Thank You for Joining the 2025 Volunteer Delaware Conference
Planning with Purpose: Reignite, Rebuild, and Reimagine Volunteerism
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Bally’s Dover Hotel and Casino on October 23 for the 2025 Volunteer Delaware Conference. Nonprofit leaders, volunteer managers, commissioners, business partners, and community members came together to share ideas, build connections, and celebrate the power of volunteer work in Delaware.
Conference Highlights
Volunteer Delaware Dog Ambassadors
The PAWS for People Volunteer Delaware Dog Ambassadors greeted guests during registration and breakfast and brought smiles to the ballroom throughout the morning. Their presence added comfort and joy and reminded us that volunteer service also includes creating spaces where people feel welcome and supported.
Photo Highlights
Enjoy a few snapshots from the 2025 Volunteer Delaware Conference at Bally’s Dover.
Additional photos will be shared on the Volunteer Delaware Facebook page.
View the full 2025 Volunteer Delaware Conference photo gallery on Flickr
Thank You
Volunteer Delaware sends sincere thanks to every attendee, presenter, panelist, sponsor, commissioner, and partner who helped make the 2025 Volunteer Delaware Conference a success. Your commitment to service and your willingness to learn, share, and collaborate help strengthen communities across Delaware.
Speakers and Presenters
- Former Delaware First Lady Carla Markell
- Keilah Hanley, Habitat for Humanity
- Theresa Young, American Red Cross
- Kurt Anderson, RV Life
- Dr. Melody F. Phillips, Péste Strategic Solutions Group
- Glen Stubbolo, Delaware Emergency Management Agency
- Angela Williamson, Blood Bank of Delmarva
- Dr. Rachael R. Knotts
- Londin Boots, Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and Freeman Arts Pavilion
Commissioner Hosts
Special thanks to Commissioners Debbie Smith, Cassandra Codes Benjamin, and Marilyn Siebold for hosting the breakout sessions and helping welcome guests throughout the day.
Sponsors and Partners
Thank you to our sponsors and partners who support Volunteer Delaware and make events like this possible. Your investment in volunteerism helps bring training, ideas, and inspiration to volunteer leaders across the state.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Stay Connected with Volunteer Delaware
The conference may be over for this year, but the work of inspiring and supporting volunteers continues. Stay connected for news, training, and updates about future events and the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards.
Volunteer Delaware Conference 2025
About the Conference
Join us Thursday, October 23, 2025 at Bally’s Dover Hotel & Casino for a full day of inspiration, professional development, and community-building. This statewide event brings together volunteer leaders, nonprofit professionals, and community partners to Reignite, Rebuild, and Reimagine Volunteerism in Delaware.Whether you're a seasoned volunteer coordinator or launching a new initiative, this day will equip you with fresh tools and insights to energize your work and strengthen partnerships
🌟 Conference Highlights:
- Keynote address by Carla Markell, Former First Lady of Delaware
- 6 impactful breakout sessions with expert presenters
- Strategies to reignite, rebuild, and reimagine volunteer engagement
- Special appearance by the PAWS for People Volunteer Delaware Dog Ambassadors
- Networking lunch and end-of-day raffle
🔑 Keynote Speaker
Carla Markell
Former First Lady of Delaware
Title: Keynote Address
Time: 9:40 – 10:00 AM
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Passionate about the arts and mentoring, Carla has worked closely with local professionals to inspire and introduce performing arts to young playwrights, children with cognitive differences, as well as incarcerated individuals. As First Lady of Delaware from 2009-2017, Carla was a champion of volunteerism of all kinds and spoke throughout the state to encourage people to find their interests and get involved. Most recently, Carla served as an active Ambassador’s spouse at both the Office of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France, and to the country of Italy. Carla believes it is essential to be curious about cultural and familial differences as a way to build bridges and pathways of compassion and connection to other human beings. Carla is an advocate for mental health and individuals with substance abuse disorders. Having grown up in a family with both challenges, Carla recognizes the power of recovery and effective high quality treatment. Carla is a lover of nature and animals and enjoys walking and spending time with her family and friends.
