Lessons Learned: Success in Empowering Volunteers to Lead

Description: Empowering volunteers to lead doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional strategies, trust, and a willingness to learn along the way. In this session, participants will explore real‑world lessons learned from building and supporting volunteer leaders who drive impact. Attendees will gain practical insights into creating leadership pathways, balancing support with autonomy, and fostering a culture where volunteers are confident, capable, and committed to leading others.

Speaker Bio: Tim Suda, CVA is an experienced leader of volunteers and a nationally recognized voice in volunteer engagement and empowerment. Currently serving with the American Red Cross, Tim focuses on building, supporting, and inspiring volunteer leaders who, in turn, lead thousands of volunteers in mission‑critical work, including disaster response. A Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) and recipient of the 2021 Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) Impact Award, Tim brings a practical, people‑centered approach to strengthening volunteer systems, leadership pipelines, and organizational culture.