User login
Board Members
Below are biographies of the current board members of the Volunteer Management Association of Western Michigan.
Tina Droski, President tina.droski@baruchsls.org
I am the Volunteer Coordinator for Baruch Senior Ministries, a non-profit organization which provides assisted living to seniors in 6 facilities in the western Michigan area. I joined VMAWM I decided that the best way to get to know people and improve on my job skills was to become a board member. Baruch Senior Ministries has a number of residents who are not able to meet the monthly costs of living in our homes, so it is important to recruit and maintain as many volunteers as possible. Many of our volunteers have been with us for years and it’s great to see the tremendous passion these people have for our residents! My husband and I have 4 adult children and we like to enjoy a lot of our weekends on the Muskegon River which gives me time to do some reading. I also enjoy riding the various trails on my bicycle. It’s also great fun to be a part of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, and mentoring a child once a week through the Kid’s Hope program. I encourage anyone reading this to consider joining this great organization which provides excellent resources and learning tools for recruiting and maintaining volunteers.
President Elect - VACANT
Joy Dornbos, Advisor joy.dornbos@beaconhillgr.org
I became the Volunteer Coordinator at Beacon Hill at Eastgate (formerly Michigan Christian Home) about 6 years ago. I am working part time and am in charge of recruiting, training, and positioning volunteers. I also manage the library and store in our facility. Prior to working in this job, I was a teacher in Minnesota and was in charge of volunteers there as well. I volunteer at my church and deliver newsletters in my neighborhood. My husband and I have 2 sons in college and a daughter in high school. I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening and crafts.
Donna Martorano, Treasurer dmartorano@miblood.org
I entered the Volunteer Management field 3 years ago when I joined Michigan Community Blood Centers as a Volunteer Services Assistant. As a member of the department I recruit, train, and supervise over 200 volunteers. My family moved to Michigan from the Hudson Valley area of New York State three years ago where I worked as a Homebound Instructor teaching students in their homes who were unable to attend school due to a long term illness and suspensions. I've used my college degree in accounting working at various businesses and non-profit organizations for over 16 years. As a long time member of the Girl Scouts of America in New York I truly understand the volunteer's point of view. My roles included recruiting new leaders and girls, organizing large size events for the service unit area, and managing fund raising activities. As a Field Instructor for Paws With A Cause for 6 years, both in New York and Michigan, I helped train service dogs and their new clients to work together. Getting to live in and know the Grand Rapids area has been a pleasure. I am a Friends of the Library member in Cascade, as well as an avid reader. Any spare time available I enjoy spending with family and friends.
Kelly Wujkowski, Secretary kellywujkow@equestcenter.org
I became a part of the management team at The Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding 4 years ago as volunteer coordinator. The Equest Center is a therapeutic riding center serving those with physical and mental challenges with the power of a horse. I first became involved as a volunteer and was hired as a riding instructor about 6 years ago. It has been a privilege to see all aspects of working with our volunteers to give them the best experience possible. While the center is in its 20th year, we have become heavily involved with new community partnerships in the past few years. Several of these agencies are member of VMAWM and I look forward to building those relationships.
I have been a VMAWM member for two years and am hoping to be an asset to the group with this new opportunity. Outside of work, my life is run by the many different activities of my 5 children ranging in ages 3-16. As what brought me to The Equest Center to begin with, any extra time is spent outdoors and with horses.
Maureen Bednarek, Membership Co-Chair maureen.bednarek@metrogr.org
For the last eight years I have had the privilege of networking with volunteer managers throughout the state and sharing trade secrets. Even though I have memberships in statewide organizations the group that presents the most pertinent information by far is the VMA of Western Michigan. After each and every VMAWM meeting I walk away energized and ready to start new processes. I truly appreciate the willingness of volunteer managers to lend their expertise to other managers in the field. After eight years of being a member I felt it time to give back to the organization that has given me so much.
Dawnlynn Suttorp, Membership Co-Chair dsuttorp@amway.com
As a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, I have worked in the Corporate Citizenship department at Amway for 9 years now. My devotion to community outreach began more than 30 years ago when I joined Amway in 1977. My journey began in manufacturing, moving into a 20 year career as a Tour Guide. While sharing the sights and sounds of Amway with external visitors, I discovered a deep passion for helping our community and jumped at the opportunity in 2003 to empower others to make a difference through the role of Amway Volunteer Coordinator. I truly believe so much can be accomplished by melding the for-profit and non-profit volunteer forces; working together will open new doors of untapped success. VMAWM is the conduit that can make that happen.
