On Monday, I joined the Corporation for National and Community Service as CEO. It's been a great first week on the job.

In just the past few days, CNCS and programs supported by the agency were recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden for improving the lives of veterans and military family members nationwide. President Obama surprised thousands of service members and volunteers when he joined an historic call on the importance of national service.

I walked the halls at CNCS headquarters, met with staff and was so impressed by the outstanding team of professionals at this agency. And I met amazing individuals from all walks of life who want to make a difference by serving others – from an 85 year old retiree here in Washington, D.C., who catches three buses to reach the organization where she volunteers, to a group of young people who traveled from places around the world to learn about service and volunteerism in America.

This week was a validation of what I've experienced first-hand and seen throughout my career: the power and impact of service.

As a volunteer manager at heart, this agency's mission is deeply personal to me. In my new role, I look forward to listening to and learning from you about how we can make service and volunteerism even stronger. And, you should know that the team at CNCS will always be thinking about what we can do next, more or better to ensure that service has the impact our citizens deserve and our nation's challenges demand.