IIDA NEW ENGLAND PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: September 2012
On July 1st I took the helm of IIDA New England and want to share the past, present and future with you in my first President’s Message.
Over the last few years the board has refocused and shifted our direction as a business organization for Interior Designers and the greater Design industry. We have hired IntrinXec Management, Inc to run our day to day chapter business. Their wide array of talent supports our administrative, financial, graphic, website and various other needs under one roof. Sean Schuette is our main contact and I hope you have had the chance to meet or talk with him. I want thank Jeff Tompkins, Past President, for having the stamina, skill and insight to lead the board through this transition. I am personally and professionally honored to have worked so closely with him during this time.
Just days after being sworn in, the new Executive Board gathered for a retreat which allowed the new group to get acquainted, partake in teambuilding exercises, receive a crash course in the business of a nonprofit organization, engage in strategic planning and discuss our 2012 – 2013 goals. Since that day in July, the Executive Board, Board of Directors and Committee Chairs have been busy working with the Fashion Show, Design Awards and Business Leaders Breakfast committees, as well as planning our 2013 chapter event calendar.
At the July board retreat, we discussed how we would continue as a business organization. It was very apparent that the chapter is well known in the design community for our big 3 chapter events and that we have a huge opportunity to continue expanding our mission with smaller, focused events. We realize that you as an Interior Designer, Architect, Dealer or Manufacturer’s Representative, Project Manager, Real Estate Developer, Contractor, Facilities Manager each have a different need based on your years of professional experience, current job description, and future goals. Through smaller events, we can focus on industry trends, building codes and business skills to provide information that you need to be successful. We envision delivering more value in small doses through the Forums series, the Professional Development series, NCIDQ Study Group and additional programs still in development.
When we discuss the future we see great value to being a member of your professional organization – IIDA New England. We realize that everyone’s value is unique; you can attend an event and devote an hour to professional development; join a committee and be part of a group that develops these programs. When you volunteer for a committee, or stand for election to your Board - you make a commitment to not only increase your professional development, but to increasing that of your fellow peers. There is something to be gained from every level of participation in IIDA New England. What value are you looking for?
I invite you to reach out to your Executive Board and share what it is you are looking for from your professional organization. When you reach out to a Board member, please thank them for serving and for the tremendous commitment that they make for our membership and the greater design community. We prefer to think that we are developing New England’s finest here at IIDANE but we need your assistance. On behalf of your Executive Board, I look forward to working with - and for you - throughout this term and hope to see you at an event very soon!
Tracey L Jabs, IIDA, LEED AP
t_jabs@hotmail.com
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