Every National Conference provides an opportunity to thank outgoing members of the AISES Board of Directors and to welcome incoming members. This year the board’s chair, Dr. Twyla Baker, fulfilled her term. She and outgoing member Paul Kabotie were both recognized at the Closing Ceremony. New members are Gary Burnett and Amber Finley.

With the terms of some members ending and others beginning, the makeup of the Board of Directors changes annually. Outgoing members in 2017 are Paul Kabotie, Sheila Lopez, and Lisa Lone Fight; members whose terms will continue are Twyla Baker-Demaray, chair; Rick Stephens, vice-chair; Amber Finley, secretary; Bill Black; John B. Herrington; and Michael Laverdure. Joining the board are Grace Bulltail, Barney Enos, Kristina Halona, Alicia Jacobs, Adrienne Laverdure, and Shaun Tsabetsaye.

Entrepreneur and software trailblazer Paul Kabotie is taking a moment to reflect. It’s been a while since he’s retraced his road to here and now — he’s become a successful professional, happy family man, and proud member of the AISES Board of Directors. “When I was starting out on my own, I couldn’t possibly have known how things would work out,” says Kabotie. “It really was about always taking the next step forward, no matter what.”