September, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – LaDawn Stoddard of Salt Lake City, a gubernatorial appointee who directs the UServeUtah Commission, was announced as the 2019 Outstanding Commission Executive Director of the year last night at a reception held in the Washington, DC area. The award was presented to Stoddard by America’s Service Commissions (ASC) at the association’s annual Innovation and Leadership Awards event as one of nine national awardees.
The awards program is held each year to recognize the leadership and accomplishments of state service commissions and their commissioners, staff, service programs, and legislative champions from across the United States and its territories.
Stoddard is the Director of UServeUtah, the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism. With a degree in business management and an extensive background in finance, she began working for the commission in 2004 as the Grants Officer and then went on to fill the role of Development Director, working not only with AmeriCorps State Programs, but also Citizen Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, Youth Service, and other service initiatives within the commission. In 2007, Stoddard became Utah’s National Service program manager, working closely with numerous community organizations across the state, and in 2012 was named Director of UServeUtah. Early in her career, she owned and managed a small business which allowed her to work closely within her community; she has also served on numerous boards and volunteer committees at both the national and local level and has been personally engaged in volunteering from a very young age. This has allowed for development of a unique perspective into both the public, private and nonprofit sectors that has served her well in her current position. Due to her continued passion for innovative strategies to get things done, Stoddard now serves as Chair of the America’s Service Commissions Board of Directors.
“Throughout my time with UServeUtah, LaDawn has been a generous and supportive mentor,” said Jacob Johnson, UServeUtah’s Community Engagement Program Manager. “She’s celebrated my successes, answered my questions, and gently corrected my mistakes. Her foresight and knowledge has led our commission to be on the cutting edge of volunteerism. LaDawn has been a great asset to the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism, and we look forward to many more years of her leadership.”
“We’re thrilled to recognize LaDawn Stoddard as this year’s Outstanding Commission Executive Director,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of America’s Service Commissions. “She has given so much of her time and talents to the state service network over the years, and it’s been a privilege to watch her leadership journey unfold. Her hard work and dedication have benefitted not only Utah, but set an example nationwide for the greater AmeriCorps and state service network for what an outstanding leader can achieve.”
2019 ASC Innovation & Leadership Award Recipients:
Friend of America’s Service Commissions: Congressman Tom Cole (Oklahoma)
Friend of America’s Service Commissions: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (Connecticut)
State Service Leadership Award: Governor Larry Hogan (Maryland)
ASC Honor Roll: Robert Shogren (Arizona)
Outstanding Commissioner: Mary Grace Landrum (Texas)
Outstanding Commission Executive Director: LaDawn Stoddard (Utah)
Outstanding Commission Staff: Stacey Scherschligt (Minnesota)
Outstanding Service Program: Metropolitan Ministries (Florida)
Outstanding Service Program Staff: Bridget Talebi (Washington)
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About America’s Service Commissions
America’s Service Commissions (ASC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing and promoting the 52 state service commissions across the United States and territories with the mission to lead and elevate the state service network. State service commissions are governor-appointed public agencies or nonprofit organizations made up of more than 1,000 commissioners, private citizens leading the nation’s service movement and administering 80 percent of the federal AmeriCorps funds to address pressing community needs. Learn more at statecommissions.org.