Staff Updates Since October 2010

From AFSWiki

Staff News – There have been many new hires and staff changes since our last update last October. We are pleased to introduce and welcome …

• Chuck Ferrero who has joined AFS-USA as Director of Development effective January 24, 2011. Chuck joins AFS with an excellent background and wide-ranging experience in funds development, especially in the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, development and implementation of capital campaigns, and building a proactive grants program while forging relationships with corporations, foundations, and government. Most recently, Chuck served as Vice President of Resource Development and Marketing at WBGO, the country's pre-eminent jazz radio station, where he supervised a 10-person resource development staff and was responsible for individual and institutional giving. Chuck's experience also includes senior development management positions for the International Center of Photography, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Chuck will report to Marlene Baker. Please join us in welcoming Chuck and supporting him as he begins his new responsibilities at AFS-USA. We are thrilled to have him with us!

• Loudina Brice who has joined the Finance team as the new Senior Accountant, Accounts Payable effective January 3, 2011. Loudiana comes to AFS-USA with over five years of considerable experience in Accounts Payable. She will be responsible for overseeing the Accounts Payable processes. Please join me in welcoming Loudiana to our team.

• Kirsten Snyder as the Outbound Programs Outreach Specialist effective December 14, 2010. Previously, Kirsten was an intern at AFS in our training department. She returns to AFS to continue the Returnee Mentor Project, as well as a number of other outreach efforts to engage returnees and volunteers in the sending process.

• Tara O’Connor as an Outbound Programs Coordinator effective December 1, 2010.

• Jesse Felix-Ellesson as a part time Outbound Programs Assistant effective November 30, 2010.

• Carrie Mittenthal as a Regional Hosting Coordinator for the East on November 17, 2010. Carrie is the newest member of the hosting team in the East! She is a graduate of the Loyola University of Maryland and studied abroad at Monash University in Melbourne Australia in 2001. For the past six years she's worked at her alma mater in the International Programs department. As both a Program Coordinator and Assistant Director, Carrie gained valuable management and recruitment experience that have prepared her well for her new position. During that time, Carrie also earned her MBA in International Business. She's thrilled to start working at AFS and contribute to the mission. Welcome Carrie!

• Marisa Ferro as the Outbound Sponsored Programs Advisor effective November 3, 2010 working in the Portland office. Marisa brings a wealth of experience, including a seasonal position this past summer working as the Host Family Orientation Specialist in the Portland office. Marisa holds a Masters of Science degree in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University and a Bachelors of Arts degree in International Relations and African Studies from California State University, Chico. Marisa studied abroad in India and Vietnam, and has extensive travel experience in Ghana, Peru, Bolivia, and Central America.

• Ruth Quiles (KEY-less) as the Intercultural Education and Quality Specialist in the New York office on November 1, 2010. Ruth is a graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University and is currently working on a Masters degree in International Education with SIT Graduate Institute’s low residency program. Ruth’s life has been greatly impacted by study abroad. She is an AFS Returnee from a semester in Cairns, Australia in 2004. Since that time she has continued to volunteer with AFS New Jersey, helping to run sending orientations each spring and welcoming inbound students each summer. While in college Ruth took the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Valencia in Spain as well as at the University Queensland in Australia. Before joining AFS on November 1, Ruth worked as the Recruitment Coordinator for Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University where she advised and trained student organizations. Ruth is very excited to join AFS USA as staff and contribute to the development of both sending and hosting orientation materials and processes.

• Peter Woitock as a Regional Hosting Coordinator effective October 25, 2010 in the St Paul Office.

• Carolyn Louderback as Community Developer in Reno, NV effective October 18, 2010. As the Senior Marketing & Education Consultant for the US Department of the Treasury in Sacramento, CA, Carolyn spent the past 8 years working with volunteers, community organizations, business and media outlets. She was involved in all aspects of volunteer development: recruiting, training and recognition events. She spearheaded a communications and marketing campaign to highlight and grow an IRS program that relied on volunteers to provide tax return preparation assistance to low income individuals.

• Julie Mendez as a Regional Hosting Coordinator for the East effective October 4, 2010. Julie is originally from Portland, Oregon, but attended the Global College in New York City. As part of her program Julie completed a yearlong study abroad project that included extended stays in Asia, Europe and Central/South America. Julie’s extensive travel around the world has provided her with a unique perspective that will serve as an invaluable asset to the hosting team. After graduating Julie moved to Baltimore where she completed a year long program with AmeriCorps as a Volunteer Coordinator for the YMCA of Central Maryland. Julie’s passion for international cultural awareness and commitment to volunteerism make her a perfect match for our mission. Welcome Julie!

Congratulations to…

• Mary Jo Brock on her promotion to the position of Senior Manager for Team Development. In this new role she will be responsible for the launch of the Team Development Pilot project and direct supervision of the six Team Development Specialists who will take part in the pilot. Mary Jo brings a wealth of AFS experience to her new role. As a member of the AFS USA staff since 2003 she has held the positions of Field Coordinator, Field Manager, Hosting Manager and Volunteer Development Manager. Before joining the staff she was already however a member of the AFS family having also been an AFS host sibling, host parent, sending parent and volunteer! Her passion for AFS, her skills as a manager and team builder, and her commitment to the AFS volunteer model make her an exceptional person to take on this role and launch this important pilot which we believe, if successful, will enable AFS to offer a new level of support and development to volunteers across the U.S. Please join me and the Executive Team in congratulating Mary Jo on this well deserved promotion!

• Nancy Frazier on her new position as Volunteer Development Manager. Nancy will be transitioning from her current role as Volunteer Development Manager for the East to managing Volunteer Development for the entire US. Nancy's background with AFS includes time as a Regional Field Manager, national Volunteer Development Manager until 2008, and Eastern Region Volunteer Development Manager since fall 2008.

• Carrie Jacobs on her transition to her new role as a Team Development Specialist for one of the six pilot project areas in February. Carrie has served a number of different roles in AFS-USA, including time in the former Admissions and Info Center prior to joining the Volunteer Development Department when the Volunteer Registration process was first launched several years ago. Carrie's most recent positions included the role of Western Region Volunteer Development Coordinator from 2008-2010 and Western Region Volunteer Development Manager since late summer of 2010.

• Mary Perrin on her move to a new role as a Volunteer Development Coordinator, Mary started at AFS as a Regional Field Coordinator and Regional Hosting Coordinator from 2001-2008 and has been a Chapter Development Coordinator in the Volunteer Development Department since 2008. With the elimination of the Chapter Development Coordinator position in the new Volunteer Development Department structure, Mary has been reassigned to the role of Volunteer Development Coordinator.

• Carolyn Sharratt on her transition to the role of Volunteer Development Coordinator. Carolyn has been the Coordinator of Office Services and Volunteer Development Administration in the St Paul office for just over two years. She has provided key support to the Volunteer Development and Training teams - especially in regards to logistical planning for volunteer conferences and trainings, including the first two National Volunteer Assemblies. She has also served as a member of the National Council Communications Committee, the National Volunteer Assembly Planning Committee, and was instrumental in the launch of the AFS Volunteer Blog in 2010 (http://afsvolunteerblog.org).

• Kelly Vetter on her promotion to Senior Quality and Compliance Coordinator. Kelly worked as a Participant Support Coordinator in the St. Paul office from 2004 until June 2010 when she transitioned into the newly created role of Quality and Compliance Coordinator. Kelly has brought six years of valuable AFS knowledge to her new position and has been instrumental in developing new policies and procedures in the RMCQA department during the past six months. We are pleased that Kelly has accepted the position as Senior Coordinator.

• Jennifer Anderson on her promotion to the position of Assistant Hosting Manager. Jennifer started with AFS nearly four years ago as a Field Coordinator and was promoted to Sr. Regional Hosting Coordinator shortly after. For the past 3 years Jennifer has been responsible for monitoring the regional matrix, coordinating student application distribution and organizing much of our host family paperwork collection process. Jennifer has also supervised most of the seasonal hosting administrative staff in the East. Jennifer’s organized approach, incredible work ethic, and positive attitude have been a huge factor in contributing to the success of the Eastern Region and I am confident she will continue to contribute even more to the team in her new role.

• Brian Curley on his promotion to the position of Assistant Hosting Manager. Brian began his career with AFS nearly five years ago. During his time with AFS Brian has worked with nearly a dozen Area Teams and has worked closely with much of the hosting volunteer leadership across the region. Brian’s sales background and drive for results have enabled him to successfully lead the recruitment efforts in several areas. This past year Brian led the development and implementation of a summer recruitment project, which was very successful. In doing so, Brian hired, trained and supervised all seasonal recruitment staff. Brian’s experience and personable approach will undoubtedly serve him well in his new position.

• Caren Marre on her new position as the Sponsored Programs Cluster Development Coordinator. Caren will work with local volunteers and hosting staff to identify potential areas for new cluster development and work to establish new volunteer teams in those areas in order to expand the footprint of AFS-USA, as well as ensuring the continuing health and vitality of existing Sponsored Programs clusters. Caren has been a Regional Hosting Coordinator in the West since mid-2005 and has a proven track record of success in working with her teams - including the successful development of new Sponsored Programs clusters and increased SP numbers in many of her existing clusters. Caren is also an AFS returnee, who went to Argentina on the Year Program when she was in high school. I believe that the combination of her experience in hosting, her experience with our Sponsored Programs, and her passion for volunteer development will combine to make her an outstanding addition to our department and will serve her well in her new role.

• Lauren Kelley in her new role as Senior Coordinator of Outbound Programs. Lauren began at AFS as a seasonal in Sponsored Programs in December of 2008. After her 6 month seasonal term she left AFS, and then returned nearly a year ago as the Interim Manager, overseeing sending lead management. We are delighted to have her in the role of Senior Coordinator, where she will continue to oversee sending lead management. Lauren has a background in sales and project management.

• Alex Flood on his new role as the Scholarships Coordinator for the Program Services Department. The position, previously held by Kirsten Merrell, will be changing slightly to better support the current sending structure. Alex has been part of the Student Services team for the past 2 years. He has specialized in admissions support to new programs and the Faces of America programs, which will definitely help him succeed in Scholarships!