🧩 Breakout Session 1 (10:15 – 11:00 AM)
Commissioner Hosts: Debbie Smith, Cassandra Codes-Benjamin, Marilyn Siebold
| Room | Speaker | Title | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Room | Keilah Hanley | Revitalizing Volunteer Programs | Habitat for Humanity, New Castle County |
| Kent Room | Theresa Young | Building Better Volunteer Onboarding and Engagement | American Red Cross |
| Silver Lake Room | Kurt Anderson | AI-Focused Session | RV Life |
🧠 Breakout Session 2 (11:15 AM – 12:00 PM)
Commissioner Hosts: Debbie Smith, Cassandra Codes-Benjamin, Marilyn Siebold
| Room | Speaker | Title | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Room | Dr. Melody F. Phillips | From Tokenism to True Power: Shifting Volunteerism Through Youth-Adult Partnership |
Péste Strategic Solutions Group. |
| Kent Room | Glen Stubbolo | Understanding Volunteer Motivation– Your Key to Successful Volunteer Engagement | DEMA |
| Silver Lake Room | Angela Williamson | Reverse Recruitment – Begins by Looking Within | Blood Bank of Delmarva |
🌟 Featured Speaker: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Dr. Rachael R. Knotts
Session: Friction to Flow: Leading Through the Lens of Maxwell DISC
Description: In today’s fast-paced, people-driven workplaces, miscommunication and personality clashes can quietly erode performance and trust. In this dynamic presentation, Dr. Rachael Knotts unpacks the transformative power of the Maxwell DISC Method—offering leaders a practical lens to understand behavioral patterns, unlock authentic communication, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. Drawing from over two decades of leadership experience in education and organizational development, Dr. Rachael demonstrates how to identify the root causes of team friction and turn them into momentum-building opportunities. Attendees will discover how behavioral awareness not only improves individual performance but also creates high-functioning, collaborative cultures where people thrive.
Featured Speaker: 2:30 – 3:05 PM
Londin Boots
Session: Calling All Difference Makers: Bringing Your Authentic Self to Your Nonprofit
Description: In this inspiring and practical session, Londin Boots shares her journey into volunteer leadership and how embracing authenticity has transformed her work and team culture. Learn how the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation fosters a volunteer environment rooted in individuality, inclusion, values and purpose. Attendees will leave with real-world strategies to lead with authenticity, build inclusive volunteer systems, and empower others to bring their full selves to the mission. Perfect for nonprofit leaders, volunteer managers, and anyone looking to create meaningful impact through human connection.
🧠 Breakout Session 1 (10:15 – 11:00 AM)
Commissioner Hosts: Debbie Smith, Cassandra Codes-Benjamin, Marilyn Siebold
🟨 Keilah Hanley
Title: Volunteer Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County
Session: Revitalizing Volunteer Programs
This session will explore practical ways to evaluate and strengthen your volunteer program. We’ll cover how to gather feedback, identify organizational needs, recruit more effectively, and build lasting relationships with volunteers. Through real examples from Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, we will discuss how to align volunteer roles with your mission, engage diverse volunteers, and create a more fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
🟨 Theresa Young
Title: Executive Director, Delmarva Chapter, American Red Cross
Session: Building Better Volunteer Onboarding and Engagement
Two of the easiest ways to lose interested volunteers is through lack of onboarding and lack of engagement in a meaningful way to them. Red Cross brings together strangers from across the country and runs a unified response with partners while continuing to operate at home in the everyday services they provide. Theresa Young will share some practices that served her across multiple nonprofits and across multiple positions to breakdown communication barriers and engage volunteers where their interests lie. You will also have the opportunity to connect with others and share your barriers while seeking solutions from colleagues. Join us as we discuss the journey of volunteers.
