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Volunteer Focus: Leading by Example Through Volunteering

Throughout National Volunteer Month we’re highlighting employees and the volunteer work they do in and around their community. In this post, meet Katherine Shinski and learn about her work in the community and her role as an impact leader coordinating volunteer opportunities throughout the year for employees in our Centreville Office.

Q: Katherine, let’s start by talking about your role at Delmarva Power?

A: I am in my fifth year with Delmarva Power. I currently work in the Centreville Engineering Office as a service associate. I recently completed an associate degree in Applied Science and Technology in Electric Technology and hope to become a field engineer in the future.

Q: I also understand you are an impact leader. What does that mean?

A: Yes! I also serve as impact leader for the Centreville Office, which gives me the opportunity to head up volunteer events during National Volunteer Month and throughout the year. I also play a key role during the Employee Giving Campaign, our company’s annual campaign to raise funds for various nonprofits and the United Way. I lead fundraisers in our district and help increase employee participation in the campaign.

Q: What sort of events do you help coordinate for Delmarva Power volunteers?

A: Since I’ve been an impact leader, I’ve worked with others across our service area to coordinate opportunities for our employees. We fixed up the cat rooms at the local animal shelter, participated in various 5Ks and Wreaths Across America, and volunteered at the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Mega Adoption Event, just to name a few. 

Q: Where do you personally volunteer your time in the community?

A: I’ve taught ballet through Caroline County Parks and Recreation, and, in the last two years, I’ve been helping at the Tuckahoe Equestrian Center supporting the “Hoof Picks” Youth Group. We recently hosted a big clean up there with lots of Delmarva Power volunteers, which was a huge success!

Q: That’s a lot of volunteering… Anything else?

A: I try to head up different volunteer events for different causes, so I also I help out with Veteran’s Outdoor Fund. We host approximately 10-20 veterans or active duty service members on a yearly goose hunt in January, and this year we are adding a snakehead fishing trip in July. My husband and I have been hosting veterans for about seven years now.

In 2018, Delmarva Power employees volunteered nearly 16,000 hours to help hundreds of organizations throughout Delaware and Maryland. That’s more than 320 employees volunteering a combined total of more than 1,900 work days volunteering to support nearly 460 unique organizations across our service area. These contributions serve as the company’s continued commitment to powering communities and being a good corporate citizen for the areas where its employees live and work.

Visit our Employee Volunteering page to learn more about how we are helping out in your community.