EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Judell Anderson, CAE, AASP-MN Executive Director

Thank You

I can’t believe this day has finally come. After 25 years and nine months as the executive director of AASPMN, I am retiring at the end of the year. What a great run it’s been!

Over the years, it’s been gratifying to hear members share how much they value and appreciate the work of the Alliance. The cherry on top? I’ve found that work to be both challenging and satisfying. One of the things that I loved was the variety of my daily responsibilities. From governance, event planning and program management to communications, strategic planning and lobbying, there were few dull moments. Importantly, I always believed that I was on the “right” side of things when it came to advocating for members – I never felt that a position I was fighting for was counter to my own value system. For me, that was a key linchpin of my long tenure with the association.

One thing that I do know is that I’m going to miss the people. The AASP-MN volunteer leadership and members have always been supportive, kind, generous and respectful. Many have become friends. And then there’s the staff – Kevin Walli, Greg Olsen, Tom Kluver and my right-hand-woman, Jodi Pillsbury. All good people and true professionals. Jodi and I especially have spent a lot of time together, helped each other through personal challenges and were totally interdependent when it came to doing the work of the association. She served as yet another linchpin for my many years with the Alliance.

As for what’s next, the honest answer is I don’t really know yet. Spend more time with family and friends, of course. And I have lots of travel plans and the usual to-do list of home projects. I hope to exercise more consistently and eventually find some volunteer work that makes a difference and is meaningful to me. But really, after having a job every day of my life since 14 years of age, I can’t wait to have the flexibility to do whatever I want on a whim!

If I had to sum up my employment with AASP-MN in one word, it would be “grateful.” I know that too many people on this planet either don’t have the luxury of going to work each day or do so with a sense of dread.

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