CRN’s Supplemental blog is no longer taking submissions, but the association is offering new vehicles to share your thoughts on topics relevant to the dietary supplement industry. See our Q&As and Take 5 videos and contact Comms@crnusa.org with your ideas.
AUGUST 17, 2022 | Join the conversation on LinkedIn and Twitter
CRN and staff posts are intended for the education of the public, our industry, and our members. CRN welcomes differences of opinion and debate. We reserve the right to moderate comments containing misinformation or disrespect.
By Brian Wommack, Senior Vice President, Communications, CRN
CRN is committed to professional education. We spend a good deal of time developing and hosting educational events for our members, whether in person or virtually, and that commitment extends to staff as well. We are encouraged to find development opportunities that will help us become better professionals and better able to serve our members.
For three years, I’ve been privileged to attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management (IOM) program. This is a four-year program taught by university professors, industry experts, and leading practitioners in the chamber and association industries. Each session is five days long and is offered at four locations across the country annually.
Courses are conducted in both lecture and discussion formats, and much learning comes from fellow students in the program. Topics include such things as advocacy, media training, finance, legal issues, and human resources, ultimately educating participants in all facets of running a non-profit organization. Graduates of the four-year program receive the IOM Graduate Recognition, signifying successful completion of 96 hours of management coursework.
These experiences have been extraordinarily valuable to me. They have allowed me to connect dots across our organization, and to become a more fully rounded association professional. I thank CRN and its members for allowing me to participate in this program. I look forward to completing my IOM next year, and joining the two certified IOM holders on staff, Steve Mister, who earned his designation several years ago, and Andrea Wong, who I was privileged to see get her designation earlier this month in Villanova.
During my first three years in the program, I added to my store of knowledge and dramatically expanded my network. I’ve already had many occasions to ping an instructor seeking guidance on a thorny question or a bit of encouragement on a particular project. And fellow students are wonderful sounding boards when trying new things or looking for new ideas. I’m always glad to be able to provide insight to them as well and feel very supported having such a rich network of friends with whom I can share ideas.
Whatever your field, I hope you have a chance to participate in similar professional development opportunities. They truly can be career-changing and are always enjoyable to pursue.
Brian Wommack is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of the association’s overall strategic communications efforts, and entrusted to enhance and protect the reputation of the dietary supplement industry. Under his leadership, CRN’s Communications team is reimagining its member communication strategy and has launched new initiatives to proactively promote responsible industry and provide consumer education. Learn more about Brian.