2023 Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award

The Forum for Volunteer Administrators (FVA) acknowledges the outstanding work and dedication of one volunteer manager/administrator each year through the Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award. This professionally prestigious award recognizes an exemplary Volunteer Manager with the following criteria:

  • Nominee should work with volunteers at least 80% of their time.
  • Nominee shall have worked for a minimum of one year as a volunteer administrator in either a paid or volunteer capacity.
  • Is a member of the Forum for Volunteer Administrators (FVA).
  • Winner and nominator shall be present--either in person OR virtually--to accept the award at the FVA Annual Meeting and luncheon as part of the 2023 FVA Annual Conference on Thursday, November 9th at the Northeast Ohio Educational Service Center in Independence, Ohio. Award includes admission to the luncheon session for the recipient, nominator and one guest. Additional tickets to the luncheon may be purchased at a discount by the award recipient or nominator.
  • Nomination applications can be submitted by a supervisor, colleague or volunteer who is familiar with nominee’s management and leadership skills.

The Volunteer Administrator of the Year (VAY) award honoree is chosen through a selection committee containing individuals in such fields as Human Resources, non-profit program directors and leaders and other individuals from service industries. 

In addition to the above basic credentials, the candidate should exhibit the following pillars of leadership in regular occurrence which is prominently displayed in their daily character and leadership role. As the selection committee does not individually know the candidates, a highly detailed nomination with examples of the below pillars helps to provide a complete picture of this nominee.

  • MODELS THE WAY - "walks the walk and talks the talk'
  • INSPIRES A SHARED VISION - envisions the future, enlists others
  • CHALLENGES THE PROCESS - searches for opportunities, takes risks
  • ADAPTS THROUGH ADVERSITY—successfully adjusts and continues to thrive through changes and challenges
  • ENABLES OTHERS - fosters collaboration, strengthens others.
  • ENCOURAGES THE HEART - recognizes contributions, celebrates values and victories

The winning candidate will be recognized at the FVA Annual Conference in November 2023. The winner will receive an award to commemorate this recognition and $1,000.00 for their organization's volunteer services department. 

Check back here later for 2024's award!


 

Support for this award is provided by http://www.psawards.com

 

Previous award recipients

 

2023 - Lynne Lisner, MS, MBA, CVA, Cleveland Metroparks

2022 - Charlotte Petrie, Greater Cleveland Volunteers

2021 - Holly Duns, CVA, University Hospitals' Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

2020 - Tracee Patterson, Holden Forests & Gardens (Cleveland Botanical Gardens)

2019 - Merle Walker, Lake Metroparks

2018 - Shawna Gorchek, University Hospitals Southwest General Hospital

2017 - Mary Kate Hageman, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

2016 - Sarah Cooney, Youth Challenge

2015 - Robin Ott, Holden Forest and Gardens

2014 - Lisa Scotese Gallagher, Hospice of the Western Reserve

2013 - Allison Powell, James A. Garfield National Historic Site

2012 - Sue Duffy, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities

2011 - Betsy Kohn, The Gathering Place

2010 – Lydia Bailey, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry's Mens Emergency Homeless Shelter

2009 – Melissa Ghoston, The Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland

2008 – Heather Triplett, Cleveland Metroparks

2007 – Kate Schantz, Adoption Network Cleveland

2006 – Lona Gruber, Southwest Community Access Network

2005 – Kate Schantz, Adoption Network of Cleveland

2004 – Barbara Nalette, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

2003 – Jo Ann Schindler – American Red Cross