Board of Directors
The MVMA Board of Directors is an all-volunteer board reporting to the general membership. MVMA operates within the belief that a member-led Board of Directors is a way for the membership to invest in the future success of their profession and the organization.
Meet Your 2019 Board
Katelind has been with United Way of Greater St. Louis for a little over 4 years in the role as Lead Volunteer Center Manager. In her role, she has the incredible opportunity to work to further develop the programs and services the Volunteer Center offers to nonprofits, companies, and volunteers throughout the bi-state region. Through which, she leads the United Way’s premier volunteer management tool STLVolunteer.org. She recently completed her second term as MVMA’s board treasurer. She holds a bachelor degree in Social Work from Missouri State University and a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in Social and Economic Development and Nonprofit Management. |
Jessa Glick, LMSW Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager Easterseals Midwest
| As Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager for Easterseals Midwest, Jessa brings passion and energy to her work with volunteers. In her current role she is responsible for identifying and creating meaningful opportunities for community members to get involved supporting people with developmental disabilities. Jessa’s work history includes the YMCA and the American Youth Foundation; she has a passion for camping, and the personal growth she calls “turbo grow” that youth of all ages can experience in recreational settings. Previously, she volunteered with the United Way, and other organizations and foundations as a program evaluator, cookie-maker, song leader, and facilitator. She earned her Bachelors from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Jessa completed her Graduate Portfolio in Non-Profit Management (RGK Center, LBJ School of Public Policy) and Master’s in Social Work at the University of Texas – Austin. |
Heather started with HavenHouse St. Louis in 2013 as a House Manager and transitioned into the role of Volunteer Manager in late 2015. Heather loves sharing her passion for helping the patients and families who stay at HavenHouse St. Louis with the volunteers who assist with many different tasks on and off campus. Heather believes she has the best of both worlds in her role as she gets to work with amazing volunteers, awesome co-workers, and build relationships with the patients and families. Being able to make a difference in the lives of others is a big deal to her! Heather previously worked for ten years in the medical field. She holds an Associate’s degree in General Studies and is in the process of completing her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her niece and nephews, seeing live music, and trying new places to eat. |
Julie Strassman Volunteer Coordinator and Bereavement Assistant Bethesda Hospice Care
| Julie grew up in Alton, IL, and has spent the last 10 years in St. Louis. She currently lives in Tower Grove South and works as Volunteer Coordinator and Bereavement Assistant for Bethesda Hospice Care. Julie is a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master of Divinity, and of the Pierre Laclede Honors College at UMSL, where she received her B.A. in History. Julie is also a graduate of Cottey College, and is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry from Eden Seminary. Julie has spent the past five years specializing in volunteer coordination, and often leads workshops on volunteer engagement best practices for nonprofits and faith communities. For the last four years, she has been an active member of MVMA and a voting member of the United Way Volunteer Center’s Certification Committee. |
Ella holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Oswego State University and a Master of the Arts in Teaching from the State University of New York at Cortland. She currently works as the Volunteer Center Manager for United Way of Greater St. Louis. In past lives, Ella was an AmeriCorps State member in Boston and a high school English teacher in upstate New York. Ella is also an active member of the Friends of Saint Louis Public Schools and a Young Friend of the Missouri Botanical Garden. When not at work or MVMA meetings, Ella enjoys baking, reading, and riding her bike around St. Louis. |
Stephanie began her career as a Volunteer Coordinator in 2008 at Connections to Success. There she was able to build a volunteer program from scratch utilizing the classes provided by the United Way and the workshops put on by MVMA. She is currently the Volunteer Manager at National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis. Stephanie is a strong supporter of MVMA and the much-needed networking and education it provides for those in volunteer management. |
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Rob began started his career with Explore St. Louis as a Visitor Center volunteer in 2009 during his job search in the meeting and event industry. Currently he works as the Volunteer Services Manager for Explore St. Louis and manages 250+ volunteers who serve at the four Visitor Centers in St. Louis and on the Convention Volunteer Team at America’s Center. In addition, he is responsible for recruitment, training and retention. Rob has always had a passion for the travel and hospitality industry caused by his extensive travel during his first job out of college, as Senior Development Chemist for BASF Corporation and then as a Cruise and Vacation Package Specialist with Carlson Companies. Rob graduated from the College of Wooster with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry and a Master’s of Tourism Administration with a concentration in Meeting Event Management from George Washington University. Rob is a member of the St. Louis Attraction Association. |
Beth is the Donor Relations and Volunteer Coordinator at FamilyForward. She oversees the agency’s donor data operations and recruits individual and group volunteers, engaging them through meaningful projects to advance FamilyForward’s mission. Her work history includes managing and training senior volunteers for the Senior Companion Program at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, creating gaming promotions for the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and detasseling corn as a young teen growing up in Iowa. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from The University of Iowa with an emphasis in Film and Broadcasting, and a minor in English. Beth is an active volunteer in her free time with Premier Charter School and the Affton High class of 2021. She moved her family to the St. Louis region in 2011 and currently lives in Affton, MO with her sons Nicholas and Chaz and dachshund shih tzu Honey Boo Boo. |
Program Co-Chair Michele Blanke Volunteer Coordinator Missouri Botanical Garden
| Michele Blanke is the Volunteer Coordinator at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She works with the Volunteer Program Manager to coordinate approximately 2000 active volunteers at the Garden and Shaw Nature Reserve and assist the volunteer coordinators at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield and Litzsinger Road Ecology Center in Ladue. Michele has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She was a member of the 2017 MVMA Program Committee and MVMA Awards Committee. Being a member and attending the MVMA meetings regularly has been such an important networking and learning opportunity that Michele feels has contributed greatly to her growth as a volunteer coordinator and her success as a nonprofit professional. Michele has worked at the Missouri Botanical Garden for 8 years and in her current position with the Volunteer Program for 3 years. This position has been the most fulfilling because of the commitment and dedication of the MBG volunteers and their genuine belief in the mission of the Missouri Botanical Garden: “ To discover and share knowledge of about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.” |
Program Co-Chair Carrie Crompton President Junior League of St. Louis
| Carrie Crompton graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California in 1999 and graduated from law school in 2004. During law school, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. Studying abroad provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultures and immerse herself in a foreign language. In August of this year, Carrie enrolled in UMSL’s Masters Program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. After working in the legal field for several years, Carrie transitioned to a career in the Au Pair industry beginning in 2008 as a local coordinator and working her way all the way to Executive Director. She is currently transitioning to a career in nonprofit. Carrie Crompton has been a proud member of the Junior League of Saint Louis for over 14 years. She originally joined as a new resident of Saint Louis and as a way to hopefully meet some new friends, but received so much more. As she embarks on her term as the President of this amazing organization, she is thrilled to be able to give back to the organization that has given her so much. |
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