UNI American Humanics Alumni Spotlight
Katie Albrecht | Amy Davison | Shawn Dunn
Chris Kasparek | Heather Scannell
1. Katie Albrecht is a UNI AH alumni who grew up in Maynard, Iowa and graduated in 2005. She is currently the Director of Volunteers at Orchard Place in Des Moines, Iowa, which allows her to conduct the following duties:
§ Determining the needs of the agency for volunteers on a regular basis and working with agency staff to enhance the use of volunteers throughout the agency;
§ Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to meet those needs;
§ Establishing and maintaining relationships with institutions throughout the community to build, publicize, and promote the volunteer program;
§ Securing volunteers to help with the organization’s fundraising events and other special projects and events;
§ Initiating a more thorough staff recognition program and other staff-related social events and communications, including management of an on-going employee event for open dialogue with the CEO;
§ Ensuring that screening and interviewing policies for volunteers are consistent with licensing and accreditation standards and ensuring that those policies are implemented consistently;
§ Creating and maintaining a system of training, evaluating, and recognizing volunteers and planning at least one recognition event annually to recognize the agency’s volunteers.
The mission of Orchard Place is “Helping heal troubled hearts and minds one life at a time” with the motto of “Developing strong futures.”
While maintaining her position as the Director of Volunteers at Orchard Place, Katie is also involved in several avenues of the nonprofit world. She is a member of UNI’s American Humanics Student Association Advisory Board, DOVIA (Director’s of Volunteers in Agencies), the DOVIA Program Committee, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Katie states that being a part of American Humanics allowed her to experience the nonprofit world outside of the classroom. The first hand experiences gave her a wealth of knowledge in the field and allowed her to build strong relationships within the community. She encourages all AH students to partake in all of the opportunities that are offered to them. “There is always something new to learn or someone new to meet! Networking through AH gives you the chance to meet so many important people in the community!”
2. Amy Davison, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduated from UNI in 1995. She is currently the Senior Program Director at the Family YMCA of Black Hawk County in which every day she is presented with different duties. She is responsible for fundraising and grant writing, supervision of the before school, after school, and summer camp programs, and the Together We Play inclusion program.
The Family YMCA of Black Hawk County’s mission is “We put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy mind, spirit, and body for all.” The vision is to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities with the 4 core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
When it comes to activities that Amy is involved in within the nonprofit world, she is a member of the American Humanics Advisory Board, Leave a legacy, Non-profit round tables, and a board member of the Inclusion Connection. Amy sees many benefits in the American Humanics program and states that it gave her the opportunity to really understand how a nonprofit agency works. The networking opportunities and community involvement were also great aspects for her. She recommends that current AH members diversify their experiences, learn budgeting and finance, learn how to write grants and fundraise, and be actively involved in their community.
3. Shawn Dunn is a UNI graduate of the class of 1996 from Dubuque, Iowa. Her current job title is the College Recruiting Specialist for the YMCA of the USA in Chicago, Illinois. Within this position her job duties include:
§ Actively recruiting a culturally diverse workforce for the future through development of enrollment goals and strategies for colleges and YMCAs;
§ Supervising interns assigned to work on college partnership initiatives as required;
§ Positioning the YMCA as a recognized employer and leading organization for students interested in nonprofit leadership opportunities;
Shawn’s current position requires her to travel about 50% of the time that she is working, which can make it very challenging to volunteer on a regular basis for any organization. She does a lot of special event volunteering for local non-profits and her church. These events include being a Chicago AIDS Foundation volunteer and grant review panelist, a head usher at St. Alphonsus Church, and advisory board member of American Humanics at North Park University in Chicago, IL.
One of the biggest benefits from Shawn’s AH certification was how the classes related to volunteerism, fund development, fiscal management, and marketing and communications. Those classes were very helpful from when she was an intern to her present day position at the YMCA. Her AH Internship was a great experience because it provided practical application to all of the classes that she took while an AH student. After her internship she applied for positions at local YMCAs and was offered a job because of her class work and internship experience at the YMCA. Many YMCA CEOs see American Humanics graduates as having “a six-month head start” on their peers who do not have the certification.
She recommends that current AH members be active American Humanics members because the opportunities to be involved will give them an advantage over other applicants when applying for their first position. These advantages include the volunteer experiences, AHMI, and internship experience.
4. Chris Kasparek is from Swisher, Iowa and graduated from UNI in 1997. Chris is currently the Coordinator for Fleet Activities in the Yokosuka, Japan Navy. Those job duties include supervisory responsibilities of three school-age care programs that serve from 200-350 children, dependent upon the time of year. Also, Chris is responsible for open recreation programs for children grades K-6.
The mission of Fleet Activities Yokosuka MWR School-Age Care Program is “To offer area children with the opportunity to engage in a variety of age appropriate activities that promote the emotional, social, mental and physical well being of each child, based on the participants abilities and interests.”
Chris believes that the AH certification opens up more doors and also allows students to understand more aspects of the leisure/recreation field. Chris recommends that current AH members find what they love to do and then strive to be the best.
5. Heather Scannell, from Gunder, Iowa, graduated from UNI in 1996. She is currently the Operations Manager of Aspen Athletic Club in Des Moines, IA where she manages/oversees the operations of the facility departments including a state licensed childcare, the front desk, janitorial duties, group fitness, maintenance, personal training, and membership sales. Other duties that Heather conducts are customer service, member retention, member billing, human resources and supervision, and training of company staff.
Aspen Athletic Club in Des Moines, IA is currently collectively writing their mission statement, but as of November of 2006 it stands as “To become a premier national fitness company, which dominates the Midwest region, through our focus on service, amenities, and devotion to member goals. Growing 10-15 clubs within the next 5 years.” The motto of Aspen Athletic Club is to be “A premier club that’s serious about fitness.”
When Heather discusses the AH program she states that she gained both textbook knowledge and real life experiences. This gave her a jump-start into the executive world of non-profit agencies and the management world of for-profit business. She also states that through AH she was able to make great contacts provided via volunteer services. She recommends current AH members to obtain as much experience as possible from different agencies, businesses, etc. from both the non-profit and the for-profit world. Also, she recommends that current AH students take advantage of volunteer opportunities because you never know when a connection, experience, or the fact of being at the right place at the right time will benefit you in the future. Finally, Heather says, “Go forward with what you really want to do and take risks. Find a way to get paid for doing what it is you love! Do not settle!”