Downsizing, rightsizing…HIM Was a Welcome Change!
By Marilyn K. Render

It's been eight years since I joined The American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA's) Volunteer Services Department. In most cases, individuals come to the Association with prior experience in association management or health information. I came in with a background in commercial real estate/asset management. In short, I had a solid background in the "for profit" world.

In the mid- 1980s, my more than ten-year-old career-in the world of shopping centers, strip center malls, leases, rent rolls, property management and budget allocation-began to get a small crack in its side. With that crack, I experienced my first of three layoffs in a six-year period. This was a new experience for me. I became quite alarmed, but not for too long. The reason my alarm didn't last was because-in the space of a single day-I lost a job and gained one.

Little did I know that this situation was preparing me for the next four years of downsizing and rightsizing challenges. The new job I had accepted only lasted three years. When layoff rumors started this time, I began to prepare myself and learn as much as I could about business management, organizational form and database management. Instead of waiting to "get the axe", I gave my resignation; however, I stayed on as a consultant for a year. Through the course of this ordeal, I grew quite leery of the real estate world, but I was not sure where to go. After the consulting contract ended, I took a year off to concentrate on what I wanted to do next.

My year of rest and exploration led me to give real estate one more shot. (After all, comfort was my key to success, and I was not settled with starting over in uncertain areas.) Shortly after seven months of employment at this particular real estate firm, the water cooler conversations started again and yes, lay off number four was about to take place. Well, through my experience of past disappointment and frustration of layoff after layoff, I was not about to go through liking a job only to have it go away again. I began to seek a career change.

While looking in a Chicago area newspaper, I noticed an ad for an executive assistant that placed emphasis on organizational skills and top-notch computer skills. I decided to take a chance and call for more details. I landed an interview! This lucky break came in May 1995 when I joined the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). I accepted a position in the Volunteer Services Department/Executive Office as Executive Administrative Assistant. My 10+ years of experience in real estate has afforded me the opportunity to work with 52 component state association leaders, over 400 volunteers and a host of HIM professionals. These professionals not only shape the future of the Association, but are key leaders in the world of health information management. Currently, I am the project associate in the Volunteer Services Department. In this role, no day is the same. I personally handle over 200 e-mails each day along with other departmental duties. With the launch of the Communities of Practice in 2001, I had another opportunity to be the staff facilitator to the State Leader and House of Delegates CoP and the key liaison to the Geographic (state) CoPs. My current responsibilities also include managing the Triumph Awards Committee and program, being staff liaison to the Nominating Committee and National Ballot process (set-up, coordination, distribution and preparation for electronic vote). I prepare presentations and meeting materials for Team Talks and Leadership Conference. I am also the staff liaison for the House of Delegates and other CSA related activities.

Being in this position for the national office offers me the knowledge of volunteerism, governance, leadership and technology in the HIM field. A motto I adopted from my personal experience here is that "Volunteers are the Success of our Association," and AHIMA volunteers and staff are the reason my career change was a much-welcomed success!

Marilyn K. Render is the Project Associate for Volunteer Services at the American Health information Managment Association (AHIMA) in Chicago, Illinois. Although not an HIM professional by background, Marilyn has become a huge resource for the AHIMA membership, coordinating many of their key activities, such as Team Talks.