Francis Volkmuth
Bloomington,IL
Summary
Mission-driven professional with a B.S. in Business Management, complemented by a strong academic foundation in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Over five years of experience in leading teams, managing safety and logistics, and effectively communicating with diverse audiences in high-stakes environments. Demonstrated expertise in building programs from the ground up, managing risk, and inspiring others through clear communication, creativity, and integrity. Committed to fostering a collaborative atmosphere that drives operational excellence and enhances team performance.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Catholic Missionary
Damascus Catholic Mission Campus
06.2024 - 12.2025
- Served as a full-time Catholic missionary in a dynamic camp and retreat environment, taking on multiple leadership, media, and care-focused roles.
- Camp Counselor: Walked closely with over 150 middle and high school campers through mentorship, supervision, and daily engagement. Contributed to programming that collectively served more than 20,000 campers during my time, ensuring safety, personal growth, and positive group dynamics.
- Medical Assistant / First Responder: Served as frontline medical support for campers and staff, providing immediate assessment, first aid, triage, and emergency response until higher-level care was available. CPR and First Aid trained. Documented incidents, coordinated with leadership and EMS when necessary, and made high-stakes judgment calls in the best interest of the individual and overall camp safety while maintaining confidentiality and safety standards.
- Main Stage Speaker: Delivered 30-minute main stage messages to middle school audiences, communicating in a clear, fun, and engaging way. Shared and preached messages affirming that students are loved, cared for, and created to do great things, fostering attention, participation, and meaningful impact.
- Videographer & Photographer: Captured high-quality visual content for marketing, storytelling, and archival use, producing over 15,000 photographs and more than 50 hours of video footage within a 9-week period. Worked extensively with Sony A7S III cameras and a wide variety of lenses, including automatic, manual, and anamorphic lenses.
- Video Editor: Proficient in Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite. Edited and produced high-quality promotional and recap videos for weekly audiences of approximately 500 people, supporting ongoing programming, communication, and engagement.
Sales Associate
Dick’s Sporting Goods
09.2023 - 05.2024
- Assisted customers with product selection, fitting, and technical questions across sporting goods categories.
- Provided high-quality customer service in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Supported inventory management, merchandising standards, and loss prevention.
- Collaborated with team members to meet sales goals and maintain store organization.
- Provided positive first impressions to welcome existing, new, and potential customers.
- Maintained calm demeanor and professionally managed issues in busy, high-stress situations.
- Solved customer challenges by offering relevant products and services.
- Answered customer questions about sizing, accessories, and merchandise care.
Activities & Safety Director
Damascus Catholic Mission Campus (Michigan Satellite Campus)
09.2022 - 08.2023
- Managed safety, risk, and liability operations for a developing campus. Hands-on trained and certified as an LGI (Lifeguard Instructor), High Adventure Coordinator, and Signature Ropes Course Instructor.
- Led and supervised a team of 16 staff members across multiple departments, balancing day-to-day leadership with the broader operational picture. Regularly collaborated with other directors and teams to align safety, programming, and logistics with overall campus goals.
- Developed and enforced safety policies and procedures in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and site-specific requirements to ensure compliance and participant safety.
- Oversaw construction and infrastructure projects, including adventure elements and sports facilities.
- Played a key role in launching and building a satellite campus from the ground up, including extensive pre-operational preparation such as planning, training, safety readiness, and coordination leading up to full campus operations.
- Used benchmarks like units built per injury and contract amounts per injury to assess program success.
- Helped to build culture of safety focused on reducing incidents and eliminating hazards.
Aquatics Manager
University of St. Thomas
09.2020 - 09.2022
- Implemented and maintained safety standards and deployed first aid, CPR, and other emergency management services.
- Monitored pH, chlorine, alkalinity, and water hardness and took steps to maintain pool at optimal levels.
- Collaborated with cross-functional staff to enrich aquatic programs by coordinating schedule with general program operations.
- Conducted in-service training, meetings, and conferences to share ideas and plan aquatic programs for a team of 45 individuals.
- Tracked, organized, and cleaned pool equipment and restocked or replaced inventory to keep pool in good working condition.
- Supervised aquatic staff and administered performance evaluations to communicate expectations .
- Coordinated supply orders, storage and distribution for program.
- Assigned schedules and specific tasks to workers for optimal coverage.
- Trained workers in service policies, safety requirements and specifics of activities.
Chief Relations Manager
Straight River Farms
05.2016 - 05.2020
- Managed customer relations through in-person and via phone for our daily clientele of around 500 per day.
- Supervised a team of 5 employees, providing training and daily direction.
- Ensured customer satisfaction through problem-solving and clear communication.
- Gained comprehensive insight into operational workflows and service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management, Chemistry, Biology, Physics
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH05.2024
Skills
- Leadership & Team Management
- Public Speaking & Communication
- Safety, Risk, & Policy Management
- Project Planning & Execution
- Media Production (Video, Photo, Editing)
- Data-Informed Decision Making
- Customer Relations & Service
- Chemistry, Biology, & Physics Foundations
- Educational leadership
- Infrastructure development
- Evangelism experience
- Individual counseling skills
Certification
- EHS - Environmental Health and Safety Professional
- CPR/First Aid Trained
- LGI Certification
- High Adventure Trainer Certified
- Diabetic/EMS trained
Languages
American Sign Language
Native or Bilingual
English
Native or Bilingual
Italian
Professional Working
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Catholic Missionary
Damascus Catholic Mission Campus
06.2024 - 12.2025
Sales Associate
Dick’s Sporting Goods
09.2023 - 05.2024
Activities & Safety Director
Damascus Catholic Mission Campus (Michigan Satellite Campus)
09.2022 - 08.2023
Aquatics Manager
University of St. Thomas
09.2020 - 09.2022
Chief Relations Manager
Straight River Farms
05.2016 - 05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Business Management, Chemistry, Biology, Physics
Franciscan University of Steubenville