Blast from the Past
Wednesday, April 5th, 2:00 PM ET
As part of our monthly Northeast Division Engagement Specialist Call, our topic is a "Blast from the Past," where we've invited 5 former NE Division Volunteer Services Staff, who've moved to other roles within the Red Cross, to share their success stories and offer an insider's view into their roles. This will be a facilitated discussion followed by an invigorating question and answer session from you, our audience of Engagement Specialists.
This event is on your calendars on Wednesday, April 5th at 2:00PM ET listed as NE Division Engagement Specialist Monthly Call.
Be there!
Meet the Panelists
Alesia Sitka she/her/hers
Service to the Armed Forces & International Services Program Manager
Alesia Sitka joined the American Red Cross Western NY region in June 2017 as a Volunteer Engagement and Youth Leadership Program Specialist working out of the Greater Rochester Chapter.
Alesia is a military spouse of an active-duty Marine Corps service member, and during the pandemic they received orders to Camp LeJeune, NC.
She started with the Eastern NC region as an Interim Service to the Armed Forces Program Specialist in February 2021 and then transitioned to permanent SAF/IS Program Manager in September 2022.
She now oversees the US Coast Guard Station in Elizabeth City, NC and the IS-US Programs for the region.
Fun Fact: I have moved 4 times in the last 6 years.
Andy Nagy he/him/his
Manager, Strategy & Doctrine
NHQ Volunteer Services
Andy Nagy has been serving as the NHQ VS Strategy & Doctrine Manager since September 2022. In this role, he oversees the creation and updating of Volunteer Services doctrine, as well as the development of processes to drive the socialization, adoption and execution of the doctrine.
He began his Red Cross career in 2017 as a Senior Volunteer Specialist in the former Eastern Pennsylvania Region. That position then morphed into the Senior Volunteer Engagement Specialist for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region, and he has taken on numerous leadership and voluntary responsibilities at multiple levels within the organization since. Examples of his contributions include chairing his region’s employee engagement committee, serving as an Engagement Specialist Lead in both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Divisions, writing tip sheets for the Volunteer Connection Resource Library and leading the Vaccination Review Customer Support (VRCS) team.
Andy lives just outside of Scranton, PA – but has never seen an episode of The Office. In his free time, he plays pub trivia, spoils his nieces and nephew, and volunteers as a house manager at the Scranton Cultural Center’s Broadway theater productions.
Steve Thomas he/him/his
Executive Director - Southern Maine Chapter
Northern New England Region
Steve first joined the Red Cross in December of 2019 and spent two and a half years as a Volunteer Engagement Specialist in the Northern New England Region (ME/NH/VT). In July of 2022, he was promoted to Executive Director of the Southern Maine Chapter.
Steve has enjoyed a decade-plus career with large and small non-profits across the country, including Habitat for Humanity in Philadelphia, Second Harvest Foodbanks in Cincinnati, and several community organizations in various other states. He is a 3-time AmeriCorps alumnus and holds a Master's degree in Public Affairs and Nonprofit Management from Indiana University.
Originally from the Midwest, Steve has made a new home in Portland, Maine, where he greatly enjoys living in a walkable, oceanside community. He also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, running, and biking and repairs and restores bicycles in his free time.
Fun Fact: I met my partner of 10 years while biking across the US to raise money and awareness for affordable housing organizations.
Zachariah K. Riley he/him/his
Executive Director - Southern Tier Chapter
Western New York Region
Zachariah has been with the Red Cross since 2012 when he started on the Southern Tier Chapter’s Board. During that time, he Chaired two committees which is known today as the Disaster Cycle Services Committee. In 2015 Zachariah joined the Volunteer Services department as an Engagement Specialist. In 2021 the Executive Director position needed an interim employee and after serving as such for 3 months he applied for the Job. Fast forward a few months, he is here today to share his experience. Fun Fact: Zachariah is an avid gardener and plant enthusiast.
Lauren Whitman
Regional Philanthropy Officer
Eastern New York Region
Lauren joined the Red Cross of Eastern New York as an employee in 2015 after graduating from Siena College in Albany NY. While at Siena she supported the Red Cross club on campus with blood drives and the home fire campaign and fell in love with the mission and people.
In her early roles with the Volunteer Services Department she helped with the rollout of the first Needs Assessment, developed and executed a Volunteer Leadership Program which graduated over 25 volunteer leaders in the region, and redesigned the regional intake and screening process. She supported the department through the restructuring and served as one of the region’s first Recruitment Specialists, helping to design the approach to a more targeted and strategic recruitment.
She now serves as a Regional Philanthropy Officer for Eastern New York managing a portfolio of corporate, individual, and foundation donors. She continues to work closely with Volunteer Services to support corporate employee engagement activities, and holds a MN GAP in EBV management.