Meet Shaguna Wilkes, SBC’s new Volunteer Services Manager!
By Kristin Stankus
On May 27, 2014, Stanford Blood Center welcomed Shaguna Wilkes as its new volunteer services manager. While her education and background are in human resources, Shaguna discovered her true passion when she moved to Madison, WI for three years earlier in her career and took a job in volunteer management. She and her husband decided to get away from the Midwest winters but Shaguna knew she wanted to continue working in volunteer management. She now has 15 years of experience in the non-profit health care sector, 12 of which she spent overseeing the volunteer program at Pathways Home Health and Hospice.
Interested in learning about an area of the health care industry she had not yet experienced, Shaguna saw a great opportunity as the volunteer services manager at SBC. Not only was it Stanford’s reputation and mission that interested her in this position but also the prospect of new challenges and exploring a different part of the health care industry. Shaguna expressed how important working for a mission-driven organization is to her, saying “Being part of SBC means coming to work everyday knowing that you’re saving lives”.
As our new volunteer services manager, Shaguna’s primary responsibilities include screening, interviewing, and hiring new volunteers as well as placing volunteers on assignment at mobile and center drives. Shaguna will also spend time in the community speaking to organizations about volunteer opportunities at the blood center.
In her spare time, Shaguna loves to cook and is a long time foodie. During her stint living in Madison, WI, she recalls spending all summer outdoors barbecuing with her family and friends and playing around with different flavors to create new grill favorites. Her concoctions were so popular with her guests that they convinced her to start her own business selling BBQ rubs and seasonings and in 2011 they opened their family business. Shaguna looks forward to the time she gets to spend creating these gourmet products with her husband and daughters.
Shaguna is clearly in her element as the volunteer services manager and we are pleased to have her as part of our team.