Speaker: Russell Snyder

I am currently the President and CEO of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, which serves more than 11,000 vulnerable men, women and children in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and North and South Carolina with our over 850 employees. Since my arrival in January 2009, the Chesapeake affiliate has grown from $21MM – $55MM in total revenue through program and service expansion. In 2012, I led the adaptive re-use development of an old warehouse in Baltimore into a community corrections facility that is currently serving over 2000 returning citizens to the community annually. I successfully acquired eight properties that same year in the District of Columbia that serve as permanent supportive housing for over 45 adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. In 2019, we completed and opened one of our buildings in Baltimore, Maryland that has become a 92-unit veteran preferred permanent supportive housing program. In addition, the Volunteers of America of the Carolinas affiliate became family on July 1, 2019, when it merged with VOAC. As the lead minister for our affiliate, the Chesapeake & Carolinas ministry continues to grow and flourish in our communities. I serve on the VOA National Board of Directors and several local and regional non-profit Board of Directors. 

Other Facts About Me

I am married to my amazing wife Karen and have two incredible daughters (Elie and Bridgette), two granddaughters (Olivia & Kinsley) and two wonderful son-in-laws (Ben and Kory). Besides being a devoted family man, I spend my weekends as an avid mountain biker for over 30 years and spent several years racing the Mid Atlantic events while taking annual trips to destinations in the western part of the United States. I have been to Russia, Central America and various locations in Appalachia as a missionary. Prison ministry has been a passion of mine and I have spent over 15 years visiting prisons and ministering to inmates. Finally, I was a collegiate athlete, playing football for the University of Delaware from 1980- 1984 and participated in the 1982 NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship Game called the Pioneer Bowl.