Letter from the President: Charlie Wilder

Dear SoACE Colleagues,

The #SoACE19 conference is just days away!  Our conference committee has worked diligently throughout the year to plan what may be the best SoACE conference to date.  Here are just a few reasons why I am excited about the days ahead.

Tomorrow, December 7, several of our conference attendees will participate in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon event.  As of the writing of this post, our fundraising team, Team SoACE, has raised $2,550 for this year’s conference philanthropy: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Did you know? Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.  It’s not too late to make your contribution to support Team SoACE and the children and families at St. Jude.

Many Thanks to our Fundraising Team:

  • Alicia Smyth, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Danny Pape, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Charlie Wilder, Auburn University
  • Corinne Earle, CMC Global
  • Jessica Campbell, Rice University
  • Kelly Atwood, Mississippi State University
  • Kim Billeaudeau, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Mark Colvenbach, The University of Tampa
  • Taylor Eljaua, William & Mary

I’m also looking forward to our Diversity & Inclusion Networking Night taking place on Tuesday, December 10th.  This event will be held at the National Civil Rights Museum, and I am so excited that we’ll have the opportunity to explore the museum while there.  Thanks to our sponsors, Tennessee ACE, University of Memphis Career Services, and CareerShift, and to the SoACE groups that collaborated to host the event: the D&I Committee, Employer Relations KG, and Experiential Education KG.

Finally, you have by now hopefully noticed that this year’s conference begins on a Monday instead of a Sunday.  Please be sure to let the board and conference committee know if you would like to see us continue this change in our usual pattern when you complete the post-conference survey.

I hope you all have safe travels to Memphis, TN, and I look forward to welcoming you at the President’s Reception held on the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel.

See you soon!

Charlie Wilder, Ph.D.

2019-20 SoACE President

Auburn University

Letter from the President: Charlie Wilder

Greetings SoACE Members!  I hope this message finds you confidently going forth into a time of year that for many is the peak activity season.  Even though you are likely very busy, I hope you take a minute to read about a few exciting things that are happening with your favorite regional association.

L.I.V.E. from Memphis.  Our conference committee is hard at work preparing an event that will help you Lead, InnoVate, and Educate.  While all SoACE conferences are events to be remembered, this year’s conference is looking to be one you will not want to miss, for so many reasons: The Peabody Hotel, the Peabody Ducks, Graceland, and not to mention another excellent round of breakouts, 5@5s, roundtables, and networking opportunities.  Be sure to register before the early bird cutoff of October 7th!

St. Jude Heroes.  We are also really excited about our philanthropy this year, which is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Our fundraising team of #TeamSoACE St. Jude Heroes have committed to participating in one of the races associated with the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, which will take place the Saturday before the conference begins.  Click here to help us reach our fundraising goal of $10,000!  If we reach our goal, you’ll get to see our very own Sponsorship Chair, Chris Agans, dress up as Elvis during the conference, so donate today!  It’s also not too late to join the team; just email me if you are interested.

Membership Engagement.  During our July meeting, the Board discussed our current processes for recruiting, developing, and recognizing those members who fill our 80 committee and knowledge group positions.  A task force was appointed to investigate ways to streamline these processes and find solutions that will further strengthen our organization.  The success of our association relies heavily on these individuals, so THANK YOU to all who volunteer your time and effort for SoACE.  More to come!

SoACE is strong today for many reasons, not the least of which is its outstanding membership.  I am so proud to be a part of SoACE because of YOU, and I look forward to where we will go from here, together.

Charlie Wilder, Ph.D.

2019-20 SoACE President

Auburn University

Letter from the President: Mark Colvenbach

Hello SoACE Membership,

As the summer gets into full swing, many of us use this time of year to take a deep breath, re-group and maybe even find some time for a little vacation. I hope SoACE members are able to do all three before the pace picks up and students return in full swing. As you plan for the future semester(s) ahead, its always good to review what has been and appreciate what was accomplished over the past year. With our lives seemingly becoming busier by the day, I would like to encourage everyone to look in the rear-view mirror just for a second.

Your new SoACE Board will be convening in late July to plan for the year ahead. Over the past year, the Board and its many wonderful volunteer leaders and members, have truly accomplished a great deal.  On behalf of the entire SoACE Board, I say THANK YOU.  Without this level of engagement, the elevation of programs and sharing of best practices would not be possible.

SoACE as an organization, is at a tipping point of sorts.  A special taskforce was commissioned to focus on the long-term financial stability of the association by looking specifically at revenue and sponsorship areas of interest.  I am excited what lies ahead with their recommendations, as I truly believe their diligent efforts will provide positive and long lasting impact on the value of SoACE to its members.

New webinars and sharing of innovative strategies are seemingly passed through the association weekly. Membership continues to grow (Don’t forget to renew)!! With this, SoACE has stretched to better collaborate with State Associations and Consortia to provide additional resources and sharing of best practices among its variety of members. An increased focus on Diversity and Inclusion will continue to provide membership with strategies to elevate its services to institutions and organizations it serves. The Knowledge Groups (KGs) remain THE resource for many who seek information on specific aspects of their roles and those they want to develop as a professional. In less than a week, well over 100 members will convene in Tampa, FL to participate in the 5th Annual Employer Relations Summit. This is a remarkable milestone to reach and is a direct result of the hard work by so many volunteer leaders over the years. The Board has committed to this and many other programs to ensure members reaches the highest of value from their membership.

In closing, I would like to personally recognize several members who will be rolling off the board on July 1.  Thank you to the following for their service, dedication and energy over the past years to take SoACE to the next level. Please join me in thanking Raymond Rogers – St. Edward’s University, V’Rhaniku Haynes – University of Central Florida and Elizabeth Boggs – Stetson University.  You will be truly missed. As we kick off the 2019-20 fiscal year, new energy and innovation will be welcomed to the Board through those elected earlier this year. Please welcome Danny Pape – University of Tennessee, Holly Williams – Clemson University, Jill Boatright – Loyola University New Orleans and Kimberly Billeaudeau – University of Louisiana Lafayette.

All the best this summer and beyond,
Mark Colvenbach
2018-19 SoACE President