Russell Snyder was President and CEO of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas for 16 years beginning in 2009. Today, he functions as Senior Advisor of Housing Development and Real Estate.

Since Snyder’s arrival at VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas, the organization has grown from $21 million – $55 million in total revenue through program and service expansion. In 2012, he led the adaptive re-use development of an old warehouse in Baltimore into a community corrections facility that is currently serving over 650 returning citizens to the community annually. Snyder successfully acquired eight properties that same year in the District of Columbia that serve as permanent supportive housing for over 45 adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. 

Under Snyder’s leadership, the organization completed and opened a 92-unit veteran preferred permanent supportive housing program in 2019 Baltimore, MD. Previously known as VOA Chesapeake, the organization merged on July 1, 2019 with VOA Carolinas to become VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas. As the lead minister, Snyder has grown the VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas ministry in the communities where to organization serves. Snyder also serves on the VOA National Board of Directors and several local and regional non-profit Board of Directors.

Snyder is married to his wife Karen and has two daughters, three granddaughters, one grandson, and two son-in-laws. Besides being a devoted family man, Snyder spends has spent weekends as an avid mountain biker for over 30 years and spent several years racing the Mid Atlantic events. He has traveled to Russia, Central America and various locations in Appalachia as a missionary. Prison ministry has also been a passion of his. As an ordained VOA minister, Snyder has spent over 15 years visiting prisons and ministering to inmates. Finally, Snyder was a collegiate athlete, playing football for the University of Delaware from 1980- 1984 and participated in the 1982 NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship Game called the Pioneer Bowl.