Chapter scholarship winner Kurt Wong continues his reflections of the EDSymposium26 national conference a couple weeks ago:

“Day 2 of the SDA National EDSymposium26 conference has been packed with session topics ranging from “Leadership Development: Climbing With or Without a Ladder” to “Speak Your Brand: Messaging the Moves and Motivates” to a dynamic panel discussion on “Innovation at Risk”.

And as amazing as it was to hear from the industry experts on those topics, we also had time to have an open forum for all attendees to share experiences in their own professional lives. These included not just achievements and successes, but also difficult challenges and roadblocks that we brainstormed solutions to that people could take back home to apply to their own firms. It is these types of in-person connections that are made at this national conference that can’t be replicated over a Zoom/Teams video window on our laptops.

The SDA Pacific Northwest Chapter had a great representation at this year’s conference and we are all proud to participate, for it’s the members that make this organization stronger when we continue to support and uplift one another.

At this conference I’ve been able to connect again with two members who over many years have been (and still are!) an inspiration to me. Gretchen Renz, FSDA, CDFO has done an AMAZING job this past year leading and charting the course as the SDA National President, and as much as our Chapter has rooted her on for making such a positive impact on all Chapters, we are now looking forward to her coming home so our Chapter can benefit from her National experience, and really simply to just spend more time together.

And an SDA member whom I would not have met unless I attended EDSymposium years ago, Elizabeth Klimczak Harris, is someone I am grateful for our paths initially crossing. Over the years, she has been not only a support system while I was pursuing various professional goals, but is also never shy from asking me the hard questions and to have some great candid conversations that always causes me to question, to reflect, and to grow.

Again, a big part in making this conference happen for me this year, which I am very thankful for, is Jess Hickey from 1029 Consulting, Inc. Her sponsorship is a reflection of her valuing both the educational aspects of the Conference as well as the networking and connections that lead to both personal and leadership growth and is making a difference in my own path!’