NECV Speakers

Keynote 

Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Volunteer Strategies

Beth partners with organizations and their leadership to increase their impact through strategic and innovative engagement. The author of multiple books and articles on strategic volunteer engagement, she is a popular speaker and trainer, known for her interactive and inspiring presentations. As a thought leader, Beth regularly participates in the national dialogue about volunteerism and engagement. As a Service Enterprise Trainer, she has also trained and supported dozens of organizations to become certified Service Enterprises. Prior to becoming a consultant, Beth worked as an executive director and marketing director for education and faith-based organizations and spent years working with museums as an educator, manager, and anthropologist. She draws upon her anthropology experience still, helping organizations through the culture-shift process—from viewing volunteer management as a program to embracing engagement as a strategy to fulfill mission. Beth has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and attended University of Washington for anthropology and museology.

Conference Welcome

Dr. Cody Stone, Executive Director of Montana State University Extension

For over 20 years, Cody Stone has enthusiastically engaged clientele and faculty through his work with extension in Texas and Montana.  In Texas, he served as an Agent, 4-H Specialist, and Regional Program Director.  Cody and his wife Mary moved to Montana in 2005 to begin work at the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development where he served as the Volunteer and Leadership Development Specialist before becoming the Director of the 4-H Center and State 4-H Program Leader.  Cody currently serves as the Director of MSU Extension.  He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Texas A&M and a Doctorate from Montana State University.

When he's not chasing his eight-year old daughter Brinkley around, Cody enjoys camping, cooking, and listening to vinyl records.

Closing Address

Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University

Since January of 2010, Dr. Waded Cruzado has served as the 12th President of Montana State University, and during that time she has significantly reshaped the face and future of the state's first land-grant instituation.

An articulate and inspirational speaker on the role of the public university, President Cruzado has become well-known for her understanding of the Morrill Act, which created the land-grant university system 150 years ago.  She is a passionate champion of the land-grant's tripartite mission of education, research and public outreach, as well as the important role higher education plays in the development of individuals and the prosperity of the nation. 

Under President Cruzado's leadership, in 2011 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded MSU its community engagement classification in recognition of the university's commitment to teaching that encourages volunteer service and the spreading of knowledge that benefits the public.  Montana State University is among only 311 universities out of more than 4,400 nationally to receive such recognition.

In 2014, President Cruzado was elected to serve a three-year term on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board of Directors, the governing and policymaking body of the oldest university association in the nation.

To view President Cruzado's full bio, please visit: http://www.montana.edu/president/biography.html.