Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference

Volunteering, Health, and Wellness: The Connection is Real!

The 38th Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference is totally new and different!

• It is in August, not the middle of very busy fall schedules.
• It is a conference within a conference so that participants can "cross over" if a speaker or topic catches their eye.
• The Maine Department of Education's Annual Summit will
  • handle registration fees for both conferences. .
  • provide mileage reimbursement for all attendees.
  • reimburse lodging at a conference hotel for people traveling more than 50 miles to event.

Where and When

Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME
Take exit 112 off Interstate 95.  LINK TO MAP

August 6, 2024 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Registration fee:  $50

About the Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference

Since 1986, organizers of Maine community volunteer efforts have gathered to learn, network, and share thought-provoking discussions with regional and national leaders in the volunteer sector. 

The Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference (MVLC) is Maine’s only statewide educational event focused on engaging citizens in volunteer service. The conference is organized by Volunteer Maine as part of its professional development for leaders of community volunteer programs.

Conference Schedule and Sessions: Morning

7:30– 8:30 am       Registration Opens (Augusta Civic Center, Main Lobby)

8:30– 9:45 am       Opening Plenary- 176A (Fort Western Room)

Volunteerism as a Wellness Intervention: Research Findings & Practice Implications
Volunteering isn't just good for the community – it's good for you too! This session explores the growing body of research – from Maine and beyond – on the powerful link between volunteerism and personal well-being. We'll delve into the science behind how helping others can benefit mental and physical health among different groups (e.g., caregivers) and translate these findings into practical strategies for volunteer program design.
     Jennifer Crittenden, PhD, MSW
     Assistant Professor of Social Work
     Associate Director for Research, UMaine Center on Aging

9:55-10:55 am      Breakout Sessions

OPTION 176/2A
Engaging Youth in Service: Research Findings & Practice Implications  (Fort Western)
Research demonstrates that engaging youth in service has positive effects on their development and the community's well-being. This session introduces a new framework for youth service to accelerate rates of participation and impact. Participants will receive a summary of evidence-based best practices to empower youth-led service across sectors, hear directly from youth and leaders of organizations driving engagement in community service, and engage with national data and modernized metrics to reimagine the future of youth-led, youth-driven community service.
     Kristan Cilente Skendall
     Chief Operating Officer
     Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity

     Discussant: Julia Van Steenberghe
     Director, Student Success and Recruitment
     Business School, University of Maine

OPTION 176/2B
Generational Differences in Volunteerism: Tailoring the "Ask" for Success  (Howard Room)
Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z – each generation approaches volunteerism differently. This session explores the unique motivations, preferred engagement styles, and preferred communication channels of different age groups. Learn how to tailor your volunteer recruitment efforts to resonate with each generation, maximizing your chances of attracting and retaining a passionate volunteer force.
     Lisa Morin, Coordinator
     Bodwell Center for Service & Volunteerism
     University of Maine

     Trisha Mason, Director (on video)
     Office of Service-Learning
     UNE Westbrook College of Health Professions

     Session Support: Tom Meuser, PhD
     Clinical Psychologist & Applied Gerontologist
     GeroPsych Maine LLC

11:05-12:05 pm      Breakout Sessions

OPTION 176/3A
Diversity & Inclusion in Volunteer Systems: Obtaining Results while Honoring Differences  (Fort Western)
Building a diverse and inclusive volunteer program isn't just the right thing to do - it strengthens your impact! This session dives deep into strategies for attracting and retaining volunteers from all backgrounds. We'll explore how to create a welcoming environment that celebrates differences, fosters inclusion, and allows you to achieve your program goals!
     Pamela Proulx-Curry, Executive Director
     Maine MultiCultural Center (Bangor)
     Commissioner, Volunteer Maine

     Discussant: Chris Ashe
     Capital Area New Mainers Program 
     Augusta, ME

OPTION 176/3B
Tracking & Framing Volunteer Data to Show Impact  (Howard)
Do you know the true impact of your volunteers? This session equips you with the tools to track volunteer data effectively and translate it into compelling narratives. Learn how to leverage data to showcase the value your volunteers bring, secure funding, and inspire future volunteers.
     Emilie Swenson, Research Associate II
     Data Innovation Project, Catherine Cutler Institute
     University of Southern Maine

     Rachel Gallo, Research Associate II
     Data Innovation Project, Catherine Cutler Institute
     University of Southern Maine

12:05 - 1:00 pm  LUNCH  (Main Hall with Education Summit Attendees)
     Explore information exhibits after eating! They are in the same place.

