The Bluegrass Business Analysis Chapter takes the summer off from chapter meetings so that our members and participants can take vacations with their families. Some of my greatest memories growing up are of family vacations to the Canada side of Niagara Falls, Disney World, Universal Studios and others. I have continued these traditions for my kids while they were growing up, taking them to Florida, Air Force Museum, Six Flags Amusement Park, Carowinds Amusement Park, Universal Studios and others. We hope that all children get to have those experiences with their families and have those cherished memories later in life. So we promote that idea by not holding meetings in June and July, so that families can get busy making those memories.
Does this mean that the Board of Directors sleeps during the summer?...Not at all! Your Board holds its annual planning session in July…planning the fall, winter and spring schedule for the Chapter. We will once again hold our Winter Networking Social in December, and our Leadership Fair in the fall.
Additions to the Program
Professional Development Workshops
We held our first professional development workshop in our partnership with Business Analysis Knowledge Academy. We are committed to presenting the rest of the 10-part series of workshops that gives our participants a full look at the business analyst role within the context of a project. By presenting this education in a series of workshops it allows participants to learn new knowledge and skills, go put what they have learned into use and come back and learn a new topic….repeat process.
Webinar Speaker Series
This webinar series begins next week and will look at transformations happening in the business analysis area and help business analysis professionals prepare for the future. This series is being provided to us by IIBA Americas Eastern Region and we will provide its educational value to our community. By leveraging the region’s resources, this series will feature regional, national and internationally renowned thought leaders in the business analysis arena, beginning with Kitty Hass, CEO of KHass & Associates, Inc., a leading expert in strategic business analysis and prominent keynote presenter at industry and corporate conferences around the world. I am confident that you will enjoy and get a great amount of learning value from Kitty’s and all the presentations in this series. Come and learn about the future of business analysis.
Education by Reading
We have partnered with J. Ross Publishing to provide books on business analysis, business, innovation and other topics to our members at discount rates. J. Ross Publishing is the publisher of Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis by Barbara Carkenord among many others. This partnership came about because J. Ross Publishing reached out to us and nine other chapters in the IIBA chapters network. Seeing the value that this relationship could bring to our members, we were the first chapter to take advantage of their offer.
The Future
We have created new relationships with SQS-USA and Analysts International Corporation (AIC), and continued our relationships with Tempur-Sealy, TEKsystems, ITT Technical Institute, Louisville IIBA Chapter, Cincinnati IIBA Chapter, Kentucky Bluegrass PMI Chapter and others. We will continue to seek out alliances that bring value to our members and participants.
Bluegrass Business Analysis Hall of Fame
We feel that contribution and advancement of the business analysis profession deserves recognition, just as any great individual feat would. Last month we inducted our first class of professionals into the newly created Bluegrass Business Analysis Hall of Fame. We will continue to induct classes in future years and work to increase nominations from the community annually, until everyone in the community is aware that this honor exists.
Summer Means Transition
So as summer has set upon us, and we break for the summer to allow our participants to take summer vacations, the Board will transition to new officers. We had three officers elected to new positions in our chapter leadership last month, including the President. Terry Sundy has been elected as my successor as President of the Chapter, and will take office next month. However, as the Board transitions into a new look, you can expect the same great dedication to a consistent and valuable program for our members and participants. Wait until you see what we are planning in August! I guess you will just have to come and check it out!
So exciting things happening internationally and here in the Bluegrass region. We are proud of our accomplishments to date and look to continue our growth and community engagement in the future. You are welcome to join us in any capacity you wish. To see how Bluegrass IIBA Chapter can help you advance your career; visit our website (bluegrass.iiba.org), join us at any of our events or email info@bluegrass.iiba.org.
Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP
President, Bluegrass BA Chapter
Aaron.Whittenberger@bluegrass.iiba.org