actionable results. Another session included how to recruit, select and hire staff for AIA chapters to broaden opportunities and create lasting organizational development. The session provided leaders with insights on how to design and implement an executive search that will attract a diverse talent pool and give all qualified candidates an equal opportunity. Successful member engagement leads to increased retention and renewal rates. Members are looking for value and engagement. The more personalized experiences, the better. The Thursday afternoon general session, titled Together in the Sandbox, was led by Vancouver, WA resident from Martin and Downs Association Consulting Solutions, Ginger Downs, CAE, an Association Management Consultant of 35 years, who gave a great presentation to end the day on chapter management and leadership takeaways. She reviewed the importance of the partnership of staff and leadership. Her Ferris wheel description of members (spokes) and staff (hub) was a way to identify that you can’t do one without the other. She noted the board should focus on three primary roles: stewardship, oversight and accountability. Ginger Downs is a recognized realtor association executive and a national speaker and facilitator who regularly conducts leadership and association executive training programs. She chaired many National Association of Realtors (NAR) executive committees and work groups. She also served on key committees, including its executive, finance, strategic planning, communications and diversity committees. Ms. Downs has presented at numerous NAR leadership summits. For more than 10 years, she has presented at the association’s new executive training and was consistently ranked the #1 presenter. She has been a guest speaker at national meetings of the Women’s Counsel of Realtors, the Institute of Real Estate Management and the National Association of Apartments. She was the featured keynote speaker at the Realtor Association Professional Development Directors Summit in 2018. She was an instructor and content developer for the NAR’s L.E.A.D. program. As a partner of Martin & Downs (M & D) Association Consulting Solutions in May 2018, she has provided services and training to over 100 associations, including planning, leadership training, general facilitation, governance reviews, executive search and much more. The Thursday prior to the evening reception, Susan attended the CACE (Council for Architectural Component Executives) meeting to hear about updates from AIA Trust, AIA Member Resources, Lakisha Woods, EVP/CEO, and Kevin Watkins, Membership and Component Engagement. The final day of the AIA Leadership Summit included a final session of chapter management that included topics on civic engagement, component partnership with AIA, leadership development for success and resource development for volunteers and staff. The session attended on citizen architects explored the impact architects can make in creating livable, healthy, sustainable and quality-designed environments in their communities. The panelists shared thoughts on creating a professional culture where civic engagement is valued, the expertise of architects is valued, and chapter members become trusted advisors to elected officials. In closing, the keynote addressed Leadership in Changing Times. Shelia C. Johnson, Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and CEO of Ginger Downs, CAE Shelia C. Johnson Salamander Hotels & Resorts, Entrepreneur and philanthropist, provided the closing session. We heard the personal stories of how Ms. Johnson reimagined and reframed challenges and solutions to become a successful change leader. The Leadership Summit provides great networking opportunities with other practitioners and staff. In conversations with others from Hawaii to Virginia and many states in between, a common discussion revolved around engaging and mentoring young professionals to carry the torch of our profession into the next decades. Our challenge in Wyoming is not unique. Throughout the nation, we are searching for the best strategies for older professionals to catch up with the technology and younger professionals to fully gain experiential knowledge available from those who have gone before them. We thank the board of directors for sending us to Washington, D.C., for the leadership conference and encourage others to attend next year.
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