June 8, 2026
Hanna Hondzinski and Shawna Upton Receive National Leadership Award
VOAMASS’s Hanna Hondzinski and Shawna Upton Receive National Leadership Award
Local Employees Honored for Vision, Innovation, and Leadership
We are thrilled to announce today that our Communications and Engagement Manager Hanna Hondzinski and People and Culture Manager Shawna Upton have received the 2026 Agency and Culture Innovator Award for leadership from the organization’s national office, Volunteers of America.
The award is presented to a team or individual who has greatly shaped a positive culture within their affiliate, resulting in high employee satisfaction scores and retention. The award was presented on June 8 during the Volunteers of America National Conference in Denver, Colo.
“VOAMASS has undergone a cultural transformation because of Hanna and Shawna,” said VOAMASS President and CEO Charles E. Gagnon. “These young leaders have taken employee engagement to the next level. Innovative, enthusiastic, and driven, Hanna and Shawna are committed to connecting with and honoring staff, bringing positivity and joy to our work at VOAMASS.”
“We are so thrilled to be recognized by the national Volunteers of America office in this way,” said Hondzinski. “Shawna and I see how hard the team here works, and we are committed to supporting them as they do the transformative work of helping our clients reclaim their lives.”
“In the four-and-a-half years I’ve been at VOAMASS, I have seen our organization grow tremendously,” said Upton. “We are passionate building community, recognizing our employees for their dedication to the job, and simply bringing fun and levity to help the hard days feel a little easier.”
Among the innovative employee programs that Hondzinski and Upton have developed at VOAMASS, most significant is a structured employee appreciation program that provides regular opportunities to celebrate employee achievement. Their impact is reflected in employee survey data indicating that 97 percent of staff enjoy the organization’s culture. Additionally, vacancy rates have substantially decreased, enabling VOAMASS to provide people in need with uninterrupted, quality support.
