By Mary Tucker | Senior Communications and Content Manager | IAEE
Sarah Griffin, CEM has had a strong impact on member engagement for IAEE’s Rocky Mountain Chapter. In addition to serving as Chairperson, her focus on increasing quality engagement within the chapter has resulted in a more involved and active membership. She has also been successful in drawing new young and emerging professionals as Board members, injecting fresh perspectives and energy into the chapter’s leadership.
Sarah’s leadership has been evident throughout her tenure. She successfully organized the chapter’s first virtual board retreat, adapting to remote engagement challenges effectively. Additionally, Sarah has played a key role in growing the Board of Directors by recruiting and mentoring new members, which has enhanced the chapter’s leadership team. Her ability to keep all board members on track – reminding them of deadlines, commitments and follow-ups – has been crucial in maintaining the chapter’s momentum and ensuring that goals are met.
Sarah also stepped in to manage the chapter’s social media during a gap in Board coverage, ensuring continued engagement and communication with members. Her guidance and organizational skills have been vital to the chapter’s progress.
Sarah’s involvement with IAEE extends beyond her role as Chapter Chair. She has participated in national committees, continues to be a CEM Faculty member and represents the Rocky Mountain Chapter at major IAEE events. Her contributions have strengthened the chapter’s standing and fostered a strong connection with the national IAEE community.
Sarah’s dedication to growing and elevating the IAEE Rocky Mountain Chapter earned her the 2024 IAEE Chapter Merit Award, for which she was recognized this past December at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Los Angeles, California.
Here, Sarah shares her innovative approach to chapter leadership, her strategies for engaging professionals, and the pivotal moments that have shaped her remarkable journey with IAEE’s Rocky Mountain Chapter.
You have been instrumental in increasing member engagement for the IAEE Rocky Mountain Chapter. What strategies have you found most effective in attracting and retaining professionals to the chapter?
Sarah: Our chapter spans such a large geographical area that we’ve always struggled to keep members who were not in the immediate Denver area involved. Working to keep the majority of our meetings and events virtual has largely increased our participation. We also have worked so hard to make being active within the chapter as easy as possible. A lot of time, people just don’t know how to be involved, so being transparent and making sure everyone knows what the opportunities are has also allowed our chapter to grow and increase interaction.
What were some of the challenges and successes of organizing the chapter’s first virtual board retreat, and what lessons were learned about remote engagement during that process?
Sarah: I wanted to make sure that the board received something both personally rewarding and professionally relevant for participating in the retreat. We had already set the stage by doing virtual meetings throughout the year, so the format was easy, but I called in a professional favor with an incredible speaker (Sherry Winn) who gave us an intimate and personalized session, This really allowed the board to bond on a more personal level, even through a remote session. Cost definitely could have been a challenge, but we all know the power of networking! We then did a little “recap” of the session and got down to chapter business. I think having the connection piece at the beginning removed any barriers that the team may have been feeling and it opened up the stage for some incredible conversations!
Your colleagues applauded your mentorship skills with new chapter and Board members. What qualities do you believe are most important for emerging leaders?
Sarah: As someone who has been in the industry since diapers, I’ve had both amazing and not so amazing interactions with people, and all of it led to personal growth. There are days that you’re going to want to shout your achievements from the rooftops, and other days you’re going to want to crawl in a hole and cry. But looking for a learning in every single situation is key. You do not have to be in a position of power to be a leader. True leadership is sharing knowledge with others while continuing to grow and change yourself. Recognize that somewhere someone looks up to you, and while you might not be responsible for that person, just being there, listening and providing your insights can make a world of difference to them. Do that enough and you will be recognized as a leader.
You are actively involved in both chapter and national IAEE committees. How do these different levels of engagement complement each other, and what insights have you gained from participating at both levels?
Sarah: I honestly don’t think I could do one without the other! You would think a chapter is just a small version of the national organization. Not so much. The chapter members rely on the local leadership to be the voice of the region. We are representatives within the national organizations and if you only do one or the other, you’re missing out on ½ the puzzle.
Looking back on your journey, what moment or achievement are you most proud of in your work with the IAEE Rocky Mountain Chapter and what does the future hold for the chapter?
Sarah: Honestly, I was SO excited when we were able to fill our Leadership Team for the first time in quite a few years! And we’re working on succession planning for the chapter so that we can ensure it remains full moving forward. It’s hard work to get people who already work many more than 40 hours a week to volunteer even more time for the industry. But being a part of IAEE helps me learn, grow, and thrive in ways I never realized I needed, and I hope that becomes true for anyone who participates in the chapter.
