Listening, Learning and Looking Ahead

By Megan E. Turcotte, CAE, Executive Director

As I begin my first weeks as SAAGNY’s Executive Director, I thought I would start by sharing a little about the person behind the professional bio. I live in Connecticut with my husband, John, and our four dogs, so life outside of work tends to be busy, a little chaotic, and rarely quiet.

Professionally, I have spent more than twenty years in association management, and one of the things I have always enjoyed most about this work is getting to know a new community. Every association has its own culture and traditions, just as every industry has its own language, challenges and opportunities. I’ve learned that the best place to begin is by listening to the people who know both best.

SAAGNY belongs to its members. Its strength comes from the relationships built here, the volunteers who give their time and expertise, the companies that invest in our community, and the connections that happen when people come together through SAAGNY.

So, my first priority is a simple one: listen and learn.

Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be spending time with our Board, committee chairs, volunteers, members, exhibitors and industry partners. I’ll also be immersing myself in the promotional products industry, learning more about the businesses our members run, the customers they serve, the challenges they face and the opportunities they see ahead.

At the same time, the Board and I are beginning to look ahead, with three broad areas helping guide our early conversations:

Relationships and community.

Associations are ultimately about people. I want us to continue strengthening connections among our members while creating meaningful opportunities for new members, longtime members, volunteers, suppliers, distributors and partners to find their place within SAAGNY.

Member value and engagement.

Understanding what our members value and need from SAAGNY will be an important part of our work moving forward. That means continually looking at our programs, events, communications, resources and opportunities to ensure they remain relevant, meaningful and responsive to our membership.

Looking ahead.

The Board and I will be considering how we can continue to support the organization’s priorities, respond to new opportunities, and position SAAGNY for continued success in the years to come.

These priorities are intentionally broad, and they will continue to take shape as I learn more about SAAGNY and hear from all of you.

I hope you will be part of that conversation.

Whether we connect in person, by phone, over Teams or by email, I welcome the opportunity to hear your experiences, perspectives and ideas and to learn more about what matters most to you as a SAAGNY member.

Some of the best ideas come from conversations with the people who know and care about an organization. Those conversations help us understand what members value today and where there may be opportunities to create even greater value in the future.

I look forward to having many of those conversations with you and to working alongside our Board, volunteers and members as we move forward together.

Megan E. Turcotte, CAE
Executive Director