meet our leadership
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Ben Berard | Executive Director & Founder
Ben Berard is the Founder of Volunteers of Vegas and Director of Partnerships and Brand at drvn. Based in Henderson, Nevada, he focuses on building community through volunteerism, events, and meaningful partnerships. Ben enjoys bringing people together, creating memorable experiences, and supporting causes that strengthen the Las Vegas community.
Lance Lewis | Communications
Lance B. Lewis spent 40 years in higher education in academic affairs and international programs at universities in Kansas and Michigan. He retired in 2024 and now lives in Henderson, Nevada. Lance is active with the Green Valley Rotary Club and enjoys history, travel, and volunteering with Volunteers of Vegas.
Eviann Dumas | Senior Aid & Newsletter
Loving wife, poker player, mother to a 4-legged, furry pup, avid traveler, lover of volunteering, extrovert, and a bit of a jokester. Evie tries to think outside the box as much as possible and enjoy a good "Dad joke".
Michelle Rich | Community Outreach
Michelle is enjoying her retirement from the not for profit world. She occupies her time making pottery, volunteering for VOV and connecting with others through her volunteer work. A native of the east coast, after two and half years, she is finally adapting to Nevada and loving it!
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Carissa Wilson | Operations
Carissa has been married for 30 years, which means she's mastered patience, teamwork, and selective hearing. Now retired in Henderson, she stays busy volunteering because relaxing was clearly not part of my plan. Her career took me from loans to apartment property management, so if it involved people, paperwork, or problem solving, she likely did it. These days Carissa focuses on spreading kindness and the occasional bad joke, and if she can make someone smile or forget their worries for a moment, it is a good day.
Katy McCormick | Ambassador
Katy is a proud mom of a young man and a young woman, and a dog mommy too. Katy's been a nurse for 14 years and recently started her own nursing business, where she cares for others in a more personal way. Katy loves serving the Las Vegas community and putting a smile on people’s faces. When she's not working, she enjoys traveling, exploring, and being in nature.
Vanessa Mejia| Social Media
Vanessa is passionate about building community through service and connection. She moved to Las Vegas in 2016 with Teach For America, where she began teaching science and deepened her commitment to supporting others. Vanessa's love for service started in college through volunteer leadership, where she found a real sense of belonging and saw how powerful it is when people come together. As the daughter of immigrant parents and a first generation graduate, she values perseverance and creating spaces where people feel supported, especially in difficult times.
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Gary Schaufeld | Social Media
Gary Schaufeld is a retired professional dancer with over two decades of experience in the performing arts. He earned his BFA in Dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Since stepping away from dance, Gary has dedicated himself to community service and philanthropy. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Green Valley and helps lead digital engagement efforts for Volunteers of Vegas. He believes every act of service, no matter how small, sends ripples of hope into the world.