June 2021 - 30

40 UNDER 40 perspectives
the impact of
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
By Bob Beron, CMAA
Growing up in the '80s
and '90s without a cellphone
or any type of electronic
communication, my " friend
requests " were sent out through
playing team sports. Accepting
this " request " indicated a bond
that was like no other type that
only people who have been
a part of team sports would
understand. So, from such an early age, I knew that I
wanted to spend my life centered on sports.
My journey began, as most do, with playing team
sports for your local recreational home town. Over
time, progression continued to travel ball and attending
tournaments/camps/clinics to get better at your sport.
All of these I attended with my friends so that we could
all grow together. Then, in the late '90s, I began playing
high school sports which I viewed as a test of my
accomplishments from my youth and early teen years. I
viewed this time as a test of my growth.
To continue my journey, college athletics was the next
step that I needed to prepare for. I relied on those friends
to prepare me to be ready for the next level of competition.
Without surrounding myself with people who will make
me better, I would not be where I am today.
I owe much of my accomplishments to my peers,
co-workers, college professors, administrators, and
especially my wife. During my journey, one thing has
always stood out for me. It is my continued drive to grow
as a professional. In 2003, when I graduated from Wesley
College my wife, girlfriend at the time, advised me of
a graduate assistant position to continue my growth in
the world of sports - which I accepted and completed
in 2006. When I became a high school athletic director
in 2007 at the age of 26, I instantly started to thirst for
that desire to learn more. Attending local professional
development workshops put on by the Delaware
Association of Athletic Directors (DAAD) I instantly
began sending out more " friend requests. " Accepting
these requests were veteran professionals that I would
30 JUNE 2021
use as a resource to learn and grow as a high school
athletic director. I also Attended National Interscholastic
Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) leadership
training courses (LTC) and conferences which have
always been a huge passion of mine as this has helped to
mold my philosophy as an athletic administrator.
I strongly believe that the journey of professional
development and professional growth is something
that continues your entire life to which there is never
an end in sight. Surrounding yourself with like-minded
professionals and people who will continue to walk with
you are what I believe to be the basic building blocks
that I have created from an early age. I challenge you to
continue to push the limits, accept failure, and continue
to grow as a professional.
To learn more about the NIAAA, its leadership training
courses, and conferences, visit members.niaaa.org and
view the available opportunities under the professional
development and conference tabs. For those in the state
of Delaware interested in the professional development
opportunities within the DAAD, visit DADDhome.
com and view the updates under the 'Professional
Development,' 'AD Resource & Links,' and 'Useful
Articles & Ideas' tabs.
Always remember that the journey you are taking will
never have an easy path but the people on the journey
with you will make the travel well worth the journey.
http://members.niaaa.org
June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2021
