CHALLENGE YOURSELF! JOIN THE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
April 21, 2021
SHOUT OUT TO BERKSHIRE-BASED MEMBERS: CAN YOU VOLUNTEER FOR DLE COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT?
April 21, 2021
With current leader Ivy Rodriguez Campos gearing up for maternity leave, the DLE Programming Committee has selected two members to co-lead the volunteer planning group.
DLE Community Members Dan Zabatta and Kirsten Westermann are stepping up to coordinate future programming discussions, decisions and debuts. Dan, who recently moved to the Berkshires after a 25-year career in the Navy, works as the Fire Control System Configuration Management Lead at General Dynamics Mission Systems. Raleigh (NC)-based Kirsten is the Office Operations Coordinator at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting.
Excited about her new role, Kirsten credits her experience as a Programming Committee member and now, co-leader, with building new skills and confidence. “It has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to meet with new people, develop new ideas and grow as an individual,” she notes.
Poignant professional development has been core to the Programming Committee’s work. After tackling the topic of personal branding in a virtual world, the group’s next Ownership Workshop on April 29 delivers training to Nix the Verbal Tics and Become a Better Public Speaker with Ana Bahrani and Saksham Manchanda, leaders in Toastmasters International, the world’s most prestigious public speaking organization. Click here to register for this one-hour interactive program that will allow you to apply new techniques as you learn them from the experts.
As for teaming up with Dan, she envisions “new and exciting programs that feel worthwhile, informative and, of course, fun!”
Dan agrees, adding that he looks “forward to collaboratively leading the Programming Committee to give others the opportunities to succeed and improve themselves both professionally and in everyday life.”
During her tenure as Programming Committee leader, Ivy introduced the DLE Special Events with the first ever Virtual Comedy Hour last January. Ivy’s baby is due in July, and she plans to remain active with the committee through June.
“Having a hand in creating meaningful events for a community that flourished during the pandemic and embraced the changes is inspiring,” says Ivy, who is a Financial and Administrative Coordinator at Williams College in the Berkshires. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Kirsten and Dan will be a strong, productive duo that will continue this important work!”