President’s Message
How quickly a year can pass in our life. I feel
practical at more formal meetings. I love the coffee chat and especially the camaraderie discussion, particularly since we were all experiencing a global shutdown due to the pandemic. The timing of this event could not have been more perfect and the coffee chat became a comfort relief for all of us participating in it. I look forward to seeing how this event will evolve into something even bigger. And no, it is not going to evolve into a “Weekend at Bernie’s”. That is an inside joke for those of us that have participated in the chat session.
as though I was inaugurated as President of the AIBD just a few days ago. Time flies when you are having fun or as Alexander Pope quoted “swift fly the years”. I have truly had some of the best of times during my first year as AIBD President. Having the responsibilities of serving the AIBD Presidential office has helped me steer through an unprecedented pandemic keeping me focused, positive, and goal orientated. I am looking forward to this year as your AIBD President and knowing how fast time flies I plan to make every day count over the next 12 months. I have had the privilege with working with a fantastic AIBD Board over the past 12 months. My job really A big part of my goal as President was to becomes easy when people work together for implement transparency of AIBD’s best practices. a common goal, with a great attitude, and the This was accomplished right away as the AIBD staff mindset to be serviceable to AIBD membership. helped me set up a virtual monthly informal coffee We, the AIBD Board, are volunteer members who chat titled “Coffee with Bernie”. Credit goes to have the pleasure and honor to work for you, the our Executive Director, Steven Mickley for coming AIBD members. Many thanks to our Internal Vice up with the title. The coffee chat began before I President Benjamin Tabolt, External Vice President became President. The goal of the coffee chat was Yu Ngok-Lo, Treasurer Lisa Schaffer, College of to create an informal chat session that allowed Fellows Chancellor Jim Wright, NCBDC President AIBD members to share their experiences as AIBD Kimberly Mockert, Past-President Karen Kassikmembers. I’d like to think it has become very Michelsohn, Directors Michael Battaglia, Ted Hake, successful for all of us, enabling us to create that Felicia Foster, Keith Zoni and Michael Payne. This transparent discussion that sometimes is not always Board has been relentless and achieved many goals
04 - AIBD magazine
