My first experience with NCSM occurred prior to attending my first annual meeting. As a young leader, my mentors and role models would point me to books, journal articles, and publications to help expand my own knowledge in order to help frame my leadership philosophies. When I attended my first annual meeting, I was thrilled to learn that the membership of NCSM included those authors that I have leaned on in print during the preceding years. I was energized. My first annual meeting corresponded with the release of the PRIME Leadership Framework, a document that would help shape my journey. I was hooked, but the NCSM experience was only beginning. I soon learned that the NCSM family is not as large as it once seemed. Those amazing leaders were accessible and committed themselves to continued professional growth. NCSM has provided me with skills, knowledge, and an understanding that my voice is important. That is an amazing thing to be able to provide and I am grateful for the continued experience.
