From Volunteer to Leader: Unlocking Career Paths Through Service

Volunteering with Apra is more than just a service to the field it's a career accelerator, a leadership lab, and a gateway to an invaluable network. Whether you're looking to expand your industry knowledge, build meaningful connections, or refine leadership skills, raising your hand to volunteer can shape your professional journey in ways you never expected. This panel will bring together seasoned professionals who have leveraged association volunteering to advance their careers, strengthen their expertise, and make a lasting impact on their industry. Attendees will leave with practical insights on how to get involved, have an outsized impact on our community, and turn volunteer experiences into career-defining opportunities.

Lindsey Nadeau

Vice President, Data, Insight & Campaigns

UNICEF USA

Catherine Flaatten

Associate Vice President of Prospect Development

BWF

Catherine Flaatten, MPH, CFRE, is the associate vice president of prospect development at BWF where she partners with clients to develop creative, bespoke solutions to all types of prospect development challenges. Previously, she served in various roles at The George Washington University, most recently as the managing director of research and relationship management. Catherine has also worked in prospect development at Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the BrightFocus Foundation.

A regular speaker and author within the prospect development community, Catherine currently serves as the immediate past president of Apra Metro DC, is a trustee of the Apra Foundation, and was recently elected to the Apra Board of Directors.

Catherine holds a BA in International Affairs and an MPH in Maternal and Child Health, both from The George Washington University.

Prisca Zaccaria

Executive Director, Prospect Development

University of South Carolina

Prisca is the Executive Director of Prospect Development at the University of South Carolina. She is a strategic, innovative, and collaborative fundraising research professional with over 21 years of experience. As a key member of the Prospect Research & Prospect Strategy, she leads her teams in supporting fundraising efforts for priority institutional initiatives, the office of the University President and Vice President, the central office fundraising teams, and more than 16 schools, colleges, and units. At her prior position, she successfully led the Advancement Research and Prospect Management operations in closing out two comprehensive campaigns for the University of Georgia.