I am an association executive. As a child, did I think to myself -- gosh! I'm going to be an association executive when I grow up! Actually, no, but I could have.
Even as a young child, I used to play a game at parties given by my father for his college students; I would go through the party and try to learn the names of all of our guests. I would tell them that when I grew up, I would be a writer and a psychologist. (My godmother is a psychologist.) Later on, when I was myself of college-age, I would go through Latvian events and introduce myself to everyone there. Unknowingly, I was gaining a skill that I would need to be an association executive -- namely, the ability to learn a lot of people's names and be out there pressing the flesh. This skill helps the association members know a contact person, someone they can reach out to if they have a question or a need.
When I was studying for my Master's degree in Human Resource Development at George Washington, I believed that what I was studying would help me in my job at the Peace Corps at that time. I followed the sage advice of my supervisor at the time, Azzedine Downes, who let me know that any future steps up in my career would be enhanced by the Master's Degree. He was right, of course, but little did I suspect then that it was a road towards being an association executive.
Actually, the job I had at Peace Corps was also a perfect stepping stone to becoming an association executive. As Country Desk Officer, I was responsible for both representing the Volunteers and staff of each country to headquarters, and headquarters to the Volunteers and staff. As an association executive, I represent the office to our members, but also represent the members to the office and Board!
I cover mostly program aspects of the association world in what I do: education (professional development), membership and communications. I got the experience to take care of the professional development aspect of my job from my education at GW, and my job at Peace Corps being involved in the training of future volunteers. I got experience at supporting members from both Peace Corps, a job at the Poison Control Center, and by being an out-there people person. I stayed true to my childhood goals of writing and now have the chance to write all day long as I communicate my association's vision in messages to our membership!
