In my remarks at the Annual Conference in July, I shared my journey into NACM — starting with my first conference, when I wasn’t sure where I fit in, to finding my people, joining committees, and eventually serving on the NACM Board.
What made me dive in? I learned early on to show up for the things I care about — and NACM quickly became one of those passions.
As I embark on my term as president, I am asking all of you to do the same:
- Join a committee (and bring a colleague with you!).
- Share your voice, your time, and your ideas.
- Help us build new projects, partnerships, and resources.
At the conference, I announced the following priorities for the coming year:
- Membership Engagement: More opportunities for voice, collaboration, and connection.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Expanding the State Association Committee to include more partners and welcoming new state associations.
- Community Outreach and Education: Courts play a unique role in fostering trust in the third branch of government. To support this, NACM is partnering with the Conference of Court Public Information Officers to update our media guide and to develop a new community outreach guide to help courts engage and communicate effectively with the public.
- New CORE® Curriculum on Technology: A practical, accessible curriculum designed for non-technologists.
These initiatives will only succeed with your help. So please: Show up for NACM. It matters — to our members, to our profession, and to the communities we serve. (Note: My remarks from the conference can be found at the 40-minute mark.)
Since the conference, your board has been actively engaging members through committee work, and the CORE® Committee continues to plan and host regional trainings across the country. We are also working to strengthen partnerships by attending partner conferences, meeting with NCSC leaders, and collaborating with state associations to bring CORE® training opportunities closer to you.
This fall, Immediate Past President Tina Mattison and I will travel to Dubai for the International Association for Court Administrators Conference, where we will present “Empowering Court Leaders Worldwide: Advancing Education and Career Development through NACM’s CORE® Programs.” We are honored to share NACM’s work on an international stage and to continue raising the visibility of our organization around the globe.
I’ll close with this: At my very first NACM conference, I didn’t know where I fit in. But one person invited me to join a conversation, and that small gesture changed the trajectory of my career. It reminded me that when we show up — for each other, for our profession, and for NACM — we create opportunities that ripple far beyond ourselves. I hope each of you will take that step this year.
Together, we can continue to strengthen our courts, support one another, and ensure NACM thrives for the next generation of leaders.
