Professional Development
My entry into association management was actually a career change. I started my first position in association management after having a successful career in retail management. The company I was working for went out of business, and as much as I loved my retail career, I wanted something with a better work/life balance.
A friend of mine told me about a position open at their company – an association. I interviewed and didn’t get that job but was called back for a different opening they had and was hired.
It was my first time working in association management. Lucky for me, this association was a Forum Plus member of Association Forum; I distinctly remember how scheduling my Association 101 session at Association Forum was part of my onboarding experience. Off I went, and that is where key best practices like what it means to be a member driven organization were engrained in my memory and not forgotten since. Ever since that day, I have always positioned myself as a representative of my association’s members and evaluated decision making and strategic planning from their perspective.
That same year, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Institute for Organization Management program. It is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation designed for both chamber of commerce and association management professionals. With courses on topics such as advocacy, media training, membership, finance, legal issues, human resources, and much more, Institute ultimately educates participants on all facets of running a nonprofit organization.
I felt it was a big commitment to consider; the program is scheduled over a five-day period over the course of four years. So, I would be adding a week of travel, in addition to my other travel commitments, over four years until I could complete the program and receive the IOM completion recognition as well as 96 hours of education that could be submitted for the CAE exam. I spoke with some colleagues who shared differing thoughts on the experience; one even declining it after completing their first session. However, to be honest, I really did not feel that I had the privilege to decline such an investment in me and opportunity for professional development by my employer. I eagerly accepted the opportunity and am glad that I did.
Over the next four years, at the end of May, I would travel to Madison, WI and attend the week-long courses with other chamber and association management professionals from the Midwest and other parts of the country. Every year, we were happy to see each other again and get closer to completing the program. I learned a lot through the courses, the instructors and from my peers. It is an experience I am grateful to have had; I was certainly able to apply much of the knowledge that I gained, and my career grew from the experience. It also provided me with a lasting connection to the program as there are a host of opportunities for alumni to volunteer in future sessions.
Professional development opportunities come with a great level of commitment and some sacrifice too – time is probably the most important factor to weigh and leverage when deciding what professional development opportunities to pursue. However, if you are given an opportunity to take a course or apply for a program, I firmly believe you should take it. I have not stopped learning since I started my career in association management. For me, there are still many opportunities to explore, and that will be my focus in 2021.
One of the greatest benefits of professional development training is access and exposure to subject matter experts and leaders in the industry. I have met people that have helped me meet and overcome the challenges of my work and have been a resource when needed. I’d like to share with you the work of Bob Harris, CAE, one of the instructors at Institute for Organizational Management. Bob teaches the Governance courses at Institute. I started IOM in my first year of working in association management; my job was in the education department; working with instructors so I did not have a lot of familiarity with governance at the time, but governance is a cornerstone of association management, so I was so grateful to have this experience; I learned a lot about good governance that I applied to my job in ways that it made sense in the work that I was doing at the time. That is another great aspect of training, even if something does not directly apply to the work that you are doing today – it may be directly related to something you will do in the future. In addition to being an expert in governance, Bob has a free Board Orientation Workbook as well as many other free resources on his website. Whether you are just starting your career or are well established, I always find it helpful to look at a sample or template when developing my own resources. Bob provides a wealth of information and is a well-regarded consultant and trainer. Remember, professional development is not only limited to learning in the classroom but making connections with people that can help guide you throughout your career.
I am grateful for the various professional development opportunities I have been afforded by my employers throughout the years – whether it was a one-hour webinar, attending an annual conference or a 96-hour program like Institute for Organization Management. Every opportunity has given me the ability to improve upon my skills and expertise. In the weeks to come, you will hear from more Association Latinos members on their experience with a variety of different professional development programs. This series is an opportunity to share the different types of opportunities available and the impact it can have on your career.
It is also important to note that many organizations may have a pause on funding for professional development due to the economic impact of the global pandemic. If that is the case, now is a good time to research different programs to identify one that would be the best fit for you.
Many programs offer scholarships as well; Institute for Organization Management has a scholarship program. If you are thinking about getting a designation such as the Certified Association Executive there may be a list of requirements that may take some time to put together or a series of essays that will require some preparation to complete; use this time to make sure you have everything in order so that you are ready to go once professional development budgets come back into the fold.
