Our final pre-conference Profile in Leadership is of Cheryl Proctor, current Southeast Regional Vice President, the incoming Secretary on ILTA’s Board of Directors, and the Director of Client Services at Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. Cheryl often seems to be a woman of limitless energy, which she directs towards many diverse activities, including growing the Southeast Region’s Volunteer City Rep program to astronomic proportions, cooking amazing food, and achieving countless professional goals. ILTA’s Board will be very fortunate to have her energy; she begins her first two-year term at ILTA ’09.
What excites you the most about ILTA ’09?
I have to admit that I’m very excited to attend a session that is not directly technology related but is related to CAKE!! Food is my passion, and I love to cook/bake. I watch countless hours of the FoodNetwork in my free time and spend a good bit of time trying and inventing new recipes.
Thursday Super Session – 8:00 a.m.
CakeLove: Find Your Passion, Follow Your Calling
Conference is a whirlwind of activity; can you share your strategy or any tips to making it through and getting the most out of it?
- Get PLENTY of sleep before you come to conference. There is so much to do and see and learn that you will need your strength, as nap time isn’t built into the schedule.
- Plan your itinerary before you go. This will help you to make sure you don’t miss anything important and allow you not to “over plan” your time. Allow some breaks where you can potentially take advantage of demos, meet with vendors or network with other ILTA members. You can plan your week online here http://conference.iltanet.org/RightMenu/Planyourweek.aspx
- Organize for later. I meet so many people at conference, that when I return it’s hard to remember who everyone was and what I promised to contact them about afterward. One way to help my memory is to write on the back of their business card when I meet them. I write one or two characteristics or info about where we were that will help me remember them (i.e. brown hair, tall, English accent, met for coffee, ate lunch together, etc.) and what I promised to email them or communicate with them about later. When I return, I go through the stack of cards and catch up with everyone. It’s how many of my ILTA friendships have come about over the years.
- Pace yourself eating. There will always be more food in another 2 hours.
- Take a break. After breakfast but before the sessions, on breaks, after lunch – take a few minutes to step outside and get some fresh air. Don’t talk on your cell or answer emails, but just take 5 minutes of quiet time to take a few deep breaths, refresh and take a break. With the constant hum of the crowds during meals and breaks, your PDA buzzing from calls and emails you’re mission while in sessions and all of the day’s activities, a break in silence will help you regroup and refresh and be ready for the rest of the day. You will thank me later for this one.
What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?
- Volunteer City Rep (Nashville, TN)
- Various Task Forces
- Regional Vice President (Southeast Region)
- Board of Directors (Secretary – term beginning after conf ’09)
What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA?
At the time I helped start the local Nashville group, I found myself working for a law firm, which was a new industry for me, and in a city that I didn’t know very many people in. I didn’t even know any of my peers locally, much less on a national or international basis. I started with planning local events and really worked on getting people to know one another as a local group as well as forming a close bond with them. Some of them are very good friends of mine now. After several years of planning socials and informational meetings, I was lucky enough to get elected into my current role of SE RVP. I felt like that role would give me the chance to spread my wings and get to know even more ILTA (then LawNet) colleagues as well as help other cities to form strong local groups. I have really enjoyed my time in the past 6 years as an RVP. I’ve been lucky enough to have mentors who have helped me to grow not only in my role as RVP, but as a person and in my profession.
What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?
ILTA is also one of my passions. I believe in the organization and the power behind it. Being on the BoD will allow me to continue to serve the membership. I feel it is the next step in my “ILTA career”.
What does leadership mean to you?
The chance to serve as a voice for the membership. It allows me to help make a difference and make an impact.
What makes you a leader?
I believe I am a leader because I enjoy gaining consensus in a group and making a decision that is beneficial to all involved. I am an initiative taker and someone who will step up and volunteer to get something done. My parents always told me growing up “If you don’t like something, get involved to help change it, instead of being bystander who complains with the crowd.” I also like for people to have fun working together so I will do whatever it takes to get people laughing and enjoying time they spend together for any reason.
How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?
In all of the time I’ve been involved in ILTA, I have met some of the most amazing people. I have reached out to so many of my fellow ILTA family members to ask questions and gain wisdom. In every instance people have gone above and beyond to provide information, instruct and share. The incredibly talented peers I have had the pleasure of working with in ILTA over the years have mentored and challenged me to grow personally and professionally.
Do you have a blog?
If so, what’s the URL? What’s your Twitter handle? Nope, no blog. I’m just starting with Twitter CherylProctor
Filed under: Profiles in Leadership
