How did you get started in your field?
This was actually my first career job out of college. While I didn’t have association experience, my boss, Bill Roachell, took a chance on me because I had a certain set of skills that would help grow our organization. He was willing to teach me in the areas I was not experienced in, and it’s because of him that I had the chance to thrive in the association world.
What do you love best about what you do?
I love that every day is different and I have my hand in a dozen aspects of our association. We all wear many hats, and it keeps things interesting. Plus, I love helping people find the resources they need and cultivating meaningful relationships.
Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of?
Coordinating the youth programs we offer to teach kids about the construction industry is what I’m most proud of. It allows our members to showcase their skills and the type of work they do while also shedding light on fantastic career opportunities for young people and their families. It’s taken a lot of time and communication to create relationships with local families and a lot of coordination with our dedicated members to make this happen, and the feedback we’ve received has made it all worth it.
What obstacles have you had to overcome?
In a nonprofit, everyone has a lot on their plate, and as our organization has grown, so have our to-do lists. Sometimes it’s hard to accomplish all we need to in the time we have to do it. Our motto is, “Somehow it will all get done.” We work together, play to our strengths, and 99 percent of the time, we are proud of the results.
