As I reflect on this past year, with many membership organizations struggling from the effects of a global pandemic and more than a year of economic uncertainty, I was excited to be a part of NAPBA, as we were able to thrive!  We made the bold decision to host an in-person conference (with all proper safety protocols in place), which highlighted the sustainable, meaningful value proposition of NAPBA for our members.  Under Dan Crawford’s leadership and the steadfast board of directors, we were able to successfully provide a multi-day event with relevant and timely content as well as opportunities to reconnect.

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I personally joined NAPBA as a way to connect with industry leaders, as my company was fairly new to the TPA business at the time.  My involvement with the board of directors came naturally over the years….. well to be honest, I’m sure I was “voluntold.”  The evolution of NAPBA is important to note as well, with the combination of involvement from the past leadership to the new ideas and energy of more recent members, we are poised for continued success as an organization.  One of the great developments over the most recent years is the expansion from primarily serving the “owner/executive” of TPAs, to include the heart of our businesses, which are the operational staff members.  This meaningful decision to expand our membership has provided a mixture of talent and experience in a broad array of backgrounds, which makes the NAPBA membership an even greater value to everyone.

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The value I find with my NAPBA membership are the connections I have developed, which now go beyond the TPA business.  Relationships that started with the sharing of best practices at our conferences, have turned into some of my best personal and professional relationships.  I can call on leaders like Dan Crawford or Rob Hayes when I need advice or to collaborate, which is invaluable in this ever-evolving industry.  My hope is that all NAPBA members have the same experience, which is why we also started a new “fire starter” series, that connect our members throughout the year on important industry topics.

 

Although we have opportunities to connect throughout the year, the true value of membership is the annual conference!  After last year’s successful conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we are excited to announce that this year’s conference will be in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from September 18th to September 22nd.  The Coeur d’Alene Resort is renowned for its heartfelt hospitality and attention to detail.  Of course, for us golf lovers, you may also know that it is famous for the world’s only Floating Green, which is on the 14th hole!  We will be taking advantage of all that Coeur d’Alene has to offer, including a golf outing and other lakeside activities.

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Our annual NAPBA conference has always delivered great experiences through meaningful, interactive presentations, but the social activities provide additional opportunities to connect and reconnect with our valued sponsor partners and members.  I would highly encourage everyone to also consider staying the extra night for our traditional “Fun-O-Rama,” where there is an opportunity to experience the local flavor of our host city, form lasting friendships and return home with new information and ideas!

 

We hope you make plans to join us at the conference and I look forward to seeing you in Coeur d’Alene! 

 

Catharine Mirabile

President – NAPBA