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Board Members
Below are biographies of the current board members of the Volunteer Management Association of Western Michigan.
Janelle Hill, President jhill@arborcircle.org
I was married this summer to Jason Hill, so I have a new name! I am still the Community Services Coordinator for Arbor Circle. In addition to managing the volunteers and mentors who work with our youth, I also run the youth volunteer program, getting them involved in community service. I have been with the agency for over 8 years, but was first introduced as an Aquinas College volunteer over ten years ago. Prior to my work at Arbor Circle I was a Direct Care Counselor at St. John’s Home. I currently serve as the Advisor of the Kent County Mentoring Collaborative, I am on the Mentor Michigan Providers Council and am a steering committee member on the United Way's Women’s Leadership Council and Young Leaders Society. I love being involved in the community! When I’m not working, I’m an avid reader, a hockey fan, and a volunteer at Gilda’s Club and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Joy Dornbos, President-Elect joy.dornbos@beaconhillgr.org
I became the Volunteer Coordinator at Beacon Hill at Eastgate (formerly Michigan Christian Home) about 3 years ago. I am working part time and am in charge of recruiting, training, and positioning volunteers. I also am involved with 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. My claim to fame is that I have moved 12 times and have lived in all of the states that begin with the letter "I". While I am not working I volunteer at my church and my daughter's school. In addition to my daughter, my husband and I have two sons in college. I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening and crafts.
Donna Martorano dmartorano@miblood.org
I entered the Volunteer Management field 2 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 15 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.
Dena Rogers,Secretary DenaR@wmgleaners.org
My name is Dena Rogers. I just celebrated my 4th anniversary of being part of the Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank staff. My time here has included working in various departments, which began with a position in the warehouse Reclamation Dept. My position advanced into administrative duties including Front Receptionist, Accounts Payable, and Coordinating Volunteers. I have cultivated my passion for the Food Bank & working with people into my current full time position as the Volunteer Coordinator. This also allows time to be spent speaking to organizations and spreading the awareness of our mission to end hunger. On a more personal note, I enjoy spending time with my teenagers, when they think its cool enough to do so. I also like volunteering and being active in my church. These days I strive for personal accountability, balance and inner peace. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to continue and improve my involvement with VMAWM!
Maureen Bednarek, Membership Co-Chair maureen.bednarek@metrogr.org
For the last seven 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 seven years of being a member I felt it time to give back to the organization that has given me so much.
Membership Co-Chair VACANT
Rosemary Allen, Education Co-Chair rosemary.allen@kentcounty.org
In addition to serving on the VMAWM board, I am an advocate supervisor for CASA of Kent County, Inc. I have been with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for the past two years. I have the privilege of working with remarkable volunteers who are committed to being a voice in court and elsewhere for children in our community who have been made wards of the court due to abuse and neglect. I am also involved with my church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist, in their your leadership program. My hobbies include walking, reading, listening to jazz, and being a good grandmother.
Mike Schavey,Education Co-Chair mschavey@grcc.edu
I am a proud father of two children, Joey (5) and Ella (3) and I dabble a little at being a good husband to my wife of six years. I have a deep passion of cultivating agents of change to improve the quality of life in our communities. I do this by working for the last three years at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) as the Community Liaison in the Academic Service-Learning Center. We pride ourselves in developing quality community engagement programs and experiences for our campus.
It is my responsibility to inform the campus about the challenges our community faces, while also building the necessary skills to create individual and/or community change. I am an Alum of GRCC and Grand Valley State University acquiring a double Master's in Social Work and Public Administration.
Special Events Co-Chair VACANT
Kim Dyer, Special Events Co-Chair KDyer@gsmists.org
I am Sr. Adult Development Manager with Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. I have eight years experience in volunteer management including seven years working in the field. I oversee our greater Grand Rapids area Adult Learning Facilitator volunteers and serve on the Volunteer Services staff team. I am a member of the Association of Girl Scout Executive Staff and am an active member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Grand Rapids. My husband and I are happily married and have two grown children.
Ad Hoc Internal Communications Committee Chair VACANT
Kathryn Crawford, Advisor kcrawford@wmrmh.org
I am the Guest & Volunteer Services Manager at the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan. I have served on the Board of the VMAWM for the last six years. I moved to Grand Rapids nine ago after living in Indianapolis for seven years. I was previously employed as a Molecular Biologist with Dow AgroSciences (for eleven years) and also ran a home-based business with Discovery Toys for four years. I have a B.S. Degree in Biology, with a minor in Interpersonal and Public Communications, and Secondary Education Teaching Certification. I have also completed the Emerging Leaders program through the Michigan Nonprofit Association Leadership Institute. I taught summer school for Comstock Park Public Schools and was a science teacher at a local charter school for a year prior to my current position with RMH. I am a single mom of two boys, Zach (14) and Colin (12) and I spend most of my Saturday mornings at their soccer games.