Welcome to the new us!

By: NASSM President Erienne Weight, University of North Carolina

NASSM President Erianne Weight

While hundreds of people enjoyed #NASSM22, many may not know that those magical days marked the beginning of a new era! So, here is your “Previously on NASSM…” recap:

After years of discussion and research (the first task force was formed in 2013), NASSM transitioned into a new governance structure. Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, the Executive Committee led by President Bri Newland hosted 3 Town Halls and sent out several emails regarding this change. Then in a special member meeting in February, hosted online to allow as many members to join as possible, the governance structure change was ratified with over the required two thirds voting yes. And away we went. Here is the current structure of NASSM:

What does this mean for you?

1. There are more opportunities to get involved! You can see there are 8 standing committees, 7 of which are comprised of professional members with one student representative. Some are more strategic, such as diversity & inclusion or the nominating committees, and some are more operational, such as the conference or marketing and communications committees.

2. The committees have more decision-making power. As the hotel industry changes, the academic world shifts, and our world evolves, this new structure will allow for more nimbleness. Each committee has a liaison on the governing board who reports monthly updates to the governing board, as well as addresses any concerns from those committees. The committees with guidance of the operating codes conduct the day to day business of NASSM in coordinating with the Executive Director, as well as work on strategic initiatives in their respective areas.

3. More changes are ahead and not all change is smooth. There’s a plan, then there are the day-to-day realities of a new governance structure. While the transition has been fairly smooth thanks to the efforts of our Executive Director, Strategic Plan Task Force, Academic Chair, and many others, it will take time to fully bring the vision to life. As a result, please reach out to any of the Governing Board members if you have questions or concerns. As they will be doing less operational work, they will have more capacity to engage.

What does this mean for NASSM?

1. The governing board is strategic not operational. The Governing Board now meets pretty much once a month, and online to reduce costs. We focus vision, mission, strategy, and creating initiatives for the strategic future of the society. The Executive Director is tasked with the operational execution of this in collaboration with many committees. However, it is not a top-down approach, the committees do a wonderful job of providing insight and ideas to the governing board as well. It is truly a two-way street like never before.

2. There are new awards committees. There are award committees dedicated to each of the major awards. They screen the candidates and put forth 2-3 candidates depending on the committee for the Governing Board to select the winners each year. These committees are a great way to engage with the society. See the operating codes for details on each of those committees.  

What’s next?

1. We’re currently working on the strategic plan. NASSM is often thought of as a once-a-year endeavor, but we are a year-round operation. While the committees are hard at work with their specific roles, the Governing Board is focused on the strategic plan

2. Some ideas are on pause. We need to determine how these ideas fit into the strategic plan before we jump into a billion different initiatives. Developing a more comprehensive strategy will help create long-term change, rather than a scattershot of programs or changes. There is energy and excitement in the governing board and many committees, and we believe this plan and our successful implementation of this plan will put NASSM in the right direction.

Who would I go to if I…

1. wanted to help review NASSM conference abstracts? The Academic Chair. The current chair is Bri Newland.

2. had suggestions for the conference improvements? The conference committee. The current chair is Tommy Aicher.

3. wanted to sponsor the NASSM conference? The Executive Director, Scott Soldat-Valenzuela

4. wanted to write a blog post about my research or teaching? The marketing and communications committee. The current chair is Ari Kim.

5. had a question about the strategic plan? Any member of the Governing Board. You can find their information and contacts here.

6. wanted to connect an industry partner to NASSM. The industry partnerships & relations committee. The current chair is Jim Zimmerman.

Did you know?

1. You can find all our operating codes here. This is where you can find anytime how things are supposed to operate within NASSM. It’s a great resource for how to get engaged with the society.

2. NASSM 2023 will be in Montreal. While the Call for Papers and Teaching & Learning Fair submissions are closed, you can find dates and more information about the conference here. For NASSM 2024, did you know you can reach out the Academic Chair to ask to review abstracts for the society?

3. Most communication done by NASSM is through their email list. By becoming a member, you can receive these important notifications, such as for award nominations or committee opportunities. Make sure to change your settings so these emails don’t go to your spam folder. NASSM is also on Twitter (NASSM), Facebook (NASSM), and Instagram (NASSMGram).