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Volunteer Spotlight
James Hess
Board President
Can you tell me a little about your position on the board and what your position is responsible for?
I am currently serving as President of the CancerLINC board. In that role, my goals are to help CancerLINC identify strategic opportunities and develop a framework for how to achieve them. I also work to ensure that the board is providing proper support and oversight for the organization so it can continue to grow and achieve its goals.
Why did you become involved in the organization, and what has your involvement looked like over time?
I learned about CancerLINC from a colleague who had served on the board. I went through a personal battle with colon cancer and helped care for my mother as she dealt with an aggressive form of brain cancer that ultimately took her life. As hard as these personal struggles were, I was fortunate to have the support I needed to focus on treatment. The amazing thing about CancerLINC is that it can help cancer patients and their families, especially those without the support, deal with medical, financial, and legal issues that cancer patients often face.
How would you characterize the board’s role in the nonprofit organization?
We help CancerLINC hone in on strategic goals and strive to put the organization in the best position possible to continue to provide valuable services to patients and their families. The board would not pretend to be able to provide those services, but we strive to put the organization in the best position to reach as many clients as possible while staying in good financial and legal standing.
How would you describe the goals of the organization, and how does the organization achieve these goals?
As mentioned above, CancerLINC plays a critical role in helping cancer patients and their families deal with financial, medical, and legal issues. Cancer is difficult enough to deal with if you have support, and no one should have to face it alone.
Do you have a specific goal in mind that you would like to see accomplished for this current fiscal year?
I would like the greater Richmond community to be more aware of CancerLINC and its services. We can do this by always looking to expand our consumer outreach, marketing, and events.
How do you see deepening board member engagement?
The board is full of people who care deeply about the organization. If we can find ways to identify the most critical strategic goals that also resonate with board members, that will lead to ever-increasing board engagement.
What do you do when you are not (volunteering on the board)?
Well, I spend a lot of time working! I am an in-house attorney at CarMax and lead the Edmunds.com legal team. Edmunds is a CarMax subsidiary based in Santa Monica, CA. Being west coast-based means strange hours and lots of remote meetings. Of course, it also means regular travel to Santa Monica. You won’t hear me complaining! When I’m not working, I spend time with my family. My wife and I work from home and spend about 1,000 hours/week shuttling our two kids to and from soccer and swim practice. We also spend a lot of time with our pets. We have a 1-year-old Bernedoodle named Watson and 4 (yes 4) cats!
CancerLINC has volunteer opportunities year round!
If you’re interested in volunteering as a Financial Planner or Attorney, please click here. Want to volunteer at our Administrative Office or at one of our many events, please contact us at 804-562-0371 or complete the volunteer interest form below.