Director, North Texas Agency, Dallas County, Emergency Management and Government Relations
Volunteer Center of North Texas, December 2004 – Current.
Mission: To provide leadership and strategic development of initiatives to support and enhance systems operations; strategic oversight in new partner and new initiative development that supports the whole of the organization.
Key Achievements:
• Developed and managed a volunteer program for the City of Dallas with oversight of 53 coordinators and 5,319 community volunteers.
• Coordinated large-scale community projects for corporate partners such as Texas Instruments, EDS, NOKIA, Verizon, Citigroup, Daimler-Chrysler and Home Depot. Duties include project management, safety and oversight for Hands On Network in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
• Developed and implemented an “all-hazards” disasters plan for the Volunteer Center and the nonprofit agencies and municipalities in the seventeen counties in North Texas.
• Represented the Volunteer Center of North Texas in a leadership capacity.
• Provided research and development, as well as, oversight in new partner and initiative development. New initiatives include development of a statewide disaster network of volunteer centers, a collaborative partnership (Volunteer Center of North Texas, Salvation Army, North Texas Food Bank and the American Red Cross) for disaster response and the provision of programming to support the activities of governmental entities such as the cities and counties of Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Frisco.
Founder, Leadership Team Leader and CEO, VRM Roundtable/Association of Volunteer Resources Management (www.avrm.org), March 2006 - current (Volunteer position)
Mission: To form a new association for volunteer resources management in the United States. The efforts of the VRM Roundtable are conducted in an atmosphere and with the spirit of transparency, integrity and inclusion. The primary goals of a new association will be to support and serve the professionals who work in volunteer management through advocacy, educational programming and the provision of resources.
Key Achievements:
• Founded national organization that meets the needs of and engages the diverse field of volunteer management.
• Provided leadership and strategic oversight for program development and public relations initiatives.
• Developed new partnerships to support organizational initiatives such as the partnership with the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA).
• Provided budgetary oversight and programming development.
• Developed organizational structure, by-laws and articles of incorporation.
• Responsible for development of board of directors.
• Led project team of 100 individuals and 6,260 members.
Volunteer Coordinator, Katrina and Rita Hurricane Response Task Force
Volunteer Center of North Texas/City of Dallas, August 2005 – October 2005.
Mission: To develop organizational systems and coordinate volunteer services for the Katrina and Rita Hurricane response efforts that provided services to evacuees from the Gulf Coast.
Key Achievements:
• Developed and implemented the necessary applications, web materials, and press releases to mobilize and deploy 12,000 individuals/groups to provide services and support to hurricane evacuees.
• Served as a member of the Joint Operations Team and the Emergency Operations Center, as well as the Hurricane Response Task Force, for the City of Dallas to operate three mega-shelter operations (Reunion Arena, Dallas Convention Center, and the Decker Facility), which housed 25,000 individuals and served approximately 100,000 evacuees.
• Coordinated efforts for a Disaster Recovery Center and with numerous organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the North Texas Food Bank and FEMA. Duties included both field and in-house support operations for area citizens, spontaneous volunteers, CERT teams, municipalities, corporations, VOADs and nonprofits in the seventeen counties in North Texas. Field and in-house support operations required development and implementation of organizational systems, communication systems, budgetary oversight, staff and volunteer development, media management, donations management, and mediation between response organizations.
• Assisted the Dallas County Health Authorities and the Centers for Disease Control with health-related issues in the shelter environment. Operated, managed and staffed four call centers and two websites for evacuees seeking assistance, citizens requesting information and donors/volunteers.
• Also, integrally involved with Project Exodus, which sought to place evacuees in permanent apartment housing with the required household goods.
• Involvement continued through recovery phase serving Unmet Needs Committees and nonprofit and public organizations in the North Texas region. The Katrina and Rita Hurricane Response Task Force’s efforts have been cited as a national model.
Director of Volunteer Services, Equest, Dallas, TX. August 2002 – December 2004.
Mission: To manage volunteer program for a riding program that provides physical and mental therapy for disabled children and adults.
Key Achievements:
• Volunteer management activities include all aspects of managing a volunteer program, including recruiting, training, retention and recognition that supports approximately 850 volunteers.
• Recruit and manage groups for special projects and special events including Boot Scootn’ Ball, Holiday Open House. Westapher Golf Tournament, Spring Horse Show, Ridefest and Special Olympics.
• Also responsible for the creation and maintenance of all volunteer program support materials such as volunteer manuals, and policies and procedures. Recruit and manage community service volunteers such as service learners, schools, home school associations, and service organizations such as Junior League.
• Process community service restitution workers. Coordinate Volunteer Captains and Groom & Tack volunteers.
• Responsible for grant writing, recruiting and hiring ExxonMobil intern. Distribute information to current and potential volunteers through email distribution list, volunteer fairs and speaking engagements.
• Evaluation of volunteer program and its elements.
Grant Reviewer/ Peer Reviewer, Corporation for National & Community Service, 2003-present. Served as lead reviewer for grant requests to the Americorps and Learn and Serve programs. Reviewed and processed approximately 50 federal grants to date.
Volunteer, Public Programs and Travel Coordinator, Dallas Museum of Natural History, Dallas, TX. March, 2001 – August 2002.
Mission: To provide public programming, travel and volunteer support to the museum’s operations.
Key Achievements:
• Volunteer Management duties included all aspects of volunteer management, including recruiting, training, retention and recognition, of approximately 350 volunteers.
• As Public Programs Coordinator, I solicited and managed vendors and members of the volunteer staff for seven (7) family festivals based on a variety of topics such as Bug Day, Earth Day, Outdoor Adventure Weekend, Reptile Weekend, Dino Weekend, Texas Cultures Day and Origami Day.
• Other responsibilities included designing activities and recruiting and managing volunteers for visitor activities every weekend throughout the year. I also served as the Speakers Bureau, speaking to many public and private organizations about the activities and programs at the museum including the plans for a $110 million museum building project.
• As Travel Coordinator, I planned and managed the adventure and eco-tourism packages offered by the museum. These duties include the scheduling, arrangements, marketing, budget management and customer handling tasks associated with each trip. The position also utilized various professional skills including graphic design, database management, budget management, interview technique, group facilitation and job/program creation.
Commendations
Member of Distinction Award, Dallas Association of Directors of Volunteers, November 14, 2006. This award has only been given to two recipients in the 16-year history of the organization.
Dallas City Council, Public Commendation of Service, Dallas City Council Chambers, September 15, 2004.
Channel 8 WFAA (ABC) Designation as “Hometown Hero,” July 29, 2004.
Kay Paris Memorial Award, 1991, Registrar’s Committee, American Association of Museums
Education
Certification in Emergency Management, 2007, pending.
Certification in Volunteer Administration, 2006, November 1, 2006.
Baylor University, completed coursework, MA, Museum Studies
Baylor University, 1990, BA, Museum Studies, History minor