Tracy Lunsford, a Senior Scientist based in Eugene, Oregon has been selected as the 2024 Parametrix Volunteer of the Year by the Parametrix Volunteer Committee and Enterprise Leadership Team. Over the last year, she volunteered over 500 hours with Business Diversity Institute, a non-profit committed to empowering small and diverse businesses through education and collaboration.
Congratulations on being named the 2024 Parametrix Volunteer of the Year! Which organization will you be donating the prize to and why is that organization important to you?
Thank you for the congratulations! I will be donating the prize to the Business Diversity Institute (BDI), where I spend my time volunteering. BDI is important to me because it helps people thrive in their small businesses. Entrepreneurship can be very fulfilling, but it is also challenging, and I enjoy seeing the success that can come from helping business owners navigate these challenges. I also appreciate that BDI supports those of us working in large private firms and public agencies who want to help small businesses.
Why is volunteering important to you?
Volunteering with BDI is extremely rewarding. I get to work with a very diverse group of creative and talented colleagues on the all-volunteer board of directors. And I enjoy contributing to building a strong community among business owners and professionals on the board and among BDI members. One of BDI’s goals is to bridge barriers between the public and private sector to develop relationships that foster open and honest conversations and resolve issues so that we can work together to support small businesses. I believe that collaboration is essential in creating a more welcoming, just, productive, and prosperous community – and volunteering with BDI is one of the ways that I contribute to building more collaboration.
You volunteered over 500 hours last year with Business Diversity Institute – impressive! Can you tell us about your volunteer work with the organization? How did you get involved?
I have been volunteering with BDI for 8 years now. I first got involved because I got so much professional development and networking out of BDI’s Diversity Practitioners Summit that I wanted to contribute by joining the planning committee. From there I joined the board of directors and soon became Secretary, Vice Chair and then Chair. I served as Chair of BDI for 4 years and helped BDI grow through the COVID-19 pandemic. During my two terms as Chair, we were able to hire our first staff and secure a physical office space. I now serve as Past Chair to support BDI’s continued growth.
How can others help or get involved?
There are lots of ways to get involved with BDI. If you work with small business subcontractors, the Diversity Practitioners Summit provides education that can help you be a better partner to them. You can also let them know about the small business programs that BDI offers. Sign up for the monthly newsletter and check out the events calendar at bdiweb.org. There are various committees that organize BDI’s programs and networking events.
