The Volunteer Collaboration

08/04/2026

Bridget is a proud graduate of Huntsville High School and Sam Houston State University. After thirty years serving in congregational ministry, she retired in 2022 to move home and now serves as the Night Circulation Supervisor for the Newton Gresham Library at SHSU.

She has a long history of community volunteerism from serving on numerous nonprofit boards and in leadership roles as a PTA President, with Alpha Gamma Delta International, and with the Junior League of Collin County and the Junior League of Arlington, TX.

She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Grant Writing from Collin College, as well as a Fundraising Certificate from The Center for Nonprofit Management & M. Gale & Associates.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Bridget enjoys cheering on the Huntsville Hornets, taking cruises, and living downtown with her dog, Kringle.

As President and CEO of The Volunteer Collaboration, Bridget brings a passion for service, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to strengthening the Huntsville community.

08/01/2026

Click the link below to learn how YOU can join Tomorrow’s Promise & Dolly Parton as they get books into the hands of Walker County children every month!

Email from Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce Tomorrow's Promise Educational Foundation Nearly 7 out of 10 Huntsville ISD third graders are not reading on grade level. That struggle does not

07/31/2026

Debbie is a retired Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), having worked in several banks during her career. She was previously on the board of an organization in North Georgia serving victims of domestic violence. Debbie has recently joined the board of SAAFE House in Huntsville, Texas, with the same function.

She is passionate about providing assistance to underserved families and seniors in the community. She holds a degree in management from Texas A & M and lives in Huntsville with her husband and their dog, Atticus Finch.

We are grateful for Debbie’s heart for service, extensive leadership experience, and unwavering commitment to strengthening our community through volunteerism and compassion.

07/30/2026

Several of you generously sent items from our Amazon wish list. We have been able to send Thank You notes for everything except a large supply of file folders and file folder labels. We did not receive notice of who sent each item. We would like to properly thank each of our donors! If you sent either of these, please send us a DM with your mailing address. Thank you for helping us begin

07/28/2026

Lydia Fox, Co-Chair of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives

Lydia serves as a member of the board, bringing a wealth of expertise rooted in student success, mentoring, and grant writing. With a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, her professional background is dedicated to advocating for students and empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling, and successful lives. Throughout her career, she has established a strong track record of leadership in academic program development and securing vital funding to support educational initiatives. Personally, Lydia loves to travel, explore new cultures and discover unique dining experiences.

We’re thrilled to have Lydia on our board, where her passion for helping others succeed and her proven leadership strengthens our mission of building a more connected and engaged community.

07/27/2026

Meet TJ Bittick, Co-Chair of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives.

TJ Bittick brings more than 25 years of experience helping employees and leaders grow through professional development, workplace learning, and organizational communication. Most recently, she served as Senior HR Manager for Professional Development and Communications at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), where she helped employees and leaders build practical skills, navigate change, and grow in their roles.

TJ’s strengths include strategic planning, program development, communication, and leadership coaching. Her recent professional accomplishments include completing a leadership coaching certificate through Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders and establishing SHSU’s Texas Rising and Inspiring Leaders (T.R.A.I.L.) leadership certification program. She is currently working toward the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

TJ is drawn to The Volunteer Collaboration’s mission because she believes people in crisis need clear, reliable access to help without having to search through disconnected or outdated information. She holds both a BA and MA in English with a minor in Communication. Her family’s Bearkat ties run deep, with all four members of her family having either worked at SHSU or graduated from Sam.

We are grateful for the extensive experience and expertise TJ brings to our organization and appreciate her passion for our mission.

07/24/2026

Caroline McSpadden is originally from Huntsville and attended school in Huntsville through the 11th grade when her family relocated. (While her diploma was awarded by a different school, she will always identify as a Huntsville Hornet.)

Caroline is a CPA and a graduate of Texas A&M University. She currently leads part of the finance team for a large industrial distribution company. She spent 14 years in public accounting where a significant part of her practice was in the non-profit sector. She brings over 30 years of experience in financial oversight, governance and strategic planning. She is excited to be able to give back to the community that gave so much to her.

Caroline is married with three children and resides in the DFW area. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading and cooking.

We are thrilled to have Caroline on our board because her deep financial expertise, nonprofit experience, and lifelong connection to Huntsville bring invaluable insight as we work together to strengthen the organizations and volunteers that make our community home.

07/22/2026

Meet Laura Howey, Vice President

Laura is a technology and operations leader with over 15 years of experience supporting business-critical systems in the financial services industry. She specializes in process improvement, automation, and bridging the gap between technical systems and day-to-day operations.

She brings strengths in strategic problem-solving, systems design, and organizational efficiency. Laura grew up in Huntsville and is a graduate of Huntsville High School and Sam Houston State University. After many years in Houston, she recently returned to the community and is passionate about strengthening local connections and expanding access to volunteer opportunities.

Outside of her professional work, Laura enjoys gardening, singing, and spending time with her pets.

We are fortunate to have Laura on our board, where her leadership, strategic thinking, and dedication to serving our community help strengthen our mission.

07/21/2026

Check back here starting Wednesday to meet our board members!

07/17/2026

Our next Founding Nonprofit Partner is Tomorrow's Promise Montessori Schools. Driven by Christian values and a commitment to quality, Tomorrow’s Promise provides an environment with core values that help your child thrive. From nursery school, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, elementary, before/after school and summer programs, Tomorrow’s Promise is the best place for children to learn, grow and discover the exciting world around them.

Partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Tomorrow’s Promise spreads the love of reading by gifting age-appropriate books to our community’s children – 1,000 each month, bringing the magic of story time to life.

The Volunteer Collaboration looks forward to partnering with Tomorrow’s Promise and