I’ve heard so many words to describe business right now. One
thing for sure is that it is different. Different from the boom,
different from the recession, and different from any previous year no matter on
which segment of the industry your business is focused.
Something else which will be different this year is your FSPA
state office. At the end of this month, my time with FSPA will come to an
end. After 20 years with the association, it is time for me to explore
something new. Most of you know my story – grew up in the pool industry, started here just doing the newsletter, expanded
that to doing the trade show, and after doing almost every job in the office
became the executive director in 2008.
We recently found out that the FSPA was nominated for
Association of the Year with the Florida Society of Association Executives and
I was nominated for Executive of the Year with them as well. What a great
feeling to go out with that recognition. (Winners are announced July 1 so watch
social media to see if we win.) But it doesn’t take awards for me to know
what a great place FSPA has been. We have a team of rock stars working in
the office. They manage the day-to-day operations and will continue to do
so while a new executive director is hired. We have a Board of
Directors comprised of 61 hardworking, supportive champions who every day carry
on the mission of FSPA. Together, staff and board members will be
what keeps FSPA moving forward to be even better than it is today.
So many of you have called, texted, and sent me thoughtful and
heartwarming messages. I am thankful for my time at FSPA, thankful for
all that I learned, and thankful that I was able to do so much with this great
association. But most of all, I am thankful for the
friendships.
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye
so hard.” Winne the Pooh