Today marks three years since I joined AIIM on December 1, 2022, and I walked into an organization navigating financial recovery and industry transformation simultaneously.

I joined AIIM the day after ChatGPT was released to the public, and our entire field was scrambling to understand what it meant for information management. We were facing hard questions about relevance, sustainability, and purpose.

Three years later, I'm grateful we didn't just survive that moment. We used it to fundamentally reimagine what AIIM could be.

What We've Built Together

Financial Stability and Strategic Vision

The accomplishments I'm most proud of is the work AIIM did to stabilize while simultaneously evolving:

• We eradicated a deficit and achieved financial stability in less than three years. That wasn't magic. It was discipline, difficult choices, and the work of a passionate, innovative team.
• We launched a new vision positioning AIIM as the authority on data and information readiness for AI, because that's what is needed for success with AI and better business outcomes.

Evolving Our Certification and Events

We updated and revised the Certified Information Professional exam to reflect where the profession is actually heading, not where it's been.

And we renamed and reimagined our flagship event as the AI+IM Global Summit, a clear statement that we believe information management and AI are inseparable. The summit was a hit! The debut event delivered 85% satisfaction rating among the highest ever recorded for AIIM events. 75% of attendees indicated they would attend next year. You can experience this unique, interactive event for yourself at the AI+IM Global Summit 2026, April 28-30 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 

Strengthening Our Community

We welcomed the Business Forms Management Association into the AIIM family. Members can now access decades of content on forms management and strategy.

We revitalized Women in Information Management and launched the first BIPOC group for AIIM, creating spaces where people who've been underrepresented in this field can find community and support.

AIIM took to the road with new regional events in 2025, serving 260 practitioners in DC, Toronto, The Hague, and London.

AIIM continues to invest in strengthening the information management community through strategic partnerships and/or collaboration with DAMA Chapters, ABEINFO, NAGARA, IRMS, and our membership in the Global Information Consortium.

Expanding Education, Research, and Training

We expanded our professional development and content to focus on AI data readiness and AI adoption.

• We debuted our new AI Certificate of Specialization, authored by AI expert Kashyap Kompella, giving you the credentials to lead in this space. Plus, we enhanced our CIP professional development.
• We expanded our education offerings with virtual live training workshops like M365 Leadership Through Data and CIP Preparation with Athro Consulting.
• We introduced Insight Series webinars focused on current trends and issues, led by experts. We also introduced Demo Days for low-pressure demonstrations of the latest and greatest software in information management.
• We expanded our on-demand Training Library with now over 45 courses focused on specific domains.
• We published invaluable research, like the "Market Momentum Index: AI and Unstructured Data Management," "Market Momentum Index: Intelligent Document Processing," and our annual Industry Watch report.
• We also published the "AI Organizational Readiness for Generative AI Assessment" because our community needs frameworks and benchmarks, not just advice.
• We launched AIIM's first digital member-only resource library, a comprehensive knowledge base featuring over 215 searchable pieces of content, including white papers, webinars, and more. We introduced Aidan, our AI Search Assistant, to help members find what they need faster.

With these resources, our goal is simple: to bring you value and make your jobs easier so your organization can reach better business outcomes with unstructured data.

The Power of Volunteers

Our volunteers have been active too.

• The AIIM Board of Directors  developed a new organizational strategy, pushed forward multiple initiatives, and provided strategic oversight. 
• The AIIM Company of Fellows enhanced processes, introduced regular meetings, and improved their nomination process. 
• Our newly revived AIIM Ambassadors are championing our mission and spreading the word about the value of intelligent information management.
• Women in Information Management hosted webinars and facilitated networking.
• BIPOC Information Professionals Network organized multiple CIP study groups and educational webinars. 
• Our AIIM Florida Chapter and AIIM True North Chapter hosted several, well-attended virtual and in-person events for the community.
• The new Membership Committee conducted a survey of membership and is focused on how to create more value for members.
• The Development Committee worked with staff to develop new audience growth and marketing strategies. 

What I'm Grateful For

None of this happens without the members, volunteer leaders, and staff who bring their expertise, and without our members who show up and engage. I am grateful for:

• Our AIIM Board of Directors have been strategic guides and trusted partners when we've needed both challenge and support. I am especially grateful to the Chairs of the Board I had the pleasure of working with thus far during my tenure: Ron Cameron, Karen Hobert, and Rikkert Engels. 
• Our small but mighty and talented team at AIIM. I am incredibly thankful to our former and current staff (Georgina Clelland, Amy Michalski, Shelly Strickland, and Sasha Sicard) for their collaboration, creativity, and persistence. 
• Our volunteers and members who support and spread AIIM's vision to see intelligent information management at every organization using unstructured information.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, you'll see AIIM continue providing world-class education at the local level through our regional events. You'll hear more about our work to advance AI data readiness. We'll continue training on fundamentals, and we'll keep working to improve the customer experience at aiim.org.

We're not done. The work of positioning AIIM as the authority on data and information readiness for AI is ongoing. Our financial recovery continues. The industry transformation accelerates.

But I'm more convinced than ever that we're working on the right things, with the right people, at the right time. Ultimately, we're helping people manage and leverage unstructured and semi-structured data. This isn't background work anymore. It's fundamental to whether organizations can actually use AI effectively.

I'm excited to continue this journey and keep serving AIIM and this community. Thank you for three years of learning, building, and transformation. Here's to the bright future we're creating together.