Greetings From NILA

Mario Carreon, SHPE Sacramento Treasurer, and I had an opportunity to attend the National Institute for Leadership Advancement (NILA) in Dallas, TX. We're wrapping up our 3rd day of workshops and group case study presentations.

Conference highlights so far have been an inspiring presentation on the "Executive Presence" where I was called to speak in front of the room of 400 people and demonstrate how I would start a conversation in an elevator! Talk about being put on the spot. The presenter assured me later he wouldn't have done that if he didn't think I could handle it. I suppose that's a compliment!

Fernando Rosario, Accenture

The group case studies were intense. The topic was to propose regional and national solutions for increasing professional membership. Groups gave 7-minute presentations in front of judges. Winners are announced tonite at the gala banquet. Fingers crossed!!

Although it's been a pretty great experience so far, I have to admit I'm looking forward to my returning home to (catch up on some sleep) but mostly to keep the momentum going in Sacramento! I'm returning with a ton of ideas to implement in the coming months, so STAY TUNED.

Davina Gonzalez
President, Sacramento Professional Chapter

Teambuilding Scavenger Hunt

June 13, 2009

June is the month best known for graduations and good-byes; students say ‘adios’ to exams, while professionals vacation to get re-charged for the year. On June 13th, the Sacramento Professional Chapter said goodbye to outgoing officers, welcomed three new officers, and participated in a Teambuilding Scavenger Hunt with the Bay Area SHPE professionals in San Francisco. The purpose was to find a way to promote teambuilding among officers while fostering a relationship with a fellow Professional Chapter.

This was not your ordinary scavenger hunt. Picture a fast paced, web-interactive activity requiring smart phones, quick thinking, creative problem solving and fresh legs as teams—literally running through the streets of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf district—searched for key landmarks to decipher cryptic codes and riddles in their quest to accumulate the most points. The chapters later attended the NBOD meeting and farewell festivities for outgoing National President Diana Gomez that same evening. Overall the day’s activities were a great way to exercise all that SHPE has to offer: leadership, networking, personal and professional development, and of course FUN. The scavenger hunt was a great way to motivate the incoming executive board to continue to seek out the benefits of SHPE.