Presidential outlook
our partnership with O.R. Colan, LLC/
ORC Training. In conjunction with IKT,
Germany’s Institute for Underground
Infrastructure, we introduced a new six-module panorama on the fundamentals
of underground infrastructure. In light
of all these accomplishments, I salute
the members of our Partnership for
Infrastructure Professional Education
for their selfless dedication and
commitment to bringing all of these
projects to fruition.
Looking forward, we are committed
to providing support for our young
professionals and opening up
opportunities for them to participate in
leadership meetings, Region Forums and
conference planning. We now have more
YP’s serving in leadership roles than ever
before. As a leadership team, we’ve spent
time this year visiting with our Chapter
leaders, and through these meetings,
we’ve had even more opportunity to
reach out to our volunteer leaders. In
response to growing demand, we plan
to develop and support an Emerging
Leaders Program aimed at our mid-career members aged 36-55.
Through our partnership with the
Right of Way International Education
Foundation, we recently solidified a
new scholarship program that will
directly benefit our members and their
employers. Details will be announced in
June, and I can’t wait to see the impact it
will have on our scholarship recipients!
Expanding our Reach
On the international front, IRWA
continues to attract new members
from across the globe. Our Chapters
in Australia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia,
South Africa and Nigeria are working
continuously to engage government
and agency leaders in these countries,
reinforcing the importance of our
mission and forming new alliances.
Recently, IRWA was accepted as an
Observer to UPAV, the Union of Pan
American Associations of Valuation.
We continue to explore new educational
offerings in partnership with IKT, and
our relationship with members of the
Compulsory Purchase Association in
London has provided the opportunity to
share our collective relocation expertise
and best practices. As we expand our
reach and global presence, we will
continue to embrace the diversity, talent
and opportunities that will be presented.
As our fiscal year wraps up, I can’t help
but reflect on my own personal journey
as an IRWA leader. I’ve learned so much
from all of you, and I am grateful for
the time I was able to spend this past
year with our members, volunteers and
leaders. Throughout my term on the
International Executive Committee, I’ve
had the opportunity to work with an
extraordinary group of past, present and
future leaders. I developed friendships
that will last a lifetime, and I know
without a doubt that the Association is
in good hands. A special thank you to
our IRWA staff who work tirelessly day
in and day out to consistently achieve
excellence.
Although my time as your International
President is coming to a close, I am
confident that through my voice, I will
continue to serve the Association for
many years to come. J
At the 2016 Annual International Education Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Mary Anne met with members and industry representatives from around the globe. "I've learned
so much from all of you, and the friendships I've developed will last a lifetime," she said.