Conference Schedule and Sessions: Afternoon

1:00-2:30 pm  Plenary Session- 176/4 (Fort Western)

Opportunities to Engage Business Leaders in Volunteerism and Community Service: A Panel Discussion
In today's world, companies increasingly recognize the value of volunteerism and community service. This session explores the exciting landscape of opportunities where businesses and nonprofits can join forces to create positive change.
     Moderator: Diane Lebson, CFRE, CEO and Co-Founder, Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions

     Panelists
     Kelly Thayer, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Unum, Inc
     Ninette Irabaruta, Senior Director Community Engagement and Outreach, United Way of Southern Maine
     Shannon Landwehr, President & CEO, Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce
     Laney Brown, Vice President of Sustainability, Avangrid Inc

2:35-3:30 pm      Breakout Sessions

OPTION 176/5A
Understanding & Facilitating Volunteer Wellness  (Fort Western)
Do your volunteers leave their shifts feeling energized and fulfilled, or burnt out and depleted? This session explores the importance of volunteer wellness and equips you with practical strategies to support your volunteers' well-being. We'll delve into the connection between volunteer engagement and wellness and discover how to create a volunteer experience that fosters purpose, reduces stress, and keeps your volunteers coming back for more.
     Chap. Eddie Greyfox Burgess, CADC, MHRTC-CSP, PP-C, IPSS
     Founder of the Wellness Mobile Foundation

     Discussant: Anna Guest
     Rising Tide Volunteer Solutions

OPTION 176/5B
Psychology of Volunteerism: From Hesitancy to Service  (Howard)
Why do some people jump at the chance to volunteer, while others remain hesitant? This session delves into the fascinating psychology behind volunteerism, exploring the motivations, anxieties, and social influences that shape people's decisions to give back.
     Diane A. Tennies, PhD, LADC
     Clinical Psychologist (Forensic)
     Raven Consulting and Community Services

     Discussant: Tom Meuser, PhD
     Clinical Psychologist & Applied Gerontologist
     GeroPsych Maine LLC

3:35-4:30 pm      Breakout Sessions

OPTION 176/6A 
Volunteer Position Descriptions that Bring out the Best for All  (Fort Western)
Tired of generic volunteer descriptions that don't inspire? This session dives deep into crafting compelling job descriptions that resonate with potential volunteers and highlight the unique value they can contribute. Can AI help? Learn how!
     Michael Ashmore
     Training and Program Development Officer
     Volunteer Maine – The Maine Commission on Community Service

     Discussant: Cory Long
     Volunteer Coordinator, Great Bay

OPTION 176/6B  
Recruiting Volunteers for a Cause: It’s All in the Approach  (Howard)
Are you struggling to attract passionate volunteers to your cause? This dynamic session equips you with winning strategies to build a robust volunteer force. Digital and other means of communication and outreach will be reviewed. Learn how to tailor your approach to resonate with different demographics and discover creative ways to engage potential volunteers.
     David Gogel, President 
     Campfire Consulting, Yarmouth, ME

4:35-5:00 pm      176/7  Prizes for Attendees! and Coaching Session for mileage reimbursement (Fort Western)  
End the day with some fun (pull out those prize tickets) and a walk through the forms that will result in travel reimbursement. Please have the forms and a pen! You will complete them and submit before leaving the room. 

2024 MVLC Co-Chairs:
     Tom Meuser, PhD
     Clinical Psychologist & Applied Gerontologist
     GeroPsych Maine LLC

     Julia Van Steenberghe
     Director of Recruitment and Student Success
     Maine Business School, University of Maine

Registration Instructions

Registration for this conference is part of the Education Annual Summit registration. Note the Summit is 3 days. The Volunteer Leadership Conference is just 1 day, August 6.

The Registration Guide for MVLC sessions is a document with screen shots that you can download below. We strongly encourage using this to navigate the registration system. Choose your sessions from the list above and make a list of the session IDs before you start to register. The IDs used in the registration process to secure your seat in the room.

Download Registration Guide            Direct Link to Registration Site

Submitting for Mileage Reimbursement and/or Lodging

Thanks to the financial support from the Maine Department of Education, all MVLC attendees can request mileage reimbursement at the rate of $0.46 per mile. How to do this:

1. At the conference, you will need to complete 2 forms. One tells the central state accounting system who you are and where to send the check. This form is the vendor registration form. The second form is the travel reimbursement form. To complete this one, you will need your first set of odometer readings (we are presuming the distance traveled to the conference is the same as your return trip). Before you leave the conference, you must complete both forms and submit to the Commission info table outside the Fort Western room.

