Message from your President & CEO Barbette Igonia

MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT & CEO

BARBETTE IGONIA, CAE

Once again, the past year has been filled with so many changes and challenges. I am so proud of the way the BCEA family continued to come together and support each other. It is that sense of community that gives me so much hope moving into 2022.

In early 2021, the Board put together a sixmonth strategy to focus on what the BCEA could continue to focus on as the world stayed in lock down. The top priorities are member communication, member engagement, talent attraction and retention, and define the “Why” statement for the BCEA. I am happy to say that our committees have executed on the plan which you will continue to see as the BCEA grows.

The Board and the committees managed to organize both in-person and virtual events. Together, we pulled off our first virtual conference which combined the LINK and THRIVE Summit. We launched our Anti-Racism Action Program that ran throughout the year. This included virtual sessions on key topics as well as assessing members needs and acceptance through surveys and interviews. We will continue to work on providing resources and sessions on key DEI initiatives throughout the year by bringing back our inperson THRIVE Summit in the fall. Of course, it was so great to see so many members out for our holiday and awards luncheon back in December. It brings me so much joy to see our members coming together and raising funds for the flood relief. It definitely hit home that we shine brighter together!

2022 is going to be a year of positive change for the BCEA with new and old initiatives moving forward. For those that attended our year end event, you heard BCEA Chair, Chris Brams, announce our U40 rebrand, AMP (advancing modern professionals) as well as a new award, the Betty Lou Education Bursary. More details will be released in the coming months. You will see the return of the golf and tradeshow later this spring. Plus, both the AMP and Women’s Network are hard at work planning both virtual and in-person events for 2022.

In the first quarter of the year, the Board will be sending out a member needs assessment that will help us develop our next two-year plan. This will not only help us determine the BCEA’s value proposition, but it will help us help you! We want to do our part in keeping this industry healthy and thriving far into the future.

It will take a lot of hard work and planning. I am fortunate to serve with a great group of board members, staff, advisors, and volunteers that will make these plans come to fruition. We can’t do it without all of you!

As we toast in the new year, I can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store. n