NSBE - Convention 2014 - (Page 7)

Interim ExecutiveDirector From the Our Legacy of Service By Virginia Booth Womack NSBE Interim Executive Director G reetings to the NSBE family, from World Headquarters! As we move toward our 40th birthday as an organization, through a season of transition at the post of executive director, we reflect on our historical milestones, and we remember the legacy of leadership that helped shape the fortitude and resilience of the National Society of Black Engineers. In 1987, the student membership of NSBE had grown exponentially. We had completed our 12th Annual Conference and purchased our first National Headquarters building at 344 Commerce Street in Alexandria, Va. Donna O. Johnson had finished her second term as national chair, and Gary S. May, Ph.D. was elected to succeed her. That same year, Florence Morehead was appointed as the first full-time executive director for NSBE, to develop a full-time staff to execute the directives of the organization. During that time, the Board of Corporate Affiliates was established, NSBE's budget exceeded $1 million, and the Pre-College Initiative was formed. In 1991, NSBE negotiated for and purchased a new National Headquarters located at 1454 Duke Street in Alexandria. After serving for five years, Morehead was succeeded by Charles Walker, who was appointed executive director in 1993. During that time, the Alumni Extension was established, the NSBE Jr. chapters grew, and national headquarters staff expanded. After seven years of service, Walker was succeeded by Michele Lezama, who was appointed executive director of NSBE in 2000. Lezama focused on building strong relationships between our stakeholders, World Headquarters and student leadership, while creating a diversified financial foundation for the organization. Working with the student leadership, NSBE established a multimilliondollar budget, paid off the mortgage on our former residence and purchased our current facility at 205 Daingerfield Road in Alexandria. In 2005, Michele Lezama was succeeded by Carl B. Mack. Affectionately known www.nsbe.org as "Brother E.D.," Mack raised the social consciousness of our members and brought national recognition to the organization, its student leaders and its programs. From 2005 through 2013, NSBE's membership diversified to historic levels, and in 2007, the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) program was launched. Mack's eight years of service to this organization and his body of work speak for themselves. His tenure is the longest to date for a NSBE executive director. In my current role as interim executive director, I stand in awe of the vested support not only of our past executive directors but also of the student leaders, World Headquarters staff, stakeholders and membership. I have been committed to NSBE since the first conven- "Every executive director who serves NSBE passes the baton to the next leader, with the expectation that we will win...." tion in 1975, when I was a student at Purdue University. As an engineer with 10 years of lean manufacturing experience, I applaud the current focus on the use of metrics in everything we do. Every executive director who has served NSBE passes the baton to the next leader, with the expectation that we will win by accomplishing our mission. We must win. Our children are depending on us, and our nation's sustainability as a world leader is threatened if we fail. We are fighting to overcome a national educational system that lags behind in the global economy. The National Society of Black Engineers runs toward that problem full force. We are student leaders. We are engineers. Solving problems is what we do, and we are honored to be counted as part of the solution. We will demonstrate to this nation and the world that NSBE Counts! ■ NSBE MAGAZINE * C ONVENTION 2014 * 7 http://www.nsbe.org

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NSBE - Convention 2014