Q & A with Kelli Stevens, a volunteer on the Wood's Homes marketing committee

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I work for Suncor Energy and have spent most of the last 10 years there in Corporate Communications. When I’m not at work, I’m usually dreaming about where to travel next – I love exploring the different things the world has to offer. And at home in Calgary, that exploration often translates into trying new restaurants…which I try to balance out via my other hobbies: running and yoga. And of course, there’s no bad day that a good book and/or a bit of a Netflix binge can’t fix.

Q: How did you first learn about Wood’s Homes?

A: When I returned from living overseas a few years ago, I was looking for a new volunteer opportunity. One of my colleagues at the time introduced me to Wood’s Homes – she has a number of family members who work there and told me what great work they do.

Q: How long have you been volunteering?

A: I haven’t been at Wood’s very long – just since the summer of 2013.

Q: What initially drove you to start volunteering?

A: I’ve been volunteering for various causes since I was a kid. My mom got me involved in a lot of different things in our community from a really early age. I guess it stuck!

Q: Describe your role on the marketing committee?

A: When I originally approached Wood’s about volunteering, I was open to doing anything that needed doing. But when the people I was talking to found out that I do public relations/communications for a living, they asked me to join the marketing committee of the Board. Mostly, the role consists of meeting with the great people in the communications department at Wood’s, and brainstorming about how best to carry out the projects they’re working on.

Q: What has kept you at Wood’s Homes?

A: Like anywhere else, there aren’t always the resources or ability to carry out everything that we [the marketing committee] can think up, but we’ve definitely seen some progress in the last few years. The Communications team works really hard and I love being able to support them wherever I can.

Q: What has been your most rewarding experience so far?

A: My favourite memory at Wood’s isn’t actually related directly to the marketing committee. It was when I was able to bring in a group of colleagues from Suncor to help serve a Christmas meal at the Children’s Village school. It’s always fun to get out of the office and volunteer with my coworkers, and it was especially rewarding to be able to share a cause with them that’s become really important to me.

Q: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

A: Good question…we played a game at work last week that revolved around this question, and it turns out that people were pretty surprised to know that security staff once escorted me out of a British grocery store. It’s a long story – but just know that it wasn’t because I tried to steal anything!