Leadership

Leadership of SAVMA smiling outside

Photo credit Delta Productions, Davian Peterson

The SAVMA leadership is elected annually by their member peers to lead the organization. No matter their professional titles, each individual is a leader of volunteer engagement. Even more importantly, they have taken a key step to furthering their profession by taking on a leadership role in the association. Please consider how you might support the volunteer engagement profession by sharing your time as a board or committee member with your peers. Review key position descriptions for more information.

Board of Directors

Officers

Micaela Varela (President)

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She moved to Tucson for a post-college volunteer program with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 2017. She volunteered with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for a year. This quickly became a love for Tucson and a desire to continue serving her community. After earning her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arizona, Micaela returned to the Community Food Bank as the Volunteer Coordinator. Today she is the Volunteer Engagement Manager at Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.

Veronica Saiz (President-Elect)

Veronica is the Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona. She is a passionate fundraiser, community advocate, youth mentor, event planner, wife, mother, and nana! In her professional role, she works with community leaders to advocate volunteerism to change the lives of youth for the betterment of society. With SAVMA, she would be stretching her leadership muscles in new ways to support the growth of a professional association.

Jill LaBrie (Treasurer)

Jill LaBrie had 38 years of experience working with delinquent youth with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, as well as foster children through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program at the Pima County Juvenile Court Center. At least 15 of those years involved recruiting, training and supervising volunteers. While Jill retired in April of 2022 she has served on the SAVMA Board in past holding positions of Membership Committee Chair, President Elect, and President. We simply could not let her retire, when she loves volunteers this much. Jill is an avid reader, likes to craft, and is a reality tv fan.

Jennifer Lohse (Secretary)

Jennifer has served in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years in various leadership positions. She holds a Certified Nonprofit Professional credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. As the Vice President and External Relations of the Tucson Foundations, she works with more than 70 grantees annually and administers $3 million to the local community. Leadership for volunteer engagement professionals is near and dear to Jennifer’s heart, and she is proud to support the community in a SAVMA governance role.

Directors At Large

Annette Albright, term ending 12/31/2026

Jennifer Brown (term ending 12/31/2027)

Jennifer Brown was born in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and raised in Tucson since she was four.  She attended Flowing Wells district schools, kindergarten to 12th grade. After graduating high school, she joined the Navy, serving five years aboard the USS PELELIU in San Diego. After returning home, she attended the University of Arizona, where she received a degree in education with an emphasis in Deaf studies. She has been married since 2016 and has a 7-year-old daughter. When she’s not engaging volunteers, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, riding horses, playing cards, and attending concerts.

Sharon Foltz, term ending 12/31/2027

Marga Gamas, term ending 12/31/2027

Jamie Leon-Guerrero, term ending 12/31/2027

Dianette Placido, term ending 12/31/2027

Raj Uprety, term ending 12/31/2027

Committee Leadership

Membership (Chair – Dianette Placido)

  • Melanie Hansen – Member
  • Jim Marten – Member
  • Jennifer Lohse – Secretary
  • Micaela Varela – President (Ex-Officio)

Governance and Administration (Chair – Veronica Saiz)

  • Veronica Saiz – President- Elect
  • Jill LaBrie – Treasurer
  • Jennifer Lohse – Secretary
  • Micaela Varela – President (Ex-Officio)

Communications (Chair – Jamie Leon-Guerrero)

  •  – Director
  • Mikay Wright- Member
  • Veronica Saiz- President-Elect (Ex-Officio)

Programs and Events (Chair – Raj Uprety)

  •  – Director
  • Jennifer Brown – Director (2026 Fair Chair)
  • Annette Mather- Director (VMHC 2026 Co-Chair)
  • Cathi Starr- Member (VMHC 2026 Co-Chair)
  • Wesley Perry- Member
  • Micaela Varela – President (Ex-Officio)
  • SAVMA Awards 2027 Event Chair- Vacant

Committee charters can be found on the policies page of the website.

As SAVMA grows we have open leadership opportunities year round. Help lift your profession and join leadership here.