2. If you must travel more than 50 miles one way to attend the conference, there is the option to come the evening before and have lodging covered. If you want to take advantage of this option, the state reimbursement system has some very specific requirements:
1) any tax on the room will not be reimbursed.
2) the room rate cannot exceed $189 for a single night (the actual per diem is $107 for lodging but Dept. of Education applied for a waiver for the conference). 

For MVLC, only the evening before (August 5) will be covered since the event registration opens at 7:30 am. Reimbursement requests must be submitted on the day of the conference and the hotel receipt must be attached to the reimbursement request. 

There are 2 Augusta-area hotels at which the Annual Summit has reserved rooms. You can read about them on the registration site under "Travel and Lodging".

Meet the Presenters

Michael Ashmore
michael.ashmore@maine.gov
Volunteer Maine

Michael joined the Volunteer Maine staff in April of 2010.  As Program Development & Training Officer he is responsible for outreach and pre-application training for organizations interested in using National Service as a solution. He also trains AmeriCorps grantees on best practices and leads Service Enterprise training. In addition, he co-chairs the State Emergency Donations Coordination Team where Volunteer Maine has responsibility for managing volunteers during statewide disasters.
Prior to joining Volunteer Maine, Michael was Director of the Maine Transition Network, a nonprofit providing training to schools and agencies helping youth with disabilities transition from school to adult life.  He was also a teacher and school district administrator for almost two decades and brings experience guiding volunteers as the onetime director and coordinator of volunteers for the NAMES Project-Maine; AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Laney Brown
laney.brown@avangrid.com
Vice President of Sustainability
Avangrid, Inc

Chap. Eddiegreyfox Burgess, CADC, MHRTC-CSP, PP-C, IPSS
Edward.Burgess@maine.edu
President and Founder of the Wellness Mobile Foundation 
Fire Federation of Chaplains East Coast District

After completing the certificate in substance Abuse Rehab Technician in 2013, EddieGreyfox continued his studies and went on to earn the Bachelor of Science in Mental Health and Human Services in 2017.  He then received the Alumni of distinction in 2023 from the student and Alumni Association of UMS-UMA-LAC.  

EddieGreyfox works tirelessly to increase wellness by operating the wellness mobile foundation, in memory of his brother, Alan Burgess, who was a chaplain and killed in action in Iraqi in 2004.  The foundation focuses on providing outreach/assessments, referrals to resources and case management.
Eddiegreyfox also served as an Americorps Team leader and clinical supervisor at the American Red Cross, traveling around the country serving a variety of populations.  Upon his return, EddieGreyfox worked as a case managers and peer support specialist for Sweetser.  Eddiegreyfox also supports the Federation of Firefighters as a Chaplain via Tele-med.  He has also been assisting in a three-year plan of complex recovery integrated with the citywide improvements in Lewiston/Auburn with Sewall Foundation.

Kristan Cilente Skendall, Ph.D.
kristan.skendall@expandingleadership.org
Chief Operating Officer, Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity 
Affiliate Assistant Professor, University of Maryland College of Education, College Park

Dr. Kristan Cilente Skendall (she/her/hers) serves as Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity and also holds an appointment as an affiliate assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of Maryland. With more than 20 years of experience in the higher education sector, Dr. Skendall received her B.A. degree in Sociology and History from the College of William & Mary (VA), her M.A. degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arizona, and her Ph.D. in College Student Personnel at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Skendall recently served as the Associate Director of the Gemstone Honors Program in the Honors College at the University of Maryland and has previously served as the Assistant Director for Orientation and Leadership Programs at Georgetown University and Senior Coordinator for Community Service-Learning at the University of Maryland, where she oversaw the development of the Alternative Breaks program on campus from 2005-2008. Additionally, Dr. Skendall has worked with the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs, ACPA-College Student Educators International, and the U.S. Department of Education with the Committee on Measures of Student Success.

Dr. Skendall’s research focus is primarily related to college student leadership and service-learning where she has published several articles and book chapters related to college student leadership, multiple identity development, and undergraduate research. Dr. Skendall has taught graduate-level courses on research methods, leadership, and student development in addition to undergraduate leadership courses and Gemstone courses. Dr. Skendall recently co-edited the special symposium issue of the Journal of Leadership Studies focused on the National Leadership Education Research Agenda 2020–2025 and has co-authored two chapters in the Research Agenda for Learning and Developing Leadership through Higher Education (Komives & Owen, editors) published by Edward Elgar Publishing (EEP). 

