Letter from Executive Director, Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE

HERE WE ARE in a brand-new year! One of the reasons I like the New Year is the fresh start it provides – we can stop thinking about last year (whether good or bad) and start to focus on the road ahead.

For some of us, it is hard not to constantly be looking in the rear-view mirror. Perhaps there were certain goals you just could not accomplish by the end of the calendar year, whether for your organization or even personal goals. OR you exceeded your goals and now have set even loftier goals for yourself and your organization in 2024 and are wondering how you will accomplish them.

If you are like me, returning from the holidays can be difficult. Just when you get used to perhaps moving a little slower during the holiday season, BAM, the new year is off and running, and you already feel like you are playing catch up.

Remember – give yourself a little grace as you begin another year. You have got this. I am looking forward to 2024 and hope it continues the upward momentum we have seen amongst our stakeholders and TSAE as well over the past few years. It has been a hard comeback for so many of us, and we have a lot to be proud of and a lot to build on in the coming year.

And of course, let’s not forget to also take some time for yourself! Perhaps 2024 is the year you want to build on your career journey – whether that be getting better connected in our association community or even pushing yourself to earn the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.

Whatever your new year’s resolutions are for yourself in 2024 – TSAE is here to help! We have one of the most supportive communities that will not only cheer you on along the way but roll up their sleeves to help you figure out the best path to take.

To kick off the year, we are excited to partner with TCEA for our upcoming AI: Association Innovation Lab in early January. This will be a half-day workshop and we are so lucky to lean on the expertise of Lori Gracey, CAE and the TCEA team to help our community master this new and ever-changing technology.

Lori is saving 6-10 hours a week using the power of AI! We all could use more time back in our schedule, and if you are just discovering AI or are an early adopter and are ready to go to the next level – this event is for you. At the most, I am saving maybe 10 mins – so I know there is a lot to learn, and I am excited that TSAE can help bring this event to our community.

I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year – Happy 2024!

Steven J. Stout, FASAE, CAE
Executive Director