Susan Burton, the executive director of the STC, will be speaking to our chapter on Monday night, 6:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express as usual.

Susan actually flew into Tampa today and I picked her up at the airport. She has a lot of experience managing associations, so this will be an excellent opportunity for our chapter.

Date: Monday, Dec 18
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Express (see directions)
Cost: $10

The STC website has the following biographical info about Susan:

When I visualize the future of STC, here’s what I see: STC shapes and promotes the field of technical communication. It provides education for technical communicators at every level–from the most advanced practitioner to the novice–through the annual conference, certificate programs, and webinars.

It produces must-read publications, both practical and theoretical. It models best use of technology and collaborative tools to create new knowledge in the field. It makes information, tools, and resources available 24/7. It receives media coverage for its competitions, which also help raise the standards of practice.

Technical communicators recognize STC as essential to their careers. CEOs and top executives value technical communicators and change the way companies run to leverage the expertise of STC members. STC is recognized worldwide as a symbol of quality and excellence.

STC executive director Susan Burton, CAE, has a 30-year track record of association management successes. She has worked for a wide variety of trade and professional associations, most recently as president and CEO of the American College of Health Care Administrators, changing the culture to be responsive, open, and transparent. She has served as the interim CEO for three associations, each of which hired her to take them through a transition to become more cost-effective and improve customer service.

Prior to these assignments, Burton was the first paid CEO of the Vision Council of America (VCA), which started as a desk in a law office. Under her leadership, VCA grew to a $7 million association with the second largest trade show on the globe. VCA’s public awareness program won prestigious American Society of Association Executives and Public Relations Society of America awards for increasing consumer awareness of the importance of eye care and eyewear.

Burton has experience with every major functional area in association management: chapter relations, membership, marketing, meeting planning, finances, education, certification, publications, advocacy, awards, and competitions. She has a B.A. in American history and education and an M.A. in Chinese history, and she earned the highest score in the nation when she became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 1984.