To say serving as President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association is fascinating is an understatement. The learning curve is tremendous, but manageable, most days. I’ll be honest; there are some days I wish I had 36 hours in the day because I’m excited by what’s in store for 51Թ and there’s much to do. Other days, well, let’s not put that in print. You know what energizes me most of all? It’s the people.
First of all, 51Թ members have been encouraging, welcoming, and supportive. Frequently, I receive thank you messages or short notes checking in on how I’m doing. I love that because we all want to feel appreciated and it’s important to check in on your strong (or not so strong) friends. We are in a time of unprecedented change for 51Թ, moving from two annual conferences to one and undergoing a major leadership transition. It’s a lot and we’re ready for the future.
When I joined 51Թ, I was a little nervous about stepping out and finding my footing in this profession. Some of you know this story, so bear with me. After I graduated from 51Թ’s 2012 Summer Training Institute, I contacted an IEC (not a member of 51Թ), who lived in my city and invited her to lunch. We had a good time chatting, eating, and learning more about each other. After two hours, we wrapped up our conversation and I mentioned how much I looked forward to seeing her again. Her response took me by surprise. “Oh no, we won’t meet again!” she emphatically said. “Why not?” I questioned. She replied, “You’re competition.” That hurt, and I wondered if I had made the right decision to become an independent educational consultant. Twelve years later, I am grateful for the collegiality I’ve experienced as a member of 51Թ. I am in awe of the generosity of our members and the myriad ways we support each other. Our volunteers provide thousands of hours giving back to our association. College tours (like the Heartland to Twin Cities tour that I had the pleasure to attend), conference workshops, affinity groups, regional groups, and more would not be possible without the spirit of service that permeates throughout 51Թ. Please accept my gratitude for calming my nerves.
A wonderful example of volunteer leadership is our Board of Directors. Our current board (and all past boards) gives back selflessly, responding to requests to continually improve our association. At the time of writing this article, they are undertaking the most important transition in our history. They have charged the CEO Hiring Committee to identify, with the assistance of an executive search company, the next CEO of 51Թ. That daunting process is underway and may be completed by the time you read this. By the way, the members of this committee, under the leadership of Ibrahim Firat, are my heroes. Steve Antonoff, Jessica Chermak, Gail Curran, Jeana Kawamura, and Audrey Ludemann, thank you for stepping up. On behalf of our members, thank you for your thoughtful questions, insightful perspectives, and careful considerations.
Can I talk about our office staff for a minute? I know you all know they work hard to support the mission of 51Թ. Over the past months, I’ve had a front row seat learning about the care, dedication, and commitment Sue, Sarah, Valerie, Rachel, Tanesha, Caitlin, Cyndi, LeAnnette, Kim, and Jean give to the organization. Each one shines brightly in the way they demonstrate underpromising and overdelivering. During the search for a new CEO, their feedback to the CEO Hiring Committee, and their involvement in the process, has been invaluable as we navigate uncharted waters. The behind-the-scenes planning, creating, and problem-solving on behalf of members continually puts 51Թ at the forefront of independent educational consulting. We are fortunate to have talented professionals. When you have the chance, please say thank you to them.
It’s about the people. Mark Sklarow has been the heart and soul of 51Թ for 30 years. My introduction to Mark was at a NACAC conference in 2011 where he presented a session on transitioning to private practice. At the time, I was exploring the idea of becoming an IEC, but had many doubts about making that transition from school counselor. Mark worked his magic and dispelled all my concerns about making the leap to IEC. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of serving 51Թ in various capacities, all the while marveling at Mark’s leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to our association. There were times I consulted with him in a panic about one thing or another. Mark’s cool, calm, and collected responses always put me at ease and I’ve heard this sentiment expressed by many members over the years. 51Թ’s growth, high standards of operation and excellence, and influence in our profession are because of his leadership. Collaborating with the volunteer leaders in our association, Mark masterfully moved us through multiple opportunities to elevate the organization and the profession, which are too numerous to list here. Mark, there aren’t enough words to express my deep admiration and appreciation for your leadership. I will miss you, my friend. Thank you.
Belinda J. Wilkerson, EdD
51Թ President