I’ve been an IABC member longer than I can remember. I was fortunate that one of my first jobs out of college offered the membership asa part of the gig! More employers need to do that (and we need to remind them).
Membership has its’ privileges – and for a member in IABC it’s more than the ongoing professional development activities, the annual world conference, and the volunteer opportunities – it’s the lifetime of connections and friendships.
It’s easy to get involved, and stay involved. I should know as I complete my fourth time as the Chicago Chapter President. Don’t be afraid to say, “How can I help?” I’m a firm believer of the concept “you get out of it, what you put into it” – step up and show up.
I enjoy the network of colleagues I have interacted with across the globe over three decades. Some of those shared experiences are the memories that still bring a smile to my face today. This June’s World Conference right here in Chicago is a great opportunity to re-invest in your own network!
The role of the communicator is always changing and it’s important for us to stay ahead of the trend. To dive into it and unravel it in a way that is relevant for our members wherever they work. We hope to continue to do that with the programming we will plan for the fall.
As I transition as chapter president, I am excited to pass the leadership role to Heather Natal to lead the Chicago Chapter for the 2024-2025 program year. I’m proud of our chapter leaders and the great consistency we have in our bench strength to lead the chapter over the next few years. My years of experience in talent management is evident in the dynamics of our board: we are a diverse group of communicators across generations that bring a variety of perspectives to our work as chapter leaders and we are always planning the next thing, even our own board structure.
I volunteer because I have been grateful for the different opportunities made available to me throughout my career. I continue to do this because I know what it was like to experience different starts and stops but, despite where I might be in my career, the chapter, and the colleagues I have met along the way, have remained invaluable and I choose to pay that forward.
Have a great summer, hope we get to see you at the World Conference, and if we do, stop and say hi and don’t hesitate to ask how you can help!