About this Event
In this session, Gulf Coast Blood will share how they reimagined the donor experience by integrating complimentary health screenings into their outreach strategy, transforming a traditional transaction into a value-driven, wellness-centered journey. By aligning donor motivation with personal health insights, the organization successfully attracted new audiences, reactivated lapsed donors, and resonated more deeply with younger, health-conscious populations.
Attendees will gain an inside look at how this initiative fueled measurable growth across key performance indicators, including increased appointment volume, higher donor return rates, and a significant rise in donor portal adoption and engagement. The session will also explore how positioning blood centers as proactive contributors to community wellness can strengthen trust, relevance, and long-term loyalty.
Beyond the program itself, Gulf Coast Blood will break down the strategic framework behind its success. Learn how targeted messaging, behavioral risk framing, and a coordinated multichannel communication approach—spanning digital, email, SMS, and in-center touchpoints—worked together to elevate awareness, spark curiosity, and drive action.
What You’ll Experience
Whether you're looking to expand your donor base, increase retention, or redefine your organization’s role in the community, this session offers a compelling, data-informed model for turning wellness into a differentiator—and engagement into lasting impact.
Enjoy a delicious lunch, connect with Houston’s leading advertising, marketing and communication professionals, and discover what it takes to move people.
Don’t miss your chance to hear from more of Houston’s changemakers. Spaces are limited. Register today!
Please Note for ticket payment: you can pay by credit/debit card by following the PayPal payment link. You do not need a PayPal account.
Sponsorships Available
If you are interested in being a luncheon sponsor, please contact AAF-Houston at [email protected].
About the Speakers
Kevin Shipley serves as the Associate Vice President of Community Engagement at Gulf Coast Blood, where he oversees Donor Recruitment, Marketing, and the organization’s Customer Experience program. In this role, Kevin is responsible for shaping brand strategy, driving donor engagement, and building a customer-centric experience that prioritizes safety, trust, and long-term donor relationships.
A Baytown native, Kevin began his career in healthcare in 2005, motivated by a passion for community service and a commitment to supporting patients across the Greater Houston Area who depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day. Starting as a blood drive recruiter, he has spent his career leading and scaling donor-focused programs, guiding large, high-performing teams, and supporting the coordination of thousands of blood drives annually to meet the region’s critical blood supply needs.
Kevin has played a key role in developing and advancing Gulf Coast Blood’s marketing and customer experience strategy, aligning operational performance with brand promise and ensuring every donor interaction reflects the organization’s mission. His leadership style blends data-driven decision-making with a people-first mindset, helping foster innovation, consistency, and accountability across teams.
Beyond his role at Gulf Coast Blood, Kevin is actively involved in the broader nonprofit and healthcare community. He serves on industry and nonprofit boards, including the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) and Power Tools for Nonprofits, where he contributes to advancing best practices, leadership development, and organizational excellence across the sector.
Outside of work, he enjoys volunteering at his church, woodworking, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Theresa Pina serves as the Chief Growth Officer at Gulf Coast Blood, where she leads enterprise strategies to expand the donor base, strengthen community engagement, and elevate brand visibility. She oversees organizational growth initiatives and business development and provides executive oversight of the organization’s strategy in Advanced Therapies collections and Operational Innovation, where she supports the advancement of emerging therapeutic capabilities and champions process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and donor‑to‑patient impact.
A native Houstonian and proud University of Houston graduate, Theresa brings more than 30 years of experience in management, operations, marketing, public relations, and donor recruitment. Since joining Gulf Coast Blood in 2005, she has advanced through key leadership roles, and guided teams through transformation and growth. In 2025, she was appointed Chief Growth Officer, a role that leverages her operational insight and strategic vision to position the organization for long‑term impact.
Throughout her tenure, Theresa has led critical organizational initiatives including navigating the complexities of a global pandemic, serving on industry boards, and chairing national committees focused on donor marketing and recruitment strategies. She also completed the America’s Blood Centers’ Executive Fellows Program, a leadership development initiative in partnership with Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
Looking ahead, Theresa remains focused on shaping the future of blood and advanced therapies by embracing innovative recruitment strategies, expanding digital engagement, and cultivating new partnerships. Her leadership helps position Gulf Coast Blood at the forefront of next‑generation therapeutic advancements while supporting a stronger, more diverse donor base for years to come.Outside of her professional work,
Theresa enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her daughters.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Grotto Ristorante, 4715 Westheimer Road, Houston, United States
USD 53.64 to USD 494.37
