The new COO: Moving beyond just operations to stronger strategic role
Even in this time of dramatic budget cuts and staff reductions, the position of COO is emerging as essential for some larger associations that now conceive of the COOs role as a multi-faceted strategic thinker who serves as a managerand a driverof organizational change. You cant ever close your eyesnot for a dayto the strategic implications of what youre doing, said David Gilbert, the new COO of the National Restaurant Association.
Read MoreSenior Staff Appointments: June 2009
Government affairs Chris Collins is the new vice president and director of public policy for The Foundation for AIDS Research. In that role, he will work to secure funding for HIV/AIDS research and expand access to care and treatment. Collins has worked on HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy for more than 18 years, most recently as a policy and communications consultant for several organizations, including the
Read MoreA memo to leaders planning a departure
In the raft of challenges that leaders face in this unpredictable and fast-changing political and economic environment, succession planning is among the most important to an organizations long-term vitality. It can also be one of the most difficult, with shrinking tenures, CEO ousters and wholesale reorganizations cropping up on a regular basis.
Read MoreAssociations support financial reform, differ on specifics
In recent weeks and months, trade associations representing financial firms have been preparing forand largely supportingwhat some say will be the greatest overhaul of the nations financial regulatory system in roughly 80 years. Associations over the last six months have recognized this will be the biggest regulatory reform debate since the Great Depression, said Duane Thompson, managing director in the Washington, D.C. office of the 28,000-member Financial Planning Association. Everyone is gearing up.
Read MoreLobbying group supports applying restrictions evenly
Groups that criticized the Obama administrations March 20 memorandum barring government officials from discussing stimulus funds with registered lobbyists are commending the administrations decision to expand the restrictions to everyone, not just lobbyists.
Read MoreWashington area leads nation in latest regional report
With one of the most educated workforces of any major metropolitan area, growing private industry and the strength of the federal government, the Washington regions economy is largely resistant to recession, said the latest Greater Washington Regional Report. The 2009 report was released June 3 by the Greater Washington Initiative, a group promoting the region as a business destination, and will be sent to decision makers around the country and the world, said Executive Director Matt Erskine.
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