There’s no doubt about it: Mandy Billings and the American Red Cross were made for each other. Even before she became a regional development coordinator in 2019, Mandy and the Red Cross paths crossed several times. She served as a volunteer during Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey. And while Billings was under consideration for employment with the Red Cross, its staff and volunteers came to the aid of her neighbors when a fire broke out in the apartment complex where she lives.

              “Seeing the Red Cross. Show up and help my neighbors,” Mandy said. “It really affirmed that, yeah, that’s where I want to be.”

              There is one other notable intersection in this symbiotic relationship: Mandy is credited with saving of the life of a young boy by using hands-only CPR she learned during a Red Cross staff retreat.

              “It’s always been my dream to work for a nonprofit organization, particularly the Red Cross,” Billings said. “I just wanted to be in an organization where I could actually help people.”

              Mandy came to the Red Cross with over 20 years of management, customer service, operations and event-planning experience. In her role as lead development specialist, Billings manages quality control over the region’s fundraising data processing and also provides the region’s chief development officer with reports that aid in the fundraising process.  Prior to the Red Cross, she worked as a full-time business owner running a boutique, which she still does to this day, and as production manager for the Shephard School of Music at Rice University.