Sometimes you choose a career path, but it often chooses you. I did not start out my career in quality, but it was always a part of every job I held. I have worn many job ‘hats’ – including project lead, technical writer, and associate in areas such as marketing, human resources, contract, and risk management, working with various team sizes, including many with government agencies. The first time I heard about ASQ, it was when I joined a large government program as the Quality Manager. Prior to joining this team, I had spent three long months in between projects, looking for a new opportunity. This was the first time my position was officially as ‘quality manager’ and I was excited to join the team in this role. One of my first actions was to join ASQ and the Quality Management Division (QMD). At the time I had no idea that this would lead me some twenty years later to become the Chair of QMD. 

Throughout my career, I have always sought opportunities to improve my skills and knowledge. Joining ASQ was a significant step in this pursuit. The resources provided by the organization, such as journals and publications, were invaluable in keeping me up to date with the latest trends in quality management. Preparing for certifications, including the Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), became a crucial part of my professional development, reinforcing my commitment to excellence in quality management. 

I joined the QMD Board in 2008 as a marketing coordinator and eventually I became the vice chair, marketing. As I became more involved and started taking on leadership roles within the Quality Management Division (QMD), it significantly shaped my professional journey. Being a member leader allowed me to influence and drive quality initiatives, honing my leadership skills and providing a platform to make a substantial impact in the field. Organizing events, leading discussions, and contributing to strategic planning within QMD helped me grow as a leader. 

As a part of the QMD Board I was able to learn from some of our past outstanding QMD Chairs. In addition, I learned several important management aspects applicable to all ASQ Member Leaders; the three most important are: communication, collaboration, and attention to detail.  

Communication is essential to keep not only the QMD Board informed of planned activities, internally and with ASQ overall. It is also important to keep all QMD members aware of what our QMD goals and objectives are for the current year, and what our progress is towards both. Holding regular Town Hall meetings open to all members helps to keep communication channels open. Attention to detail is equally important, especially in the quality community. Our quarterly peer-reviewed publication, The Quality Management Forum, is an example. Everything we do, from postings to our LinkedIn site, myASQ pages, emails and webinars, it is vital to focus on quality details. 

Collaboration provides a path for working with other members, divisions and sections. Several years ago, when I was chair elect, we started actively recruiting volunteers. QMD is the largest ASQ Technical Community/Division, with more than 50% of all ASQ members. However, we had to find a way to encourage more members to become volunteers. We started posting on myASQ and LinkedIn requests to join our QMD Board as a volunteer. Our vice chairs, QMD member volunteers set up interviews with interested members with me and our chair elect. After our discussion, we initially assigned our new volunteers to one or more of our Content Management Committees (CMCs). Last year we conducted over twenty calls with members interested in joining us. Some of our newest vice chairs were a result of this process. 

Our largest collaboration activity this year is the planning and execution of the Joint Divisions’ Virtual Conference, an effort which includes a partnership with five divisions: Quality Management, Software, Energy and Environment, Design and Construction, and Government. ASQ Joint Division Conference | ASQ. 

My journey with ASQ, and particularly with the Quality Management Division, has been a testament to the power of dedication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I am grateful for the opportunities to lead, learn, and contribute to such a dynamic and impactful community. The pursuit of quality truly is a lifelong journey, one that I am proud to be a part of.