My husband Sam and I are the proud parents of three, grandparents of ten and great grandparents of seven. It’s a great life!
Jim Swarts, Education Co-Chair jim.swarts@kentcountymi.gov
Shortly after I started managing volunteers at the zoo Joyce Makinen at the GR Public Museums Van Andel Museum center hooked me up with the VMA. From the first meeting I knew this group would be a valuable resource for me. One of my coworkers asked me what I was able to glean being the only member who works at a zoo. The VMA is made up of a very diverse group of organizations – from senior and retirement centers to corporations, to social services and religiously connected to mental health, hospice, scouts, colleges and universities, blood and food bank and basket, etc., etc., etc., BUT we all manage volunteers or foster volunteerism in the community. Even in the midst of this diversity there are many common elements to what we do. Every meeting or education workshop I attend I come away with an idea or a thought or sometimes just the feeling there is someone else out there who is dealing with the same tough issue or a similarly obstreperous volunteer. I may be the only one from a zoo, but I am not alone! Thank you VMA for your ideas, support and encouragement!
Becky Buick, Education Co-Chair becky.buick@prcforlife.org
I have been privileged to be a member of the Executive Team at the Pregnancy Resource Center since January of 2003. Because I grew up with a single mother, it has been especially rewarding to be part of an organization that provides solid education and community resources including abstinence education, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STD testing, and practical family support services. As the Community Relations Director, I am responsible for the management of our volunteer program in addition to church relations, community awareness and general marketing initiatives. I began managing volunteers early in my social work career in Chicago. When my family moved to Grand Rapids in the early 90’s, I became the Volunteer Manager at Porter Hills, getting involved with VMAWM, and serving on the Volunteer Management Board as Education Chair for several years. In total, my volunteer management experience now includes approximately 17 years. In addition, I have volunteered extensively myself, including leadership with Community Bible Study, MOPS International, and more school and church volunteering than I can list! I look forward to the opportunity of serving on the VMAWM board again and continuing its tradition of providing quality educational opportunities.
Jennifer Raymond, Special Events Co-Chair jraymond@pilrimmanor.org
I am new to VMAWM. As the Director of Recreation Therapy & Activities for Pilgrim Manor, I am responsible for the management of volunteers. After 15 years of long-term care experience, it is evident that volunteers are a vital asset for connecting with the community and provision of services. I obtained my B.A. degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Central Michigan University and have spent most of my career working with older adults and striving to develop and implement programming to meet the needs of people with dementia. My husband, Kevin, and I live in Grand Rapids and have 3 children. During my free-time I enjoy baking, scrapbooking, camping, organizing and volunteering at church.
Rhonda Fitzsimmons, Special Events Co-Chair rfitzsimmons@bethany.org
I have thoroughly enjoyed being the Volunteer Coordinator for Bethany Christian Services for the past 4 years. Bethany Christian Services is a family services agency that supports youth and families via adoption, foster care, refugee and counseling services. I am passionate about improving the lives of youth in need. I joined VMAWM 2 years ago and am looking to be more active this year as a committee member! My husband and I have two children 4 and 2 and I enjoy volunteering, cooking, and spending time with family.
Cindy Dreyer, Internal Communications Co-Chair cdreyer@iccf.org
I was hired at Inner City Christian Federation as their new full time Coordinator of Volunteer Services in August of 2009. My role includes recruiting volunteers for all departments as well as leading groups with various construction jobs, mostly landscaping. I also have the privilege of maintaining ICCF’s new web site which went live in November. In addition, I help with events held throughout the year, coordinate Adopt a Family at Christmas time, and Church Relations. Prior to working with ICCF, I was the Volunteer Coordinator and Special Events Coordinator at Mel Trotter Ministries for a year and a half. I had volunteered with ICCF for over eight years, and I currently volunteer with my church, assisting with maintenance of their web site, working at concerts, and various bible study classes. I enjoy gardening, interior design, photography and reading in my spare time.
Internal Communications Co-Chair - VACANT