As I look back on the past few months, not to mention the past four-years serving on the National Board, I am amazed by how much has changed with ASID and life in general. As the past year evolved, we continued to thoughtfully address how we work, travel, eat, shop, gather and look after the physical and emotional well-being of our families and friends. More than ever we have realized the importance of sticking together while finding hope and confidence that our closest friends and family will be by our side through thick and thin. My hope is that as ASID members, we will continue to elevate spaces, offering safe and secure environments for our clients and partners to congregate, socialize and navigate our future together.
 
Our most recent Good Design Initiative recipient, Brooke Horan, ASID, exemplifies this elevated design future by instilling collaboration and inspiration, and bringing others on that journey.
 
First and foremost, I am grateful for our ASID members and how we have supported each other and am humbled by how our staff has stepped up to move forward in uncertain times. Our organization has continued to build our valuable research base and enriched education platforms and events while remaining engaged with our members as our work-lives have shifted. Our collective resilience has kept us on course and helped us harness the power of an organization working together.
 
As we welcome new members to the National Board next month, I am excited for our continued strategic work with Carolyn Ames Noble, ASID, WELL AP, WELL Faculty, at the helm as Chair and Toni Gocke Wyre, FASID, LEED AP, WELL AP, as our new Chair-Elect. I am also enthusiastic to welcome Denise Rush, FASID back to the board to provide her unique perspective. I am proud of our organization’s successes, particularly in providing more opportunities for meaningful engagement of our members and sponsors, introducing innovative programming formats and topics, and providing professional development and outreach opportunities.  In the year ahead, we will continue these initiatives, as well as further develop virtual programming and events held across the country and beyond.

Thank you members for your continued participation and enthusiasm in our professional community, and our Industry Partners for your incredible support and advice. Finally, I'd like to give a special thanks and note of sincere appreciation to Gary Wheeler, FASID, our CEO and Charles Jewett, our COO, and the entire ASID staff and Board of Directors for their tireless work on behalf of the ASID. All the resources, guidance and support they provide each and every day made all the difference during our time together.

I look forward to our future—stronger than ever,

Kerrie Kelly, FASID, NKBA, CAPS
Chair, ASID National Board of Directors
Owner, Creative Director, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab