Meet Michele Cushnie; International Association of Business Communicators

Over the next few months we will be featuring profiles on some of our Experient clients.  Clients who have joined us at e4 in the past or are joining us this year for the first time.  Take a few minutes to get to know some of your industry peers.  Great people you will have a chance to get to know better when you join us at e4.  See you there ~ Teri Tonioli

• Name: Michele Cushnie
  

  Michele Cushnie

• Organization: International Association of Business Communicators
• Title: Vice President of Professional Development & Education
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Number of years with the organization: 5 months
• Professional background: Prior to my role with IABC, I was the Manager of Instructional Delivery and E-Learning at the Technology Transfer Program at the University of California, Berkeley where I provided vision and leadership for the development of professional development programs for transportation engineers and planners. I promoted the effective use of distance learning technologies and long-range activities related to workforce development. I have a doctorate of philosophy in human resource development and a master’s degree in African and African-American studies from Ohio State University. I also have a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University.
• Family life: I recently got married in Bermuda.  I spend time in Florida and Jamaica which is my native country.
• Morning routine: I get up and do a lot of aerobic exercising before going to work.  I am a vegan so I eat a lot grain and complex carbohydrates as well as fruit each morning.  I also take time to do my morning devotion and prayers.
• Greatest professional challenge: Getting staff to work as a team was a past challenge that I had.  Currently, I’m trying to learn and understand IABC’s culture and work style of doing things.
• A proud accomplishment from the past year: I am volunteer mentor for the Oremi Mentoring Program which serves children of incarcerated parents by creating lasting one-on-one mentoring relationships with community members.   I have  been actively involved with a 5-year old child for several months and  it is a privilege to help him in read, write, do arithmetic and bible study.  I tell him that he should strive  to be all that he can be.
• In a game of “Truth of Dare”, which would you pick? Truth
• Guilty Pleasure: I love to watch the television drama series “24”
• Favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon: Take a walk in a park, eat at my favorite restaurant or read a book
• If you could have any super power, what would it be and why? I wish I could take people’s negative thinking and turn into positive, encouraging thoughts.   Help people to to use their gifts and talents to uplift mankind
• Why do you come to e4? This is my first time
• What would you like to talk to other clients about at e4? … I would like to find out what is going well at their conferences and how to attract a younger audience

Yurii Land, CMP