🟨 Kurt Anderson
Title: Deputy Director of Technology, RV LIFE
Session: Maximizing Impact with AI: Tools and Tips for Volunteer Leaders
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just for tech companies, it’s a powerful tool that volunteer organizations can use to save time, improve efficiency, and focus more energy on their mission. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll explore the fundamentals of AI and how it can be applied in everyday volunteer work. From automating routine tasks and streamlining communication to generating content and supporting data-driven decision-making, you’ll see practical examples of how AI can support your team without requiring a technical background. We’ll also discuss best practices, limitations, and how to get started using AI responsibly. Whether you’re looking to free up administrative time, better engage volunteers, or enhance the services you provide, this workshop will give you accessible strategies and tools to maximize your organization’s impact with AI.
🧠 Breakout Session 2 (11:15 AM – 12:00 PM)
Commissioner Hosts: Debbie Smith, Cassandra Codes-Benjamin, Marilyn Siebold
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🟪 Dr. Melody F. Phillips
Title: Principal and Founder of Peste Strategic Solutions Group, Director of the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation Department
Session: From Tokenism to True Power: Shifting Volunteerism Through Youth-Adult Partnerships
This session explores how to move beyond performative youth involvement and toward authentic shared power through intentional youth-adult partnership. Learn how to shift from tokenism to transformation by reimagining volunteerism as a space where youth lead, contribute meaningfully, and drive impact alongside adults.
🟧 Glen Stubbolo
Title: Community Outreach Program Coordinator & CERT State Coordinator, Delaware Emergency Management Agency
Session: Understanding Volunteer Motivation – Your Key to Successful Volunteer Engagement
“Why do people volunteer?” Strap yourself in for a fast-paced, energizing workshop that explores why knowing this is a key to the success of your volunteer efforts. Understanding volunteer motivations and integrating these in each step of your volunteer program is important for successful volunteer recruitment and longevity, meaningful – and fulfilled – volunteer engagement, and fruitful mission delivery. Whether for philanthropic reasons, for personal growth and development, for social connection or for any combination of these – this workshop examines Content and Process theories, generational trends, communication techniques, among other topics and how applying these can create success in any type of volunteer effort.
🟧 Angela Williamson
Title: Volunteer & Community Relations Specialist, Blood Bank of Delmarva
Session: Reverse Recruitment – Begins by Looking Within
In this workshop, Angela Williamson unpacks her powerful “house of volunteers” analogy – a fresh, practical framework for transforming volunteer programs into mission-aligned pillars of your organization.
• Build a solid foundation for long-term volunteer success
• Align volunteers and systems with your mission
• Gather and tell stories for real, lasting impact
• Boost and cultivate volunteer loyalty
• Ensure program resilience
2024 Recap Highlights
A Day to Remember
Keynote Speaker
John Mollura - Former Scientist & NASA Test Leader
Topic: Elite Level Confidence - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Celebrating Achievements in Volunteer Management
Additional Highlights:
- Engaging Panel Discussions with business & nonprofit leaders
- Networking among Volunteer leaders & community partners
- Visit from the PAWS for People Volunteer Delaware Dog Ambassadors
Want to Speak or Exhibit?
We welcome dynamic speakers, panelists, workshop leaders, and exhibitors passionate about empowering volunteers across Delaware!
Interested in presenting a session or hosting a vendor table?
👉 Submit Speaker/Exhibitor Interest Form
Speakers
We're bringing together some of Delaware's most inspiring and impactful voices in volunteerism and volunteer leadership.
Sponsor the Volunteer Delaware Conference
Help us deliver a meaningful, energizing experience for Delaware's volunteer sector.
Your support helps us:
- Bring in dynamic speakers and panelists
- Provide valuable resources
- Foster collaboration and connections
- Celebrate and strengthen Delaware’s volunteer community
👉 Download Sponsorship Packet - PDF
Sponsorship Contact:
Diane Frebert, Volunteer Services Administrator
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Directions to Bally's Dover Hotel & Casino
Bally’s Dover is located at 1131 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Free onsite parking is available in the hotel lot.
For detailed directions or hotel accommodations, visit:
Bally's Website
Or use Google Maps and search for: Bally’s Dover Hotel & Casino