National Advisory Team

The national Advisory Team which supports the Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award program collectively brings decades of experience understanding the value of public service volunteers to the communities they serve. This impressive group of leaders has and will continue to provide input on the execution of the program and the recognition of deserving winners of the award.

Patrice Frey President & CEO Main Street America

Patrice Frey is President and CEO of Main Street America, where she oversees the Center’s work, offering technical assistance, research, advocacy, and education and training opportunities for Main Street’s network of approximately 1,800 members. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the Main Street America is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and has participated in the renewal of more than 2,000 older commercial districts during its 30- year history. Before joining Main Street America in May 2013, Patrice serviced as the Director of Sustainability at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where she oversaw the National Trust’s efforts to promote the reuse and greening of older and historic buildings.

Before joining the National Trust, Patrice worked for several years in the field of community development and urban research. She is a graduate of the University of 's program in historic preservation, where she received a master's degree in preservation planning and a certificate in real estate design and development through the Penn School of Design and Wharton Business School.

Steve Hirsch, Board Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council

Steve Hirsch is training officer for Sheridan County Fire District # 1, Thomas County Fire District #4, and Grinnell Fire Department, all of which are 100% volunteer fire departments. Steve is the chair and Kansas director on the National Volunteer Fire Council and is currently first vice chair of the Kansas State Firefighters Association after serving as secretary from 2000-2018. His father started a rural fire district in north central Kansas in 1963, the year after he was born, so he grew up in the fire service.

Steve is also the county attorney in Decatur County in northwest Kansas. He has a private law practice and serves as city attorney for 18 cities in Norton, Phillips, Graham, Mitchell, Rawlins, Decatur, Sheridan, Thomas, and Gove counties. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and Washburn School of Law. Natalye Paquin, President & CEO, Points of Light

Natalye Paquin is the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light. She is a visionary and results-oriented leader with a strong track record of performance and transformation in turnaround and high-paced organizations. Prior to joining Points of Light in 2017, Natalye served as chief transformation officer at Girl Scouts of the USA, where she was responsible for strategy integration and was the key face and spokesperson for aligning and unifying the Girl Scouts federation of 112 councils around the strategy. Natalye also served five years as chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the state’s largest girl-serving organization and among the largest Girl Scouts councils in the nation.

She began her career in the nonprofit sector as chief operating officer of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, after having been a volunteer, helping the center think through its education and new audience development programs. Ms. Paquin earned a juris doctor from DePaul University College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University.

David Sanko, Executive Director, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors • Former President, National Association of Towns and Townships

David Sanko is the executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), near Harrisburg, PA. Sanko has held this position since January 2010. From January 2005 through December 2009, Dave was the chief operating officer for Bucks County in southeast Pennsylvania. From 2003 through the beginning of 2005, he was a member of Pennsylvania Governor ’s cabinet as the director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). Dave successfully directed Pennsylvania's emergency response and recovery operations through multiple Presidential declared disasters, including the floods of Hurricane Ivan. Prior to his directorship at PEMA, he was chief of staff for Governor during both Schweiker's governorship and lieutenant governorship. Prior public service includes Deputy Auditor General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1992– 1994 and Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Leader 1982–83. Dave is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University.

Brian Namey, Chief Public Affairs Officer, National Association of Counties

Brian Namey is the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the National Association of Counties since 2015. Prior to that he served as the Association’s Director of Communications. Before joining NACo, Brian worked as an independent communications consultant, served as the Communications Director for the National Network to End Domestic Violence (2009-2011) and as Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee (2004-2009).

Mr. Namey earned his MSc from the University of Oxford and his BA from Carnegie Mellon University.