The First Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference 2015

When Innovation Met Volunteer Leadership (and Yes—All Men!)

The volunteer engagement profession received a major boost last summer with the launch of the first Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference 2015 (VMHC), co-presented by Better Impact and AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement) debuted as a groundbreaking model for professional development. It promised a national learning experience without the airfare, hotel receipts, or endless buffet coffee.

The conference brought together leaders of volunteers through a format designed to keep costs low, increase access, and build stronger local learning communities. And, yes—if you look back at the promotional photo, it’s impossible to miss: four male presenters. In a profession overwhelmingly led by women, that lineup still earns a raised eyebrow. But gender aside, those presenters sparked a conversation that transformed how volunteer engagement professionals connect and grow.

A Hybrid Format Designed for Today’s Volunteer Leaders

The hybrid model was created to solve a common challenge: many volunteer engagement professionals want high-quality training but face limited budgets for travel. VMHC offered a simple solution. For a modest host-site fee, organizations could bring a full-day conference to their local area, complete with facilitated discussions and networking.

The 2015 host sites included:

  • Portland State University – Portland, OR

  • Southwest Idaho Directors of Volunteer Services

  • Nevada Volunteers – Reno and Las Vegas

  • Civic Service Institute at Northern Arizona University – Flagstaff, AZ

  • North Park University – Chicago, IL

  • Tidewell Hospice – Sarasota, FL

  • North Carolina State University & NCAVA – Durham and Raleigh

  • Delaware Valley Association of Volunteer Administrators – Philadelphia, PA

  • The Salvation Army – Peoria, IL

  • United Way of Washtenaw County – Ann Arbor, MI

Additional sites in New York, Plano, and Memphis were added as registration opened.

This format allowed hundreds of leaders of volunteers to engage in shared national learning while participating in local discussions tailored to their communities.

Four Internationally Known Presenters

The conference featured a strong lineup of experts widely respected in the field of volunteer management and organizational leadership:

Rick Lynch – Creating a Strategic Vision for Volunteer Engagement

Rick introduced participants to the five steps of strategic planning and laid out how volunteer engagement can support mission-critical activities. His session reinforced the idea that strong volunteer programs must align directly with organizational strategy.

Rob Jackson – Understanding and Engaging 21st-Century Volunteers

Rob explored the ways volunteering has changed in recent decades. He offered practical strategies for engaging modern volunteers with different expectations, schedules, and motivations.

Andy Fryar – Positioning the Profession

Andy focused on the evolving role of the volunteer manager and challenged attendees to see themselves as organizational leaders. His session emphasized the importance of strengthening professional identity within the field.

Tony Goodrow – Leadership Lessons from Zappos!

Tony examined how companies known for high engagement—like Zappos—attract and motivate people. He connected these lessons to volunteer recruitment and leadership, offering practical ways to build a strong volunteer culture.

While the all-male panel stood out, the content brought diverse perspectives from across the U.S., UK, and Australia.

A Conference Model Ahead of Its Time

The idea behind the hybrid format was simple: professional development shouldn’t depend on travel budgets. Local hosts paid a modest $500 fee (with an AL!VE member discount), projected the live feed, and facilitated in-room discussion. Each site contributed local context while sharing in a national dialogue of ideas.

It worked. Participants described it as “the best of both worlds”—big-picture insight from global leaders combined with the authenticity of local conversation. Attendees could immediately translate national trends into their organizations’ realities.

It was also a milestone in collaboration. Better Impact provided the technical infrastructure and sponsorship; AL!VE recruited hosts through its regional associations. The partnership modeled exactly what the field needed most: cross-organizational teamwork to raise professional standards for everyone.

About Those Speakers… All Men!

It’s impossible not to smile at the irony. The volunteer engagement workforce has long been dominated by women—professionals who train, mentor, and manage volunteers across nearly every sector. Yet the 2015 stage belonged to four men from three continents.

In hindsight, that lineup reflected the field’s academic and consulting landscape at the time. Men held the prominent research and keynote roles, while women carried the daily practice. Within just a few years, though, VMHC audiences began seeing a more balanced and representative stage—women, emerging leaders, and professionals of color bringing new ideas forward.

So while that first year might prompt a good-natured “All men—huh?” it also marks a starting point for a profession still finding its collective voice.

A New Model for Growing the Profession

The 2015 VMHC offered a full day of training at a fraction of the cost of a traditional conference. Hosts received pre-event technical support, facilitation guidance, and promotional resources. Attendees participated in live workshops, submitted questions in real time, and engaged in group discussions between sessions.

The structure positioned VMHC as a promising new model to deliver meaningful professional development to leaders of volunteers—particularly those working within small organizations or limited budgets.

Strengthening Local Networks Through National Content

One of the strongest outcomes from the first hybrid conference was the combination of national expertise and local relevance. Participants could hear from top trainers and immediately discuss how to apply those ideas in their own organizations and communities.

Across the country, leaders of volunteers connected with peers, shared challenges, and built relationships in a dynamic learning environment. By blending live streaming with local facilitation, VMHC created a unified national experience without requiring extensive travel.

A Promising Step Forward for Volunteer Engagement Professionals

The first Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference delivered high-quality training and fostered connections among volunteer engagement professionals nationwide. With accessible pricing, a strong speaker roster, and an innovative format, the conference has set a new standard for professional development in the field.

Better Impact and AL!VE successfully demonstrated that leaders of volunteers can come together, learn from global experts, and strengthen their local networks—all in one coordinated, affordable event.