Key takeaways include tough conversations and mapping your development for 2024. We will explore volunteerism and service for your specific mission.
The 2022 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning was held on February 14 as a hybrid event. For the 2022 Conference Program guide, click here.
Any provided presentation materials can be found below.
Workshop Session # 1
- Volunteer Recruitment: Finding the Right Fit
- Rooted in SEL: Service-Learning Grows Leaves of DEI - This session was cancelled.
- How Did We Get Here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the U.S.?
- CSR: What is Success? How Do You Measure Impact?
Workshop Session #2
- Seven Deadly Sins of Volunteer Recruitment
- Seeking Justice Cultivating Activists with Compassion, Empathy and Appreciation for Diversity
- Podcasting to Promote Service-Learning
- CSR: The 3Rs of Effective Volunteer Engagement
Workshop Session #3
- Important Not Impossible! Evaluating Your Organization's Volunteer Programs
- Developing Service-Learning and Community Service-Projects to Raise Up a Community of Civically Engaged People
- Beyond 20/20 Vision: A New Lens for Service-Learning During the Pandemic
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Why it Matters Most
Workshop Session #4
The 2021 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning was held February 8 through February 9 as a virtual event.
For the 2021 Conference Program Guide, click here.
Any provided presentations and handouts from the sessions are included below.
Monday, February 8-General Sessions
Workshop Session #1
A Guide to Writing Successful Proposals for Service-Learning Grants Presentation
Volunteerism in the Pandemic and After Presentation
Remember the Member: Building Member Agency, Leadership and Recognition Presentation
Workshop Session #2
Showing Up for Service: Intent vs Impact Handout
TN Fosters Hope - A Collaborative Success Story
- Holly Nichols, Foster Parent Presentation
Workshop Session #3
#Toto, I Have a Feeling We Aren't in Kansas Anymore Presentation
ALL In: Making Room for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in Volunteerism Presentation
Workshop Session #4
NEW START and Taking Care of Ourselves so We Can Serve Others Presentation
Pivoting in a Pandemic Presentation
Student Track
Tuesday, February 9-Higher Education Faculty Track
Serving Virtually in the Online Classroom Presentation
Am I Crazy to Do This? Employing Last Minute Service-Learning Opportunities into a Course Handout
RD2B Tower Gardening Produce Presentation
Can You Teach Diversity? An Exercise in Education and Empowerment via Service-Learning Presentation
Engaging Premier Partners to Promote Community Needs as well as Student Project Ideas Presentation
The 2020 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning was held Sunday February 9 through Tuesday, February 11 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs.
For the 2020 Conference Program Guide, click here.
2020 Presentation Materials:
All currently available presentations are posted below. Additional conference materials will be posted soon.
An Interdisciplinary Approach in Service-Learning and Community Partnership Through STEAM
Collaborating For Success
CSR Program Data and Measurement
How to Fundraise and Friendraise
IPARDE Booster Shot
Service-Learning Demystified: Practical Tools and Examples for Expanding or Enhancing your Program
Improving Civic Engagement with Wikipedia: Educating Others as Service-Learning
Re-Centering Community: Human-Centered Design as an Innovative Approach to Community Development
The 2019 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning was held Sunday February 10 through Tuesday, February 12 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs.
For the 2019 Conference Program Guide, click here.
2019 Presentation Materials:
All currently available presentations are posted below.
Best Practices for Leveraging Your Business Model for Good! (Corporate Social Responsibility Track)
Presenter: Disney Petit, Postmates
Collaboration & Partnership Matters! How to Have a Successful and Impactful National Day of Service
Presenters: Andrea Hill, Leadership Memphis & Angela Hill, Shelby County Government
Community Action: Progressing Toward Real Change
Presenters: Haley Harris, Clayton Jelsma, Shriya Karam, Hannah Laibinis, Cyntasia Palmer, Katelyn Starks, Aerial Towles, University School of Nashville
Consistency in Content: Getting Your Organization Noticed Through Social Media and Branding
Presenter: Matthew Gabb, CAC Beardsley Community Farm
Daniel Horgan Keynote
Developing Strong Corporate-Nonprofit Partnerships
Presenters: Rich Maiore, President, Rocket Social Impact & Sloane Lucas, Executive Director Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation/Cracker Barrel Cares, & Abby Robinson Graves,Community Engagement Director, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation
“Make a Date” – Interactive Games to Get to Know Your Volunteers, Staff and Co-Workers
Presenter: Sidney Schuttrow, Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
No Allergies to “Dot Com” For These Cyber Seniors
Presenter: Savitha Pinnepalli, Chattanooga State Community College
Service-Learning and Community Engagement: A Solution for Meeting Community Needs
Presenters: Carmelita Dotson, Sasha Fallon, Ariana Postlethwait, Middle Tennessee State University
Why Certify? Certified in Volunteer Administration vs. Certified Administrator of Volunteer Services
Presenter: Andrea Hill, Leadership Memphis
The 2018 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning was held Sunday March, 11 through Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs.
For the 2018 Conference Program Guide, click here.
2018 Presentation Materials:
Any available presentation materials are posted below.
Building Sustainable Community Partnerships
Presenter: Ebony Lott, Tennessee State University Extension
Intergenerational Volunteer Management
Presenter: Sidney Schuttrow, Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
Mission and Message: Growing a Great Volunteer Organization from the Ground Up
Presenter: Emily Gonzalez, UT/TSU Extension Knox County
Passion Into Action
Presenters: Haley Harris, Elijah Hong, Jaran Huggins, Hannah Laibinis, Shriya Karam, Cyntasia Palmer,
Katelyn Starks, Aerial Towles, University School of Nashville
Volunteerism in a Digital-Oral World: Telling Compelling Stories that Preserve Community Dignity
Presenter: Adam Buzard, CASA Nashville
What You Gain & What You Give: Volunteer Matching and Effective Community Partnerships
Presenter: Nicole Fernandez, CAC AmeriCorps - Bridge Refugee Services
Youth Leadership: Making a Difference Through Policy and Dance!
Presenters: Valerie Littleton, Dickson County High School Sarah Creasy, Alyssa Hyberger, Paige Kauppi, Ansley Mattingly, Ryan Perkins, Caitlin Pierce, Austin Travis, Kaycee Ward, Youth Leadership Dickson County High School Students