Letter from the President

TWO YEARS AGO, THE PANDEMIC FORCED COMPANIES IN ALL INDUSTRIES TO LEVERAGE DIGITIZATION

By CHRISTY RODRIGUEZ, 2022 HAA President

AND TECHNOLOGY. In just a few months, it brought years of change in the way we do business forever. We now recognize technology’s importance as a critical component of business, but we also know that technology isn’t enough.

We thrive as an industry and as an association by connecting with each other. Connection completes us, nurtures us and gives us a sense of purpose. It’s what fills our hearts with a sense of belonging. The Webster dictionary defines connection as something that joins or connects two or more things. It goes on to say that connection is a situation in which two or more things have the same cause, origin and goal.

Connection was the driving force that led to the establishment of HAA over 60 years ago when a group of Houstonians came together to discuss a city sewer problem, as well as concerns about the rising problem of skips, bad checks and evictions. HAA founders were facing unprecedented circumstances to which their solution was connection. Even today, connection continues to inspire us to keep pushing forward to serve and lead as one voice for an industry that we are all so passionate about.

Connection is one of the many amazing opportunities HAA offers its members and, this year, we’re getting back to the heart of connection – the heart of HAA. I’m writing this column just two weeks after the HAA Installation Gala. It was so amazing to bring the gala back in January this year with a full house. Then, about a week later, the Ambassador ONE Society hosted their February meeting with over 130 people in attendance. That same week, the State of the Industry Breakfast garnered a large crowd despite the cold weather.

We’re on track to continue to offer in-person events for our membership, and so far, people are excited to attend events again and to do business in person again, knowing we can adjust and modify based on what we’ve learned.

The past few years have presented unprecedented challenges on many fronts, but history has taught us that in the face of adversity, we can overcome obstacles together that we once thought were insurmountable. This year, I want to encourage you to leverage HAA, like the HAA founders did over 60 years ago.

There is momentum building, and the more events and connection opportunities we create, the more that momentum continues to build. We're at the crest of greatness, but we must continue to leverage the opportunities, resources and tools that HAA offers.