Gayla Hess has always valued the Red Cross mission, but a health scare a couple of years ago really drove that impact home.

“I was very anemic, and a blood transfusion was something I was told that I might need,” Gayla said. “While I did not need it at the time, I began to think of all the people that regularly help others by donating blood, and how the Red Cross helps those in dire situations.”

At the Montana Red Cross annual meeting earlier this summer, Gayla, who lives in Anaconda, Mont., was recognized as the winner of the Montana Biomedical Excellence Award. Gayla joined the Red Cross Blood Services team in 2024 and serves as a member of the onboarding and training team. In this critical role, she onboards and trains new volunteers.

“I’m continually impressed with the folks who spend their time volunteering with the Red Cross,” she said. “I’ve spoken to young students, retirees, folks with service requirements, folks in-between positions with spare time. And across the board, people talk of wanting to be more a part of their communities, do good and to connect with others even if it means commuting to a nearby town. It’s wonderful to hear their stories and see how much passion and talent we have in our region.”

Gayla has incredible insight and judgment about what makes a good, quality volunteer. She is easy to work with and has been a bright spot on the onboarding and training team.

“I help schedule a time for incoming volunteers to shadow an experienced volunteer for their first time at a blood drive,” she said. “Recently, I’ve been reaching out to volunteers who I interviewed last year to help train the new volunteers. It’s so nice to see familiar names, know that they’re accomplishing their goals, and to hear how they are doing. I’m proud to help others succeed in making positive impacts in their communities.”