In June, Inforum celebrated its 60th year as a nonprofit dedicated to helping women grow and succeed in their careers.
We're proud of our history—few nonprofits reach this milestone—but we also know that our next 60 years rests on the vision of younger leaders who are building their futures. That's why we created our Next Gen Advisory Council, comprising professionals ages 21-33.
The council's purpose is to provide rising talent with opportunities to make an impact in their communities, foster connections with peers in other companies and industries, and advise our staff and board of directors on their needs, challenges, and preferences in the workplace as they work to accelerate their careers and add more value to their organizations.
West Michigan members are:
- Loanna Abreu, director of community engagement and outreach, Grand Rapids Public Library
- Elise Bassi, commercial leasing advisor, Rockford Construction
- Jamie Belt, talent acquisitions advisor II, Kellogg Co.
- Kaila Bryzgalski, product sustainability marketing manager, Steelcase
- Amanda Rostic, system leadership team advisor, BHSH System
- Taylor Weick, sales manager, Gentex Corp.
Southeast members are:
- Katie Crysler, associate attorney, Warner Norcross
- Heather Hodges, product manager, global innovation, General Motors Co.
- Sarah Idriss, focus audiences marketing analyst, Ford Motor Co.
- Liz Naber, entrepreneur
- Ashley Rodriguez, insurance agent, Alight Solutions
- Sarah Shears, training specialist, Alteris Group
- Karmen Simon, senior organizational development consultant, DTE Energy
- Nichole Souva, HR generalist II, Vitesco Technologies
We recently held our first meeting, with Steelcase as the West Michigan host, and started to gain a greater understanding of how we can better serve this career cohort.
We heard ideas for how we can help those interested in joining our organization better understand what we offer, provide more flexible opportunities to determine if they want to join, and offer more helpful onboarding when they do. Many of the ideas, though, pointed to helping us begin to rethink how we communicate—whether it's through our website, the Inforum app, or other communication channels.
Our organization offers a robust assortment of high-quality engagement opportunities for our 4,500 members in West Michigan and Metro Detroit that includes affinity groups, a mentee/mentor app-based program, industry groups, events, podcasts, formal leadership development training, and informal seminars. It's a lot of opportunity, but it also can feel like too much to navigate.
Council members asked us: How can you help us understand and evaluate all the opportunities that you offer? How can you help us start to become involved—virtually and in person—in a way that doesn't feel complicated? Will we feel represented as well as welcomed?
We have some of the answers, but we know we need more. And with the leadership of this council, we'll find them.
Written by Anna Grace, director of events and membership, Inforum.
Courtesy of Inforum.
