Eckard and Rosen named IABC Fellows

Communication World, July-August, 2007

IABC has selected Connie Eckard, Ph.D., ABC, and Sheri Rosen, ABC, as IABC Fellows. The IABC Fellow designation is the highest honor the association bestows on an individual and acknowledges outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment and service to IABC and the profession. Fellow selection criteria include contributions to the organizational communication field and profession; career achievement; authorship, speaking and lecturing; contributions to IABC; and other professional recognition such as community activities.

Connie Eckard has served IABC since its inception in 1970, at the chapter, district and international levels. He is a strong advocate of professional growth and development, and has been on innumerable judging panels for IABC awards programs. Eckard rewrote the Excellence in Communication Leadership (EXCEL) Award program and served on the accreditation board and council. He initiated the Leadership Institute program at IABC and received the Chair man's Award in 1990. He chaired an international conference in Dallas, Texas, and has been a frequent speaker at IABC conferences.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Sheri Rosen has been a trail-blazer in the world of new technology for communicators. Her "Digital Knowledge" column in IABC's Communication World was the first of its kind. She moderated Compuserve's Public Relations and Marketing Forum and held several international and regional positions at IABC. She has received more than 50 IABC and other professional awards, including the Chairman's Award. Her leadership, passion and vision rescued the San Antonio, Texas, chapter from extinction, steering it to win IABC's Small Chapter of the Year Award in 2005.

"I'm still in shock over this selection," says Eckard. 'Tm still grappling for words to describe my feelings. I was stunned. This is a big deal--this is the mountaintop."

"Sheri and Connie share a passion for communication," says Tudor Williams, ABC, 2007 Fellow chair, "and a deep loyalty and commitment to IABC and their fellow communicators. We are honored to recognize their lifetimes of achievements.

"[They] were both pioneers in IABC and in the communication profession," Williams adds, "but in very different ways. Sheri was an innovator in the use of digital technology for communication. She created one of the first corporate intranets. She led the profession into a brave new world of bits and bytes. And Connie served IABC before there was an IABC. He has been a leader at all levels and in almost every association activity."

When asked how he has contributed to the communication profession, Eckard says he's "not that caught up with any major accomplishments. I've just done a lot of little things through the years and attempted to do them correctly and professionally. Basically, I'm a writer and an editor. What I have done is chronicle the innovations of employees. I've shared stories about the things they have done to make a better business world for the people around them. It's my passionate way of teaching by example."

Says Rosen: "People who have been named IABC Fellows have been guiding lights to me throughout my career. If I have had even a fraction of the influence on others that they had on me, or given a spark of encouragement to others like I got from Fellows, that means something to me. Being named Fellow is like a capstone to my life work in communication-but I'm not finished yet."

Asked what advice she would offer aspiring communicators, Rosen replied: "Look outside the communication field for inspiration that you can apply to your communication work. Know yourself. When you discover your own operating style and know what you are good at, then build on your strengths. Find a place where the people around you affirm your value and contribution. I am lucky that for three decades IABC offered me that kind of support. When you find yourself in a community like that, you'll recognize that the people around you are what life is all about, and you'll get more than you give back."

the iabc job centre

IABC's international job board continues to grow, averaging nearly 200 new communication job postings each month. Find job openings in multinational corporations, privately owned companies, nonprofits, educational institutions, government, health care organizations and everything in between. Create your own Job Agent, and openings that fit your criteria will be e-mailed directly to you as soon as they're posted. jobs.iabc.com