Lucy Kucmierz, account associate
They say most people change jobs more than ten times between 18 and 42. That was me! I have been a teacher, office manager and church facility manager. Those were just my paid jobs; on the side I raised three children and was involved with school and county PTAs. All the time I was learning and gaining more skills that I wanted to put to use. I went back to school and became a certified non-profit manager, but I still wanted something more. It seemed that an office routine was not challenging enough or using the skills that I had gained over my 30+ year career path. I had a choice to make: I could continue down the same path and not be challenged or find a new career that would challenge me and provide opportunity for growth. I chose the latter.
Changing jobs can be difficult, but changing careers can be a challenge. Before I could change careers I needed to evaluate what I liked about my current job and what I was truly good at. Then I thought about what I wanted in a new career. I came to the conclusion that I needed a job with flexibility, one that would provide me with a sense of accomplishment, be professionally fulfilling, make use of my current skills and allow me to grow in new areas. I enjoyed working in an office environment and with non-profit organizations, so I thought that was a good place to begin my search.
After months of looking and interviews someone recommended I consider IMI Association Executives. I met and interviewed with the president of IMI, Linda Owens, CAE, and was so impressed by what I saw happening in this company that I knew this is where I wanted to be. This was a place where I could use the skills I already had acquired and continue to learn new skills. Since becoming an account associate at IMI I have gained new skills, am continuously learning, and most of all I have become part of a group that encourages everyone to succeed. In addition, I always wanted to travel around the country and for our clients I have been able to visit Colorado, D.C., New Orleans, and Atlanta!
Every day when I get up, I look forward to coming to work because I know that a new adventure is waiting for me, whether it be talking to a member, solving a problem, planning a webinar, or learning a new database. This career change was the correct path for me to follow at this point in my life. If you’re looking for a challenging but rewarding career in non-profits, I hope you’ll consider association management. There’s nothing quite like it.
Want to know more about association management? Contact us at info@imiae.com to find out more about what IMI Association Executives can do for your organization.