What I’ve Learned in My First Year at Associations North

It's all about the community.

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been at Associations North for a year.

When I think back on these past twelve months,
I don’t immediately picture event timelines, spreadsheets, or long days — even though there were plenty of those. What stands out most is something harder to quantify: community.

Not just the word “community,” but what it actually looks like in real life.

It looked like a board member checking in on me while Angela was out of the office, not because they had to, but because they genuinely cared how I was doing. It looked like a hug from a new colleague at Executive Edge during a 16-hour day when I was running on adrenaline, coffee, and a lot of hope that everything would come together. It looked like watching members show up for one another in moments of challenge, uncertainty, and even grief — offering support, perspective, and kindness without hesitation.

Before joining Associations North, I knew community was important. But this year taught me that community doesn’t just happen — it’s built.

It’s built through small, consistent actions. Through leaders who create space for honest conversations. Through peers who are willing to share not just their successes, but their struggles. Through relationships that go beyond transactions and turn into real connections.

I’ve seen this play out in so many ways across our work — in board interactions, in our conferences, in committee meetings, and even in candid conversations. People don’t just show up for the content. They show up for each other in this community. 

That’s what makes Associations North different. We’re not just an association serving associations. We’re a network of people who care deeply about the work they do and the people they do it with.

This year has stretched me, challenged me, and pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. But more than anything, it has reminded me why this work matters. Associations exist to bring people together around a shared purpose — and I’m proud to be part of an organization that lives that truth every single day.

If there’s one thing I’ll carry forward from this first year, it’s this:

Community isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s everything.

Here’s to many more years of building it together.