Brian Bergner joins the VVS staff as director of development and communications

The latest news – Verde Valley Sanctuary is pleased to announce that Brian Bergner has joined the agency as the new Director of Development and Communications. Bergner worked for three years in development for Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters before joining the agency in September.

Bergner, a 2001 graduate of Sedona Red Rock High School, will manage donor relations, corporate donors and public relations for VVS, among other duties. He spent his time at YBBBS working with donors, building business relationships, marketing, content management systems and event logistics where he helped bring back popular events such as the Bowl for Kids Sake, the annual gala and golf tournament after a two-year hiatus due to to covid-19. He also built relationships in the community through his volunteer work, spending time with the local Kiwanis group and chambers of commerce, being a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and coaching youth basketball at the local YMCA.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Brian join the leadership team at Verde Valley Sanctuary,” said VVS Executive Director Jessye Johnson. “We are facing an exciting time of growth and Brian brings the perfect balance of curiosity and excitement to the role with his experience and team-oriented approach.”

Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, the award-winning multimedia journalist covered news, professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. After playing NCAA Division III college basketball for Concordia University Wisconsin, Bergner transferred to Northern Arizona University where he worked out of the media relations office in the athletic department and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations in 2006. He joined Larson Newspapers in 2007 as sports reporter, who covered the Verde Valley for the Sedona Red Rock News, Cottonwood Journal Extra and Camp Verde Journal. He was a two-sport letterwinner in football and basketball at SRRHS from 1997-2001, and coached basketball, baseball and softball for the school from 2004-2012.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Brian to the Verde Valley Sanctuary team,” said VVS Board Chairman David Hanke. “His breadth of experience is exactly what the organization needed at this exciting time of growth. We look forward to his contributions in support of our mission.”

The Milwaukee, Wis., native took a job with the Associated Press in Phoenix covering college football and basketball, but eventually made his way back to northern Arizona in 2015 where he took a job in Prescott at The Daily Courier as a sportswriter. Bergner, who is married with three children, worked his way up to sports editor and news/sports editor at the publication and eventually became editor of The Verde Independent before joining YBBBS in late 2021.

“I am excited to join Verde Valley Sanctuary. It was the next step in my nonprofit career to become Director of Development, and with my experience in media, it is very exciting to have the dual role of Director of Communications,” said Bergner. “I have a tremendous respect for all that this agency has accomplished over the past 30 years serving the community as the only domestic violence shelter in the Verde Valley. My three years with Big Brothers Big Sisters taught me so much about fundraising and how to support a nonprofit agency through funding and marketing that I look forward to my next challenge.”

“I thank everyone who has been a part of my journey along the way, from the news organizations I’ve worked for, and of course Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Bergner added.

If you are interested in donating or contributing to the Verde Valley Sanctuary, please contact Bergner by phone at 928-821-9409, or email him at brian@verdevalleysanctuary.org.

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Verde Valley Sanctuary’s mission is to provide safety, services and comfort to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The agency started in 1994 as a grassroots organization with a rented modular home that slept six and has grown to a 32-bed shelter with transitional housing options, a lay legal center, community-based advocacy support, a 24/7/365 crisis. hotline (928-634-2511) and a staff that prides itself on its training in youth violence prevention and public outreach and awareness. VVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and eligible charity for the Arizona Tax Credit. Federal Tax ID: #86-071314; QCO Code: #20041. Visit VerdeValleySanctuary.org for more information.