Steph Hawkins has served the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter for the past five and a half years as Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement. She leaves our Chapter Leadership Team at the end of the year and we are sad to see her go.
Steph built the Chapter's Community program area from scratch. We had Small Business visitations in this area on an occasional manner. Steph took that and expanded it. We now have three events delivered in the Community area thanks Stephanie's efforts.
Steph partnered with her friend, Cathy Warren, from the Southeast Michigan Chapter in 2021 to begin a cross-chapter event named, Social Event to 'Build Our Community'. That event has been held every quarter for the last four years. Almost two years ago the ladies added Marci Watts and the Chicagoland IIBA Chapter to the planning for the event. Upon Steph's suggestion, the event has been rebranded to Agile After Hours.
Three years ago, Steph began a new event in the Community area named 'BAs on the Street'. She has a conversation with a random BA in our community to explore their career projection. They explore the BA's opinions on some hot BA topics as well.
Then two years ago Steph began a new event type named BA Book Nook, where she invites an author of a BA related book to explore not only the content of the book, but the author's motivations for writing it and what they hope BAs will learn from the book. We have had some amazing authors of great books featured in this event, including Angela Wick, Shane Hastie and Dr. Joe Perez.
Steph has overseen the Bluegrass Business Analysis Hall of Fame candidate selection and induction ceremony for the last five years. She orders the plaques for each inductee and inducts them into the Hall of Fame.
Steph has also worked in outreach to expand the Bluegrass IIBA's reach and influence.
Steph has been recognized for her work for the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter. She is the 2022 IIBA Volunteer of the Year from the Americas Southeastern Region. She is also a 2024 Inductee into the Bluegrass Business Analysis Hall of Fame.
Other life priorities takes Steph away from the Bluegrass IIBA Board of Directors. Steph, you will be surely missed and you leave big shoes to fill.
