Social Media Panel Presenter: Michelle Sperr
Leading the charge to launch new efforts and redefine how Kiwanis International and the next generation of volunteers and leaders connect with needs in their local community is Michelle Sperr, Director of Special Initiatives for Kiwanis Next. Kiwanis Next is the concept driving a new generation of people engaged in a new way of doing service. The “Next” generation is not as likely to join something but still want to volunteer.
Kiwanis is exploring social media and simplifying volunteer opportunities to help encourage a generation that is not as likely to join an organization - all while staying true to the Kiwanis brand.
Prior to assuming this newly created role, Michelle was Executive Project Manager for Kiwanis International. In this role she was responsible for staff development, executive communications, and managing key projects and was a member of the Kiwanis International Executive Management Team. As the youngest member of the executive team, Michelle consistently brought a new and fresh perspective to help develop strategies to grow the organization, leading her to the opportunity to engage this next generation of volunteers earlier this year.
Michelle joined the Kiwanis International staff in 2004 and was also part of the team that launched multiple growth and education strategies that contributed to stabilizing a 20 year decline in membership. While those efforts were targeting membership in Kiwanis clubs, her new assignment is primarily focused on developing new strategies outside the current boundaries of the existing club structure.
Michelle is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She is a member of the Broad Ripple Kiwanis Club and is currently working on her Masters of Business Administration degree at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.