Bluegrass IIBA is kicking off a new series celebrating the volunteers who make our chapter run. Over the coming weeks, we'll be recognizing one volunteer at a time with an award and sharing the story behind it. First up is Aaron Whittenberger, recipient of the inaugural Trailblazer Award.
The Trailblazer Award recognizes a volunteer who takes chapter programs in bold new directions.
Aaron has been a volunteer for the chapter since its inception in 2013; he was the driving force that created the chapter. He first served as President for three years, and then has held roles in professional development, administration and finance, community events, technology, marketing and membership. He has filled the gap where the chapter leadership needed him at any given time.
Aaron is largely responsible for developing the professional development program into what it is today. He took this role following his presidency and added events to make the Bluegrass Chapter into one of the most active IIBA chapters delivering valuable events to the community. He developed and put into place finance controls to ensure that the chapter stays solvent. The Chapter has had four website platforms in the last fourteen years, he has helped with the transition from one platform to the next. This often included researching website and member management platforms to help determine which technology the Chapter should engage. He has put into place processes to ensure new chapter members and newly certified individuals feel included.
Aaron has organized the chapter's six conferences we have hosted in the past. This past May, 11 chapters joined us to put on a cross-chapter conference. Aaron kept the 11 chapters fully informed and engaged in the planning process. It was Aaron's suggestion that we open up our conference to other chapters so they can learn the planning process we go through to put on a world-class event.
Aaron is constantly reaching out and finding us new volunteers for the chapter as we need them. He has always insisted that we match the chapter needs with the volunteer's interests.
When a chapter leader suggested we help business analysts learn to use Generative Artificial Intelligence, Aaron took the context of the discussion and developed the idea of us using 10 to 15 minutes of our networking time of a chapter meeting to do an AI activity where the audience actually uses AI. We are still doing this activity at the beginning of our chapter meetings today. We have also had a few extended events where follow through a business case over a few weeks to better understand fit and how to use AI to help in our business analysis tasks. When Denise suggested that we provide our community with a mentoring program, Aaron was the one that made the program a reality. He recruited Cathy Krist to take the program coordinator role and then helped Denise and Cathy develop the program and all the documentation needed for it.
Aaron noted, "It has been great to see IIBA membership and certifications in Kentucky and our extended area grow as a direct impact of the Bluegrass Chapter. It has been my privilege to be part of that growth."
