In the hustle of professional life, it’s easy to focus solely on career goals and daily responsibilities. But for many, true fulfillment often comes from the impact we make beyond the workplace. This Career Coffee session explores the power of giving back—whether through volunteering, mentoring, community engagement or conservation efforts—and how these experiences can enrich both personal and professional growth.
We discuss how dedicating time to causes we care about can strengthen leadership skills, expand networks and provide a renewed sense of purpose. Attendees will hear inspiring stories from individuals who have integrated service into their lives and gain actionable strategies for finding meaningful opportunities that align with their values.
Watch now to discover how stepping beyond the daily grind can lead to deeper connections, greater resilience and a more balanced, purpose-driven life.
Panelists:
Sarah Bhimani, Strategic Communication Manager, Animal Humane Society
Sarah Bhimani is the Strategic Communications Manager at Animal Humane Society where she leads the organization’s internal communications and PR functions. She has 15 years of experience in internal and external communications and public relations for nonprofit, for-profit and government sectors. She began her professional career as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Sarah has been a PRSA member since 2019, has served on the chapter's DEI Committee since 2022 and was appointed 2024 DEI Committee co-chair. She also volunteers with We Can Ride, a therapeutic horseback riding nonprofit organization.
Kenny Devine, Director, Padilla
Kenny Devine is a Director at Padilla, a full-service communications and marketing agency based in Minneapolis, with nine years of experience in creating and executing communications strategies that connect brands with their relevant audiences. His skill set includes media relations, crisis communications, influencer marketing, media training/coaching, internal communications and digital advertising and marketing. Within the agency, he works and has worked on behalf of brands including Winnebago Industries, Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), Armstrong Ceilings, Midwest Dairy and Ellsworth Creamery.
In a volunteer capacity, Kenny is the Minneapolis leader of Padilla’s “PluggedIn Committee” which plans pro bono projects, sets annual giving and organizes companywide volunteering projects. Outside of his company, Kenny volunteers his time with the following organizations:
- University of Minnesota Regent Candidate Advisory Council, 2024-Present (councilmember)
- BestPrep, 2024-Present (board member)
- Minnesota Public Relations Society of America, 2023-Present (member of the student relations committee, liaison to the University of Minnesota and St. Thomas PRSSA chapters)
- MPLS Regional Chamber, 2021-Present (graduate of Leadership Twin Cities in 2022, starting second year on the Leadership Twin Cities Steering Committee)
Kenny holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management and communications from the University of Minnesota. In his free time, you can find him attending sporting events across the Twin Cities (he's a very big Twins, Vikings and Gopher Football fan), reading, writing, golfing and getting out on one of Minnesota’s fine lakes.
Alora K. Jones, Public Relations Manager, Girl Scouts River Valleys
Alora K. Jones is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit marketing and communications professional with a deep love for the planet, its people, and importantly, puns. Having spent more than a decade leveraging her business degree in support of mission-aligned nonprofits, Alora has experience in branding, integrated marketing campaigns, digital strategy, media relations and event promotions.
Born and raised a proud Minnesotan, Alora loves to share the joy of our region's natural wonders with others. She has volunteered as an outdoor leader with Oakland-based nonprofit Outdoor Afro for many years, served on the board of the Minnesota Children & Nature Connection, and has even trained as a Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer. Outside of work, Alora is a stepmom to one, auntie to nine and dog-mom to one. When she's not pursuing a new story or dreaming up the next idea, Alora likes to spend her free time with family, hiking in the forest with her dog and taking loved ones on epic camping trips.
Paul Omodt, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, Owner and Principal, Omodt & Associates Critical Communications
Paul Omodt is the founder and principal of Omodt & Associates Critical Communications LLC, a full-service communications firm dedicated to helping clients use communications when communications are critical to their success. In his thirty-year career, Paul has worked on some of the Midwest’s biggest communications challenges, from the 35W bridge collapse to the 1998 Northwest pilots’ strike, and from major corporate restructurings to providing crisis counsel to the area’s biggest brands and major events. Paul has provided counsel to the Twin Cities Marathon, NHL All-Star Game, the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the Super Bowl. Additionally, he provides communications counsel and services to a wide variety of local counties, cities, public school districts, private schools and religious institutions. Paul led a volunteer team of communicators during the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis to help bring critical communications to calm the unrest.
Long active in the community, Paul served for a decade as an at-large member of the St. Louis Park City Council. He currently provides communication services to several of the Twin Cities area’s most enduring social and civic institutions. His work with youth-related groups includes a wide variety of schools, camps, sports associations and non-profits. Paul also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches both in the undergraduate Communications and Journalism Department and the Opus School of Business MBA Program.
He holds professional accreditations from the International Association of Business Communicators (ABC), the Public Relations Society of America (APR) and the Global Communications Certification Council (SCMP). His education includes an undergraduate degree (cum laude) from the University of St. Thomas as well as a Master’s of Business Communication degree (cum laude) also from St. Thomas.
Moderator
Leah Kondes, Senior Director, Padilla
Leah Kondes is the volunteer liaison for Minnesota PRSA and a Senior Director at Padilla. She has served on the boards of Minnesota PRSA, Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin, Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (now Artistry) and Resources for Child Caring (now Think Small). She is the Minneapolis local group lead of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and also holds volunteer roles with her church.