If you missed the opportunity to attend the 2014 NACAS Annual Conference in Montreal, featuring over 80 education sessions, inspiring messages from our three general sessions speakers, and the spectacular culture and hospitality of our Canadian hosts, I think everyone will agree that this year’s conference was one of the best we’ve had! My congratulations to the 2014 Annual Conference team, led by Kathryn Le Gros and Ed Kane, who should be proud of the fantastic work they accomplished. In particular, their Canadian Challenge campaign resulted in 112 Canadian institutional attendees, more than any other NACAS conference and more than double the number who attended in 2013.

NACAS is a strong association and I am proud of all the efforts of our volunteer leaders, committee chairs and members, regional leadership and boards. Without their commitment, the good work that supports our association cannot be performed. I look forward to 2015 and improving the programs and services that support your institutions and the businesses with whom we partner.

Some of you know that I had surgery a mere four weeks before this year's Annual Conference, and immediately before the conference I was given medical clearance to attend on the condition that I keep my activities to a minimum. Because of this, regrettably I was unable to see and talk to many of you.

Over the next month, we will begin planning a robust and exciting professional calendar for the upcoming year. Included in that calendar will be the 2015 NACAS Annual Conference on Nov. 1 - 4 in San Antonio, Texas. I look forward to being in full-force in San Antonio! The 2015 Annual Conference Committee has already begun to make plans that will continue to reinvent what a NACAS Annual Conference is. We are looking forward to sharing these ideas with you soon.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. We may not have been able to connect at the conference, but your comments are an integral part of helping us move NACAS forward!