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Julie Marks is the Founder and President of Volunteer Management Group. She serves as a project manager on client projects and manages VMG's daily operations, strategic planning, and client relationship management.
Julie has over twelve years experience in workplace volunteerism and philanthropic programming. As a former member of the Charitable Services Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co., she was instrumental in designing, implementing and developing the firm’s employee volunteer program("CommunityTeamWorks"), encompassing 45 offices globally and mobilizing 17,000 volunteers in 1,200 projects annually. After 9/11, she organized 60 projects partnering with the American Red Cross, providing over 600 Goldman Sachs volunteers an opportunity to serve meals to rescue workers at Ground Zero. Julie managed the Goldman Sachs United Way Campaign and the Educational Matching Gifts Program.
In 2000, Julie served as Co-President of Corporate Volunteers of New York (“CVNY”), an organization of corporate volunteer managers from Fortune 500 companies throughout the New York metropolitan area. On behalf of CVNY, she accepted an award from The Points of Light Foundation, recognizing the contributions of CVNY on its 30th Anniversary.
In 2003, Julie established Volunteer Management Group to assist companies and nonprofits in developing meaningful and cost-effective philanthropy and volunteer programs. She served as project manager for CIBC World Markets Miracle Day from 2005 to 2008, and was responsible for distributing more than $20 million to over 500 children's charities throughout the U.S. In 2005, Julie served as project manager for the Merrill Lynch Atlantic Fellowship, a signature initiative providing underserved and promising youth with a young professionals "Introduction to Investment Banking" educational and cultural experience in the US and UK. Julie served as event coordinator for the New York City Share Your Heart Volunteer Fair 2005, providing 60 local NYC nonprofits an opportunity to generate awareness and recruit volunteers through exhibiting at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal.
Julie conceived, developed, directs and teaches many courses in four VMG Certificate Programs: Volunteer Program Management Certificate, Nonprofit Management Certificate, Grant Writing Certicate and Corporate Philanthropy Certificate, all offered online and at Hostos Community College. Julie conceived, coordinates and directs VMG's Volunteer Management for Nonprofits Conference held for the second year on March 26, 2010 at Hostos Community College. Through VMG's Certificate programs and conferences, Julie aims to bring to individuals an exceptionally empowering and motivating educational experience.
Since high school, Julie has had an affinity for Japanese language, culture and cuisine. In 1998, Julie embarked on a life-changing journey when she left the rural Pennsylvania farm where she grew up and traveled to Yokohama, Japan as a Rotary International Exchange student. At this time, English was rarely spoken in Japan and Julie learned to speak Japanese. She returned to the U.S. with the intention to pursue a degree in Japanese and return back to Japan to teach. She received a B.A. in Japanese and a Certificate in East Asian Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in May, 1994. Upon college graduation, Julie returned to Yokohama, Japan as an English instructor in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program("JET Program").
Julie enjoys acting, writing and traveling. In 2003, she completed a Meisner training program at the Ward Studio, NYC and is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists(AFTRA). She enjoys interviewing people and is a contributing columnist for healthnewsdigest.com, where her interviews with Joe Torre and Jerry Pannozzo have been published. Julie has traveled to Greece, Italy, England, Brazil, Costa Rica and Japan. One of her bravest and most exhilarating experiences was handgliding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In September 2007, Julie was diagnosed with
stage I breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and
reconstruction implants and has recently recovered and is resuming *normal*
life. She makes a point of speaking about her experience and raising funds and awareness for breast
cancer. Shortly after completing treatment, Julie spoke to a group of
young professionals as part of a Maurer Foundation presentation at AXA
Financial. Having just one young woman come up to Julie afterwards and say she would get a mammogram made it all worthwhile. Julie participated in and raised
over $3,000 for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in
September 2008.
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