RHODE ISLAND EMERGING LEADERS
More than halfway through 2020
As we sailed past the halfway point of 2020 I don’t think
anyone in their right mind could have predicted what we have An Event Horizon
gone through these past few months. The world is certainly a different place now and although I yearn for a return to normalcy, no one really knows what the new normal is or will be. As the chairperson of the Emerging Leader’s it certainly has been a trying year. We had a great sold-out kickoff event in February but then the world came to a halt and we have tried to stay relevant and top of mind by doing a Zoom networking scavenger hunt and by hosting an online CE Day. Both events were successful but nothing can match the in-person networking and educational opportunities that we had been accustomed to providing for our members. So in these trying times I continually find myself asking, what happens next?? How do we bounce back to some kind of normalcy and what does that even mean. On a micro level where do the Emerging Leaders stand and how can we as independent agents and members of the community help the recovery? I once heard a quote that stuck with me and it was simply “The comeback is always greater than the setback” and that holds true now. I am looking forward to us as an industry bouncing back and maintaining our place in the community. We will be at the forefront of any recovery effort and will be hand in hand with our clients, friends, and colleagues as everyone rights the ship. In closing I am grateful for the support of the board members, IIARI leadership, and my fellow Emerging Leaders committee members. We will all get through this and we have some excellent events planned including the fall golf outing in October. I look forward to seeing everyone soon under “normal” circumstance but in the meantime I hope everyone stays safe and healthy.
“The comeback is always greater than the setback.” Timothy Mailloux Emerging Leaders Chair 37
Summer 2020