by 
The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect on family, friends and the many blessings from the past year. It also marks the countdown to the Annual SoACE Conference taking place this December in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference committee has put a tremendous program together full of best practice breakout sessions, engaging keynotes and numerous opportunities to network with new and old friends. The coinciding social events will showcase the great city of Atlanta and provide a platform to continue the dialogue that is sure to ensue throughout the conference. We look forward to seeing so many of our members soon.
As the Fall semester winds down and Spring planning begins, I want to challenge SoACE members to try something new…even if it’s just a slight variation on something from the recent past. It’s critical for our professional mission to continually seek new and diverse opportunities to meet the ever-changing needs of our students and key stakeholders. By engaging colleagues at the conference and throughout the year, you create an opportunity to find that extra “nugget” that may take your program to the next level. As a member, you have 24/7 access to like-minded professionals via the Knowledge Groups (KGs), frequent webinars, resources to serve diverse student populations and more.
At many of our organizations, the time is now for our profession to take that next step. Career Services and Talent Management are at an all-time high on the priority lists of many leaders. The more we embrace our critical roles, the more success it will ultimately lead to for our students; especially as career readiness and competency development envelops campuses and the world of work. I am confident SoACE, in strong collaboration with our state associations and consortia, is positioned to deliver the relevant content and best practice sharing that will help you achieve your ultimate success. Your SoACE “Family” wishes you all the best this holiday season and beyond.
Happy Holidays,
Mark
