Kickoff 2026 on the best professional foot! Join MVMA for our annual speed networking meeting and create connections with other professionals who work with volunteers. This is a great opportunity to meet MVMA members from a variety of organizations. Grab your business cards and join us for this annual event.
Parking is available in twin lots located directly to the south of the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center.
Complimentary breakfast will be provided to those attending. To ensure we have enough food and beverage, please register for this meeting by Wednesday, January 21.
Join MVMA for its bi-monthly social & networking event. Every other month MVMA will plan social gatherings for members & non-members to network and get to know each other.
Please note that individual purchases will be the responsibility of each attendee.
Influencing without Authority
Are you in a volunteer engagement role where securing buy-in from colleagues is essential to achieving your goals? Do you often feel frustrated because your contributions, and the value of strategic volunteer engagement, aren’t fully recognized?
In this interactive session, we’ll explore how deeply rooted "standard practices" in the nonprofit sector can hinder your ability to influence. You’ll be encouraged to challenge traditional thinking and step outside your comfort zone. Using Mentimeter, you’ll anonymously share insights, brainstorm solutions, and collaborate on real-world strategies. Together, we’ll develop intentional and effective ways to influence without formal authority.
By the end of this interactive session, participants will be able to:
Join this session to gain the tools and confidence to lead from where you are and create lasting volunteer engagement impact, even when authority isn’t part of your job title.
About Jessica Pang-Parks:
Jessica is a volunteer engagement thought leader who helps organizations build trust, create impact, and inspire belonging. She is the recipient of the 2021 Alison Caird Young Leader Award in recognition of her leadership and excellence in volunteer engagement and the recipient of the 2023 VMPC Exemplary Leader Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to the field as a mentor, leader, trainer, and advocate.
Jessica was named one of the Top 10 Volunteer Leadership Voices in 2025. She earned her CVA credential in April 2023 and has facilitated Fleming College’s Volunteer Management: Spectrum of Engagement course since May 2022. She has held professional volunteer and community engagement roles at Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Pathways to Education Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Volunteer Toronto, and WWF-Canada.
Jessica has the privilege to work on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Learn more about Jessica at www.learnwithjpp.com.
Additional Details:
Complimentary lunch will be provided to those attending. To ensure we have enough food and beverage, please register for this meeting by Wednesday, March 4. The use of Mentimeter will require a personal computer (mobile, tablet, or laptop). A Zoom link will be provided to accommodate those who cannot bring a device.
Parking & Entrance:
