Meet Our Staff

Niila Hebert

Executive Director

MAVA's Executive Director, Niila Hebert, is a long-time MAVA board member and former board chair. She is a passionate and energetic community leader who has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than 15 years. She carries a zest for developing collective strategies to increase community access and equity and she centers her work on being a catalyst for transformative change through collaborative engagement. She also carries a wealth of experience as a DEI trainer, bringing the core values of equity,belonging, and justice into all areas of her work. Niila is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach University, majoring in communications and Black studies. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she holds CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) and CPPM (Certified Professional Project Manager) certifications. Niila currently serves on the boards of Nexus Community Partners, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and Until We Are All Free.

Contact Niila: director@mavanetwork.org

Polly Roach

Program Director

Polly Roach is MAVA’s Program Director, providing support for activities related to the Service Enterprise Initiative and others funded by the Volunteer Generation Fund. Prior to joining the MAVA staff in 2018, Polly served on the MAVA Board of Directors, where she chaired the Strategic Directions Committee and was involved in shaping MAVA initiatives such as the Shifting Environment research. Polly received MAVA’s Mary Wiser Award for Leadership in the Field of Volunteer Resources in 2011. Previously, she worked at the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota (now MENTOR Minnesota) as the Senior Director of Program Services, delivering resources, training and technical assistance to youth mentoring programs to strengthen their efforts to provide young people with high quality, long-lasting relationships. Prior to that position, she directed a one-to-one mentoring program for girls at the YWCA of St. Paul for 16 years. Polly holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota.

Contact Polly: proach@mavanetwork.org or 612-756-8088

Michael Nguyen

Director of Program Strategy

Michael Nguyen has 15 years of experience navigating the partnership opportunities that exist between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He has an extensive background in business development, project management, and organizational behavior projects. He is an analytical and a conceptual thinker who effectively partners with stakeholders to assess opportunities, facilitate strategic decisions, and drive successful executions. Michael’s ability to assess complex situations and identify appropriate solutions highlights his ability to gain meaningful insight and follow up thorough analysis. He is a particularly skilled presenter and group facilitator and who enjoys forging consensus among people with diverging ideas and opinions. Michael has held leadership positions at non-profit organizations including the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) and Ascend NAAMBA Twin Cities. Michael received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hamline University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.

Contact Michael: mnguyen@mavanetwork.org

Anne Morehouse

Project Manager

Anne Morehouse, Project Manager, assists with MAVA’s educational programs to ensure volunteer leaders are trained to maximize organizational success. Anne’s extensive background in business development, marketing support for local commerce and her passionate belief in volunteerism naturally segue to helping leaders strengthen community relationships via MAVA’s unique training offerings. 

Contact Anne: amorehouse@mavanetwork.org

Rissa Nguyen

Communications

Rissa is a Graphic Designer with a BFA from Minnesota State University-Mankato who supports MAVA's mission through creative communication. With a passion for DEI and volunteerism, Rissa maintains the organization's website, manages social media channels, and designs engaging graphics to enhance outreach and promote MAVA's mission.

Contact Rissa: rnguyen@mavanetwork.org