April 2024 Chair's Column

What’s up?

Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes all the activities and events that occur this time of year including GEDA’s Spring Workshop! I hope most of you reading this are planning to attend this year.

I’m particularly excited as we will be back on St. Simons Island for the conference. I understand a lot of members are driving much more than just an hour from home, but I can assure you it is always a great event, and the GEDA staff as well as our Second Vice Chair Charlie Moseley work hard to ensure the event is educational and enjoyable.

In thinking of past years, a few of my favorite activities of the week are always the opening reception where we gather together and reunite with friends from all around the state who we may only have the opportunity to see a few times a year. I love that everyone picks up right where they left off and new members are welcomed with open arms to the group.

I also admittedly always enjoy the optional activities. It’s a great time to engage in deeper conversations with colleagues and meet new folks. If you’re not already signed up for an activity, I encourage you to do so before they fill up. We have golf, kayaking, and a port tour lined up this year, so you can’t go wrong with any activity you choose.

Something unique to this year’s Spring Workshop that I’m looking forward to is our keynote speaker, Tangela Johnson. Tangela is a corporate culture and leadership development expert and has helped companies identify the root cause of leadership challenges. Leadership is integral to every role, regardless of what level, and I think we will all be able to benefit from her remarks.

I look forward to seeing everyone in St. Simons next month!

Trip Tollison