Michelle Keller, Senior Writer, The University of Kansas Hospital

I’ve been a member of IABC longer than I’ve been a professional communicator.  I joined while still a student at Texas A&M University, having participated in a job shadowing program that paired me with the communications director of the city of Bryan.  That an organization would take interest in a student and provide such an experience meant a lot to me then — and now. It set the foundation for a lifelong association that was made official when I became a lifetime member as part of IABC’s 500 Club.

I can’t imagine a career without the resources of IABC.  From the conferences to its publications and networking opportunities, I know my career is much richer because of my association with IABC.  Having an award-winning local chapter like KC/IABC is an added bonus. The people, the programming and the forward-thinking, innovative spirit of our chapter means we are often ahead of the curve on many things. As communicators, we need to be in order to move our organizations forward.