Empowering Communities for Volunteer Impact
This year’s conference focuses on harnessing innovation to inspire volunteerism that creates lasting community impacts. Attendees will explore ingenious strategies and tools to effectively recruit, engage, and retain volunteers, ensuring their programs thrive in a rapidly evolving volunteer landscape.
The TVMC will be a hybrid conference offering both virtual and in-person sessions to reach as many leaders of volunteers as possible who work for nonprofit organizations or publicly funded agencies across Texas and beyond. In-person tickets include two breakfasts and two lunches.
We look forward to welcoming you to #TVMC2025!
Agenda
All times are in CT
In-Person
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Check-In
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast and Welcome
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session One
Choose Your Session
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- Angela Bender – From Cookie-Cutter to Customized: Elevating Volunteer Engagement with Strategic Design
- Thelma R. Cantu – Unleashing the Power of Skilled Volunteers
- Monica Jasso, CVA – The Blockbuster Strategy: Top Tech Tools to Make Volunteer Management Easier
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Fireside Chat
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Session Two
Choose Your Session
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- Joshua Hart – The Language of Leadership: Elevating Volunteerism Through Better Dialogue
- Jakira Lewis – Tiny but Mighty: Mobilizing Small Teams for Massive Community Impact
- Melanie Scarpace – From Coordinator to Leader: Elevating Your Role and Influence in Your Organization
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Session Three
Choose Your Session
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- Rachel Walsh – Beyond the Bumps: Small Shifts, Big Leaps
- Nora Douglas – Increasing Volunteer Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention through Better Understanding Volunteer Experiences
- Suzanne Yowell, CVA – Leading with Passion: Inspiring Others to Serve
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Closing Statements
5:00 – 9:30 p.m. Networking Social Hosted by Volunteero
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- The Brass Tap Richardson (1 minute walk from the hotel (Aloft Richardson)
- 1251 State St Suite 650, Richardson, TX 75082, United States
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast and Welcome
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session One
Choose Your Session
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- Jennifer Barefoot – Placemaking with Purpose: Creating Community Scaffolding to Facilitate Volunteerism & Willingness to Connect
- Helen Dorsey – The Three C’s of Success: Corporate, Community and Collaboration
- Robin Hunt – Events to Engagement: From Good Times to Great Teams
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Speaker
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Session Two
Choose Your Session
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- Bridgette Taylor – The ROI of Community Investment
- Rachel Currie Triska – Volunteer Now – The Healing Power of Volunteerism – a social prescription that changes the world for good
- Kelly Ann Novak – Building Bridges: Breaking Down Silos to Recruit, Retain, and Reignite Volunteer Engagement
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Session Three
Choose Your Session
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- Kelly Furnas – Leading Through Conflict
- Samantha Villanueva – Connecting Youth to the “Why”: Impactful Messaging to Reach Your Gen Z Audience
- Celeste T. Brown – Beyond the Smile: Addressing Toxic Positivity in Leadership & Volunteerism
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Closing Statements
Virtual
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Check-in via Zoom
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Welcome
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session One
Choose Your Session
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- Jenny Keener – Effective Rural Volunteer Management: Every Interaction Matters
- Brooke Campbell, CVA – The Hidden Cost of Free Volunteers – And How to Leverage It
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch & Fireside Chat
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Session Two
Choose Your Session
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- Elizabeth Rachchh, CVA – Don’t Sleep on Advocacy: Empowering Volunteers to Advocate for Our Mission
- Isabella Oliver, CVA – Recruiting with Retention in Mind
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Session Three
Choose Your Session
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- Angela Williamson, CVA – Grabbing Sr. Leadership Attention with Appealing Volunteers Annual Reports
- Marie Howell, CVA – Difficult Feedback Made Easier
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Closing Statements
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Welcome
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session One
Choose Your Session
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- Susan Sanow, CVA – Secrets to Leading Successful Meetings
- Betsy McFarland, CVA – Unlocking Your Influence: Harnessing the Power of Volunteer Engagement for Strategic Impact
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Speaker
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Session Two
Choose Your Session
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- Alex Seblatnigg – But We’ve Always Done It That Way: Using SWOT Analysis to Enhance Your Volunteer Program
- Paul Lopushinsky – Using the Eight Play Personalities for Keeping Volunteers Engaged
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Session Three
Choose Your Session
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- Barbara Karnes, Meridian Swift, CVA, Heather Heavey, CVA and Dwight Elliott – Volunteers in the Hospice Tapestry: Weaving Comfort into Care
- Beth Steinhorn – Recruit and Rebuild Your Volunteer Base
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Closing Statements
Conference Details
Dates: October 9-10, 2025
Location: University of Texas at Dallas (in-person) or online (virtually)
Venue: Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center 2501 Drive G, Richardson, TX 75080
Conference Parking Instructions
- Parking passes need to be printed and placed on the dashboard
- Park in any GREEN LOT, LOTS A2 or B2 are closest to the venue
- A golf cart shuttle will be available at B2 to bring attendees to the venue
- See parking guide, map and pass below
Conference Pricing
Registration is now closed.
Hey there fellow Changemakers, we appreciate your enthusiasm!
If you have questions, please contact us at rwalsh@coherelife.com to see if there is still space available.
Hotel Information
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Plano East-Richardson
2001 E President George Bush Hwy, Plano, TX 75074
TVMC has secured a block of rooms at a discounted rate. To take advantage of the conference rate, reservations must be made by October 2, 2025 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.
Holiday Inn Express will provide a free passenger shuttle service between 7 am and 7 pm for convenient access to and from the conference venue.
Aloft Richardson (SOLD OUT)
1160 State Street Richardson Texas, USA, 75082
TVMC has secured a block of rooms at a discounted rate. To take advantage of the conference rate, reservations must be made by September 18, 2025 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.
ALOFT will run a 15 passenger free shuttle service from 7 am – 5:30 pm for easy access to conference venue.
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The speaker was amazing, extremely knowledgeable, knew how to keep the audience’s attention and gave a lot of very valuable information in a very well presented and fun manner!