Rhonda Mower Email Address

Vice President Culture and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Founded in 1896, Volunteers of America Chesapeake operates more than 20 programs that serve the homeless, exoffenders, substance abusers, elders, children and people with developmental disabilities. It has a staff of over 500 employees that provides various human services. The organization offers a range of homeless services through a network of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs and dropin centers. Its homeless services include case management, life skills training sessions, educational opportunities, vocational training and placement assistance, mental and physical evaluations and health care services. With a location in Lanham, Md., Volunteers of America Chesapeake is a charter member of Volunteers of America, which is a national, nonprofit, faithbased organization that offers a variety of human service programs, including housing and health care. Founded in 1896, the parent organization serves more than 2 million people in over 400 communities.

Rhonda Mower is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and a Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC.) She has achieved her Masters of Science in Management with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. Rhonda is also a SPHR, SHRM-SCP certified Senior Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience working with leaders to co-create environments that attract, retain, develop and engage top talent through strategic human capital initiatives. In her current role as the Senior Vice President - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (...and Belonging) for Volunteers of America’s National Office, she works with the Board, Executives and Staff to co-create optimal environments that enable employees to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best in order to meet organizational goals. In previous roles, ranging from leadership to sales, she worked with industry leaders such as Boeing, Starbucks, Nordstrom and The Gap. She has a passion for using the best practices and lessons learned from these industry giants, other senior leaders and continuing education to create customized solutions to address the unique challenges of organizations. She is a recipient of two Volunteers of America Mike's Money awards - awarded by the CEO and President and his leadership team for exceptional HR work, Boeing Phantom Works’ Outstanding Achievement Award, an Employer Achievement Award from National Industries for the Blind (awarded as result of her work instituting the first collaborative partnership between the organization and Boeing) and the Starbucks’ Green Apron award. Active in the community, she is a member of The Society for Diversity, Evanta CHRO Community, and Society for Human Resource Management. She is a former President of the Human Resources Leadership Forum. And, previously she served as Senior Advisor to the Board of NOVA SHRM and a pattern changing Coach for survivors of domestic violence for ACTS/Turning Points.