Jennifer Crittenden, Ph.D., MSW 
jennifer.crittenden@maine.edu
Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Maine;
Associate Director for Research, University of Maine Center on Aging 

Dr. Jennifer Crittenden is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Maine and also serves as the Associate Director for Research at the University of Maine Center on Aging. She has over eighteen years of experience in aging research, professional and community education, program evaluation and program planning. Dr. Crittenden’s research interests span a range of topics surrounding older adult health, well-being, and life role intersections including caregiving, volunteering, and working. Nearly all research projects and grant-funded programs under her management entail the translation of academic research into professional and public education programs, events, and dissemination activities. 

Dr. Crittenden’s research focuses on volunteerism among older adults and how organizations and programs catalyze and support volunteerism. With funding from the AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) and AmeriCorps Seniors, Dr. Crittenden has conducted research exploring how life role intersections impact older adult volunteerism. She is currently conducting a study examining virtual volunteerism among older adults and its related benefits and challenges. In addition, she serves as the principal investigator for an AmeriCorps-funded study examining the use of training and volunteer service as a pathway to employment for older adults via the AmeriCorps Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program. In addition to community engagement and volunteerism, she is currently conducting research focused on oral health, patient education, and kinship caregiving.

Dr. Crittenden teaches at the undergraduate and graduate level. She is an affiliated researcher with the UMaine Institute of Medicine, the Downeast Rural Health Collaborative Research Institute, and the Elder Family Financial Exploitation (EFFE) Research Network.

Rachel Gallo, MPH
rachel.gallo@maine.edu
Research Associate II, University of Southern Maine
Catherine Cutler Institute, Data Innovation Project

Rachel Gallo is a Research Associate at the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute. In this role, she leads the evaluation of grant-funded projects which focus on improving healthcare delivery and health outcomes at local, state, and federal levels. She is a founding member of the Catherine Cutler Institute’s Data Innovation Project which partners with organizations to increase their capacity to utilize data to clearly define their work, achieve results, and demonstrate impact in Maine and beyond. She enjoys the process of collecting, analyzing, and integrating quantitative and qualitative data to tell the story or explain the outcomes of a program, organization, or initiative. 

As a way to stay engaged and educated about health concerns in Maine, Rachel volunteers  as the co-chair of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Grants Committee of Portland Public Health’s Alignment. Rachel has a Master in Public Health in Epidemiology from George Washington University.

David Gogel
david@campfire.consulting
President , Campfire Consulting 

David is the President of Campfire Consulting where he leads growth and market development. He has 15 years of consulting experience and has guided impactful work for clients ranging from technology start-ups to national non-profits. David has a passion for community based economic development. He is currently serving in leadership roles on non-profit boards with a focus on place-based economic impact. 

Anna Guest, MOT, OTR/L
anna@risingtidevolunteersolutions.com
Founder/Consultant, Rising Tide Volunteer Solutions

Anna Guest, MOT, OTR/L, Founder of Rising Tide Volunteer Solutions, works with organizations to optimize volunteer engagement and retention through training and thought partnership. Her strategic leadership prioritizes clear communication, the power of personal connections, and innovative problem-solving. As a collaborative change agent, Anna is dedicated to guiding non-profits through challenges, strategically investing in the power of volunteerism amid limited resources.  Outside work, you can find her reading, paddle boarding, and relaxing with her human and 4-legged family. 

Shannon Landwehr
shannon@camdenrockland.com
President & CEO, Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce

Shannon Landwehr is the President & CEO of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, the third largest regional chamber in Maine, serving Midcoast’s Camden-Rockland and Knox County areas. She’s served in a similar role in the Baltimore region for a regional economic development organization, supporting Baltimore City and the six surrounding counties. 

Through both nonprofit business organizations as well as her time with a global investment bank, Shannon’s professional focus has been to lead location and workforce strategy efforts, primarily for corporate and small-to-medium-sized business entities. Shannon has also focused on regional talent pipeline, workforce recruitment, understanding the needs of regional businesses, and working in partnership with them to identify areas of opportunity for employment growth and sustainability. 

Through this work she’s embraced the value and importance of volunteerism – as both a way to support the operational effectiveness of small business and nonprofit organizations, and also as a way to enhance internal business culture and the value of partnerships with community organizations. Shannon has also served on the board of several organizations supported by teams of volunteers and collaborations with the business community.

Shannon earned her Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Finance from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management.

Diane Lebson, CFRE
dlebson@evergreenphilanthropy.com
CEO and Co-Founder, Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions
Commissioner, Volunteer Maine

Diane is a first-generation American, the daughter of working-class, Polish immigrants who instilled in her a strong work ethic and desire to “do good.” After studying international relations in college, Diane stayed in Washington and began her nonprofit career on the national staff of United Way, the largest charity in the United States.

Over the course of seventeen years, she managed United Way’s national literacy program, managed the national board of trustees, and built a women’s giving program that has to date raised over $2 billion and mobilized over 70,000 philanthropists. After leaving United Way, she went on to lead US fundraising operations for an international nongovernmental organization that served orphans and abandoned children, oversaw a leadership turnover at a large public library foundation, served as the Chief of Protocol at the US Embassy in Australia, and led the women’s giving program for the American Red Cross.

In addition to her role as CEO and Co-Founder of Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions, Diane is a published author of "For a Good Cause: A Practical Guide to Giving Joyfully" and serves on the graduate faculty at the University of Maine School of Policy and International Affairs. She is also a Board member of Volunteer Maine, Board member of United Way NEXT (the national association of current and former United Way executives), a member of the West Bay Rotary Club, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Portland. Diane is a frequent speaker at conferences.

Cory Long
clong@greatbayserivces.org
volunteer Coordinator, Great Bay Serivces

I am the volunteer coordinator for Great Bay Services. I helped to develop the volunteer program for Great Bay Serivces.  I have been in my current position for 2 years and within those two years, I have launched and maintained a successful volunteer program with over 45 participants. 

In June of 2023 I presented at the New Hampshire Governors Conference on Volunteering. In October of 2023 I presented at the Maine volunteer Leadership conference.  

Trisha A Mason, MA
tmason2@une.edu
Director, WCHP Service Learning
University of New England

Trisha Mason is the founding director of the Office of Service Learning in the Westbrook College of Health Professions at the University of New England (UNE).  In this role she has established for the college a tradition of service among the 13 health professions whereby students engage in mutually beneficial learning activities within a variety of vulnerable populations and communities.  Prior to this role, Trisha was also the founding director of study abroad at UNE, building the international education program from the ground up.  She continues to serve as the coordinator of the Cross Cultural Immersion Program in Ghana, a UNE service program that brings health professions students to volunteer in primary care in rural and urban areas of Ghana.

Ms. Mason received her B.A. in World Politics from Hamilton College and her M.A. in Public Policy and Management from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine.  Trisha spent five years in Washington, D.C. at the Institute of International Education and at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Latin America Division.  While in graduate school she worked at the Maine Small Business Development Centers.

In addition to her professional role of engaging students for good through service, Trisha herself has been an active volunteer since an early age by engaging in such programs as Big Brothers, Big Sisters, meal service at local soup kitchens, global service trips abroad, and serving in leadership roles on boards such as the World Affairs Council of Maine, Kents Hill School, National Association of International Educators, Portland Public Health and more.

Tom Meuser, Ph.D.
meusert63@gmail.com
GeroPsych Maine LLC
Commissioner & 2024 MVLC Co-Chair
Volunteer Maine

Tom Meuser, PhD, is a Maine Commissioner on Community Service (Seat 3 - Aging) and a Co-Chair of the 2024 MVLC. A clinical psychologist and applied gerontologist by profession, he moved to Maine in 2018 to serve as the Founding Director of the University of New England Center for Excellence in Aging & Health, a university-wide center-without-walls dedicated to advancing applied research, education, and service-learning for healthful aging in Maine and beyond. 

Tom retired recently from UNE to pursue a private practice in geriatric psychology, GeroPsych Maine LLC. An expert in cognitive aging, he will support individuals and families as the manage cognitive, functional, emotional and other challenges through home-based assessment and consultation.

Tom is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, an author and co-author of over 50 publications in gerontology, and an accomplished educator and organizer of collaborative projects. He lives in Portland with his wife, Christy, and their three rescue dogs. 

Lisa Morin
lisa.morin@maine.edu
Coordinator, Bodwell Center for Service & Volunteerism
University of Maine

Chris Myers Asch
newmainersproject@gmail.com
Executive Director, Capital Area New Mainers Project
Colby College

Chris Myers Asch teaches history at Colby College and runs the Capital Area New Mainers Project, which helps immigrants and refugees adjust to life in central Maine. He and his wife have three children and live in Hallowell.

