Susan is the Director of Volunteers for the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services Arizona Bar Foundation and engages volunteers to assist with the legal services and Law-Related Education programs administered by the Foundation. Her credentials include Certified Volunteer Administrator and Non-Profit Administration.   She has been with the Foundation since 1996, and her background covers over 25 years of working with non-profit organizations, including volunteer administration, training, victim assistance, and serving on various Board of Directors, including MADD and Sojourner Center.

“Being in community with some of the most generous and caring individuals I know is the reason my passion centers around volunteer engagement.  I LOVE my job and the people it brings into my life on a daily basis.  Together we make a difference in the lives of those we touch!

I am the mother of twin daughters and find such joy being a grandmother to my “snuggle puppy” grandson!”  –Susan

Treasurer and Enrollment Specialist

Susan will help us keep track of our spending and membership registrations.  Have questions about your membership, or how to make a tax-deductible donation?  Reach out to susan@avacaaz.org

Adam Smith joins the AVACA Board with over 12 years of volunteer management experience. In addition to his current role as Volunteer Manager with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central and Northern Arizona, he has previously managed the volunteer program for the Saint Louis Zoo, Children’s Hospital of Georgia and a local chapter of the American Red Cross. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Service Leadership from Waynesburg University.

Adam’s wife, Pam, is an endocrinology attending physician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Adam and Pam have a 6-year-old daughter, Lilly, whom they adopted from China in November 2018. They also have two four-legged “kids” (a miniature dachshund and one-year-old kitten).

In his free time, Adam enjoys watching baseball, football, and hockey and traveling with Pam and Lilly. He is looking forward to supporting the other awesome AVACA board members and all of the great AVACA members in a variety of ways this year!

Website Specialist and Membership

Adam will be helping with celebrating our AVACA members at the end of our program year and with keeping the website up to date.

My name is Annette Sutfin, and I am the Volunteer Engagement Manager at Southwest Human Development. I have been with my current organization for more than 14 years and have a masters from ASU in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. I’ve been an AVACA member since I started developing the Volunteer Engagement Program at Southwest Human Development five years ago. Since starting in my current role, I’ve developed a number of community connections, and I have learned a lot about the unique needs of both the nonprofit sector and volunteer administrators. In addition, I have a number of connections with Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs, and I think I could bring in some new speakers with interesting perspectives on our work. Information on volunteer administration skills is important, but so are other skills related to nonprofit work, such as how to ask for a raise, how to take the next step in your career and how to find new and innovative ways to share your impact.

Professional Development – Informational Meetings Speaker Coordinator

Annette will help coordinate when and where our Lunch and Learn Meetings will be held, including working to make sure we have fun and interesting speakers to hear from.  Do you know someone that would like to share their knowledge with us?  Share their contact information with annette@avacaaz.org

Max Light-Pacheco is the Volunteer and In-Kind Donation Specialist at one-n-ten, an LGBGTQIA youth center in Phoenix, AZ. Max previously worked at Arizona Center For Nature Conservation (ACNC/Phoenix Zoo) for three years as their Volunteer Coordinator for Events. During his tenure at the Phoenix Zoo, Max supervised over 400 active volunteers and over 1,000 episodic volunteers. Max is currently studying for his Certificate of Volunteer Adminstration.

Professional Development – Book Club Specialist

Max will help coordinate our Book Club Meetings, including guiding our discussions over lunch.  Is there a book that you think we might enjoy reading and discussion in the future? Any ideas for the website? Send your suggestions to max@avacaaz.org

I am currently the volunteer coordinator for Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit providing free primary healthcare to the uninsured across the Valley. Prior to MOM, I spent six years with Make-A-Wish Arizona as a Wish Manager, where I planned over 500 wishes for children with critical illnesses.

In 2010-2011 I served on the AVACA Board while working as the volunteer coordinator at Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. I was the PR Chair and even designed the “puzzle piece” AVACA logo!

I currently run a small consulting firm where I manage the Facebook/Twitter pages for a few local businesses, so I feel I would be well equipped to handle the AVACA Facebook page, as well.

I have 2 daughters, 2 foster sons, a Wheaten Terrier, and I love sushi, art, and sports

Membership – Communications Specialist and Public Relations – Facebook & LinkedIn Specialist

Shoshana will keep our Facebook page and LinkedIn page up to date, adding information as suggested.  Have suggestions?  Send them to shoshana@avacaaz.org

I am a Volunteer Recruiter at Food for the Hungry, currently managing the volunteer recruitment and retention process, including training, scheduling, coordinating volunteer events and educating volunteers about the different administrative projects relating to the facilitation of addressing the effects of human poverty.

I have a professional background in the nonprofit arena with extensive experience in community relations, volunteer recruitment, and coordination. This knowledge, combined with numerous years of administrative duties when working as a Community Relations Coordinator at Scottsdale Ranch Community Association and an Executive Assistant for Food for the Hungry, has equipped me with solid practical skills and a deep understanding of working with volunteers.

As an extroverted and personable communicator with a proven track record, my focus on building strong professional relationships has been an asset throughout my career. Leadership, people centric nature, and eagerness to please have afforded my excellent decision-making skills.

During my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, arena football games and managing a small event management business.

Professional Development – Event Coordinator

Barbara will be on the lookout for places to share what AVACA is all about.  If you have a location we can share fliers, or a contact we can email, send it to barbara@avacaaz.org