Bob Baird to resign from ARMA CEO effective 3/31

From the Feb 2017 ARMA InfoPro newsletter:

To ARMA members and friends, effective March 31, I will retire from ARMA International. This was a bittersweet and very personal decision for me, but leaders always hope to leave their organizations in a stronger position than where they found them, and thanks to my staff, our volunteers, and our board of directors, I believe we have done just that. When I joined ARMA in the spring of 2015, we had two very specific goals: Create a nimbler, more membership-focused, and financially stronger organization to better serve our members Provide a level of value to members that exceeds their expectations and ensures a strong pipeline of new members So, how are we doing? We’re a more transparent organization, both externally and internally, with a clear focus on serving members. We’ve created increased value for our members through new programs such as iMasters, inDepth, and the improved virtual conference. In addition, we’ve initiated updates for all foundational IG intellectual property to include:                 - Records and Information Management Core Competencies                 - Glossary of Records and Information Management Terms, 5th Edition                   (ARMA International TR 22-2016)                 - The Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles®                 - Job Descriptions for Records and Information Management (PDF)                 - The Information Governance Maturity Model We’ve grown IGP certification over 36%. We’ve begun the process of developing the IGBOK (Information Governance Body of Knowledge), which will provide a solid foundation for the practice of information governance and increase the relevance of our profession throughout the industry. And we have strengthened the region/chapter infrastructure together. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for those “on the ground” who bring ARMA home to our membership.  I applaud you all for your dedication and commitment to this organization.  The ARMA board of directors didn’t have to look far to find the perfect successor: Jocelyn Gunter. For those who may not know Jocelyn, she’s been my “wingman” and a true partner for these two years.  Much of the change you’ve seen has been a direct result of her many contributions. You’ll hear more about Jocelyn in next month’s Info Pro, but rest assured she has the right leadership qualities and skills and is the right person to work with our board to take ARMA International to new heights. Lastly, I want to thank the ARMA board members for their vision, leadership, and support. Your board is comprised of the industry’s best, who, along with Jocelyn, are poised to provide even greater value to you. Knowing what ARMA currently has under development and in store for our membership in the coming years truly excites me. As I leave, I can say ARMA is in great hands. Thanks to the strength of our members and business partners, our improved relationships with our chapters and regions, a more membership-focused organization, and the leadership and support of the board and staff, ARMA today is a much stronger association and well positioned to better serve its members going forward. We’ve accomplished a lot but have more to do. As a former military man, I want to quote one of my previous mentors, Lieutenant General Mike Hough, who said: “One rarely accomplishes great things by themselves. Instead, they stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before and those who stand around them.”  I have been fortunate to have had this opportunity to know and get to work with you and our community and stand on your shoulders. My many thanks. For me, I’m going to follow the lead of so many of you who’ve become active volunteers. I look forward to working with you and learning from you in this new role. Here’s to the bright future of ARMA International! Bob Baird, CEO, ARMA International