Association Latinos - Spotlight

Alicia Navarro CMP, MSHTM

Association Forum’s Holiday Showcase 2020 starts next week, Tuesday, December 15th at 6 pm.  This is a signature event that has connected the association community for the last 32 years.  Association Latinos fellow member, Alicia Navarro, CMP served on this year’s Holiday Showcase Program Advisory Group.  Take a minute to get to know her a little better in this Association Latinos Member Profile.  Kudos to Alicia as well on being named one of Association Forum’s Forty under 40 this year! 

Alicia “Alee” Navarro, CMP, MSHTM

Meetings Manager, American Planning Association

How did you decide to pursue a career in association management?

I originally wanted to work in higher education. It wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I considered a career in associations.  My mentor was the first to suggest that I would be an ideal fit in an association or nonprofit.  He envisioned me growing in the environment while using my skills in organization, teamwork, and customer service, as well as my passion for various causes as the basis of a successful career as an association meeting professional.  I had previously volunteered for various organizations and events and it was by chance that I joined the team at my first association.  I was in between jobs when a classmate recommended me for the internship in conference services that started my career in associations.  I continue to be amazed by everything I have learned from everyone I have had the honor to work with.

What do you love most about your work?

Creating and managing events has its own rewards. Seeing something come together after months to years of work is so satisfying. Doing the same work for an association is on another level.  What I love most about my work is the teamwork to make our conferences exactly what our members need.  It is a different feel when you work with member and staff groups to brainstorm and forecast the needs of the attendees, put in the work to create the experiences, and then see it all come together successfully.  You build relationships that last beyond the completion of the event and create lasting memories.

What are the most challenging aspects of your work?

The most challenging aspect of my work is change management.  Our conferences need to keep up with trends and technologies that matter to our attendees, and that means almost constant change.  Most people do not handle change well; some resist it. It is up to us to manage those transitions in a way that is friendly and informative.  Luckily I work with a great team that is open and sometimes even excited to take on the challenges that come with change.  This was even more apparent this year, when APA canceled their National Conference due to the pandemic.  We all jumped at the chance to find a solution to host a virtual conference within a matter of weeks. 

How did you first get involved with Association Forum?

I was a student in graduate school, and I had the opportunity to volunteer at Holiday Showcase, working as a room sitter and assisting presenters during their sessions.  Everyone was so welcoming and eager to help me learn more about a career in associations, I’ve attended every Holiday Showcase since.  Over the years I participated in other Association Forum events and became a member. I’ve been impressed with the growth of the Association Forum’s offerings and decided to begin volunteering. This year I was assigned to the Holiday Showcase Program Advisory Group and I’m looking forward to other opportunities to work with Forum.   

What are you most excited about for this year’s Holiday Showcase?

Over the years I’ve learned to enjoy my time at Holiday Showcase as an opportunity to visit with friends, meet new members of the association world and learn new things. The event is always so fun and festive, and it really sets up the rest of the holiday season.  This year, I’m fortunate enough to be a Forty Under 40 award recipient and a member of the Holiday Showcase Program Advisory Group. I will be taking the opportunity to participate in several education sessions that we worked so hard to select, and looking for others to chat with throughout the event.  2020 has been such a challenging year, but I’m still looking forward to connecting with everyone, even if it isn’t in person.

What would be some of the top benefits of attending Holiday Showcase?

Networking is always a plus.  I’m a strong believer in building professional relationships, you never know when you may need to reach out to someone for advice or a referral.  At my first Holiday Showcase, I met a sales representative for an event technology company, I later became a client and they became a resource for my graduate thesis.  When it was time for me to look for an opportunity at another association, the same sales rep was more than happy to be a reference and helped me find my current position.  Events like Holiday Showcase can be the beginning of, well, anything.

Who is someone that you like to follow that provides you with great resources and information to help you on the job?

It’s difficult to pinpoint just one person that I follow, although I do follow a few people, especially on LinkedIn.  I prefer to think of myself as a network and resource builder. If I attend an event or webinar that I enjoyed, I will likely connect with the speaker, the same is true if the speaker recommends another group.  I like to have access to various opinions and resources.  I’m also a member of several professional organizations, I keep a close eye on their newsletter and message boards and attend as many educational events as I can.  I also have amazing mentors, I can always count on them to chat or point me in the right direction.

-Alicia Navarro, CMP, MSHTM