Welcoming Environment® Committee

The Welcoming Environment® Committee plays an integral role in promoting diversity and inclusion by ensuring that Association Forum makes everyone who interacts with Association Forum feel welcomed and valued. A Welcoming Environment® is defined as the creation of a sense of belonging and connectedness that engages individuals in an authentic manner in which uniqueness is valued, respected and supported through opportunities and interaction. 

The Committee:

• Encourages the development of a Welcoming Environment® within every aspect of Association Forum.
• Monitors metrics to gauge the efficacy of Welcoming Environment® efforts.
• Scans the association community to contribute to the development of the online Welcoming Environment® Resource Kit.
• Actively promotes and encourages diversity and inclusion within Association Forum.
• Engages in new member onboarding calls
• Promotes diversity initiatives in associations using #assnWE on social media.

These Opportunities Are Recommended for Members Who:

• Are passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion within Association Forum.
• Actively participate in Association Forum events.

Time Commitment:

• Bimonthly or Quarterly committee meetings.
• Participation in conference calls and sub-committee meetings as necessary.
• Act as a Welcome Ambassadors at programs and events when available. 

Steve Smith, CAE, Chair
Marilyn Render, Vice Chair
Brittney Conway
Sydney Edmond
Priya Garg 
Danny Harris, CAE
Kevin Hinton
Jon Hockman, CPF, FASAE
Tracy Hollamon
Krzys Litewka
Valerie Smoots, SHRM-CP, PHR
Debbie Trueblood, MSW, IOM, CAE
Trice Turner
Zack Wahlquist, MS, CAE