Dr. Pamela Proulx-Curry, Ph.D.
pam.proulxcurry@mainemulticulturalcenter.org
Executive Director, Maine MultiCultural Center

Dr. Pamela M. Proulx-Curry received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Maine in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1997.  She served as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Maine at Machias from 1995-1999.  She moved to Unity College in 1999, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2001. She served as Executive Director of Wisconsin Campus Compact from 2006-2011, and as Academic Dean at Eastern Maine Community College from 2011 - 2014.  In the fall of 2014 Dr. Proulx-Curry moved to the University of Maine at Augusta where she served as the Bangor Campus Dean and Administrative Co-coordinator of Civic Engagement for UMA through August 2017, interim Dean of Enrollment Services (October 2015 – June 2016), and Assistant Provost for Community Engagement and Economic Development (July 2016 – August 2017).

Following her retirement from higher education, Dr. Proulx-Curry has worked as an Educational Consultant.  In May of 2023 she became MMCC’s first full-time staff member when she stepped into the role of Executive Director.

Emilie Swenson, MSW
emilie.swenson@maine.edu
Catherine Cutler Institute University of Southern Maine
Data Innovation Project

Emilie has worked with the Catherine Cutler Institute since 2016 and has a background in school-based health care, community health, and social work. Emilie works on the development and implementation of program evaluations, provides trainings on meaningful use and presentation of data, and offers data and continuous improvement technical support to organizations and programs. She is particularly interested in how people can use data to inform their work, hold themselves accountable, generate conversations, spur new ideas, bring people together, and drive meaningful change. 

Diane Tennies, Ph.D., LADC 
datphd@aol.com
Psychology of Volunteerism: From Hesitancy to Service
Forensic Psychologist 
Private Practice 

Diane A Tennies, PhD, LADC is a forensic psychologist and licensed alcohol and drug counselor in Maine. She is a past president of the Maine Psychological Association (MePA) and currently the chair of their legislative committee. Dr. Tennies obtained her PhD from the University of Maine. She is a rostered guardian ad litem and served as the Chair of the Maine GAL Review Board from 2022 through 2024. She conducts national trainings on topics such as substance use policy and organization compliance, risk and threat assessments, family dynamics such as parental alienation, child maltreatment, evidence-based practices for guardians ad litem, vicarious traumatization, co-parenting dynamics and mental illness/personality disorders that impact functional parenting. She performs court-mandated and private forensic evaluations, including civil competencies, criminal responsibility, risk assessments, parental capacity and child custody evaluations. She may be contacted at datphd@aol.com or through her website at dianetenniesphd.com

Kelly Thayer
kthayer2@unum.com
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Unum

Julia Van Steenberghe
julia.van@maine.edu
Director, Student Success and Recruitment
Business School, University of Maine

2024 sponsorship opportunities

Help make the state’s only educational event focused on engaging citizens in volunteer service affordable for everyone!

Frequently asked questions

How many people attend the conference? Between 150 - 200 leaders of community volunteers..

Is this only open to volunteer managers? No, anyone who works with volunteers or wants to work with volunteers is encouraged to attend.

Options to support

Option 1 (2 opportunities): $5,000

• Logo on Volunteer Maine website event page
• Logo on promotional materials
• Thank you post on Volunteer Maine social media (3)
• Logo on sponsorship board Logo on conference hand outs (day of)
• Logo on event signage
• Your company’s promotional materials in conference hand out materials
• Your company’s signage at the conference
• Speaking opportunity during conference

Option 2: $2,000

• Logo on Volunteer Maine website event page
• Logo on promotional materials
• Thank you post on Volunteer Maine social media (2)
• Logo on sponsorship board Logo on conference hand outs (day of)
• Logo on event signage
• Your company’s promotional materials in conference hand out materials

Option 3: $1,000

• Logo on Volunteer Maine website event page
• Logo on promotional materials
• Thank you post on Volunteer Maine social media (2)
• Logo on sponsorship board
• Logo on conference hand outs (day of)

Option 4: $500

• Logo on Volunteer Maine website event page
• Logo on promotional materials
• Thank you on Volunteer Maine social media (1)
• Logo on sponsorship board

Ready to contribute? Have questions?

Contact Michael Ashmore at Volunteer Maine (207-624-7792, michael.ashmore@maine.gov).