DAMA (Data Management Association):
Connect, Participate, Win
A first step to connect with others involved with data management is through membership in DAMA.
According to Thomas Hamlin, vice president of marketing for the
Michigan Chapter, "Joining DAMA provides access to internationally
recognized speakers in a local chapter venue and a great opportunity
for professional development." DAMA chapters sponsored more than 150
events in 14 international and 137 U.S. locations. Speakers bring
valuable, real project knowledge and encourage participants to share
"war stories" to leverage lessons learned, maximize best practice value
and minimize project pain.
Wayne Johnson, president of the Seattle Chapter, adds, "DAMA events
help build and validate appreciation for best practices, which aids in
increasing interest for best practices in the workplace." Johnson
believes that with regulation driving many IT projects these days, best
practices advocated by DAMA leverage efforts to achieve many
Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and other regulatory requirements.
Participation - talking with peers at chapter events, meeting new
people, leveraging lessons learned across companies, industries and
geographies - enlivens connections. "Professional sharing as doctors
exchange professional tips and experiences triggers ideas for existing
problems and future projects," says Hamlin. A powerful participation
approach taken by Johnson is akin to a buddy system. "In addition to my
own participation, I invite my management and peers to attend DAMA
learning events. That way, my work associates and I can play advocacy
roles for data management best practices within the firm to chip away
resistance and influence others to support best practice methodologies
for data management," says Johnson.
DAMA participation results in tangible, winning benefits. According
to Gordon Benkler, president of the Chicago Chapter, "One of the people
on our DAMA jobs list has found a full-time position. Two others on our
list have landed contracts for consulting." Benkler encourages
companies to submit job opportunity descriptions for distribution to
DAMA members in transition. Participation in DAMA is one way to
illustrate interest and currency in the data management profession.
Hamlin admits, "I landed my latest job through DAMA. And in another
situation, a DAMA associate was on the committee responsible for
selecting and approving data management services." Meeting key people
in informal yet professional settings builds bridges in growing and
expanding the sound network beneficial for today's economy.
Winning DAMA benefits go well beyond job networking. Johnson's buddy
system increases the number and level of people within an organization
knowledgeable about data management best practices. Growing interest
and advocacy within a firm can ease the pressures facing a data
management professional in moving toward consistent and professional
data management practices. One can increase job satisfaction by helping
transform an organizational culture to be more supportive of data
management best practices, reducing company costs and redundancy while
showing IT contribution to achieving company objectives.
As vice president of marketing for DAMA International, I encourage you to join, participate and win. To join, visit www.dama.org.
Participate by checking your Chapter's event schedule and attending one
or more events. As for winning, professionalism breeds winners. Share a
story that illustrates ways DAMA has helped you win. E-mail your
success story to VP_Marketing@DAMA.org and put in the subject line DAMA: WIN STORY.
Let's move the data management profession forward!
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DAMA CHAPTER LISTING
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Atlanta
Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Boston
Canberra, Australia
Carolina
Central Pennsylvania
Chicago
Dallas/Fort Worth
Denver (Rocky Mountain)
Finland
Florida
Germany
Heart of Texas Chapter ("HoT Chapter")
Houston
Iowa
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India
Kansas City
London, UK
Los Angeles
Melbourne, Australia
Michigan
Minnesota
Nashville
New Jersey
New York
Ohio (Central Ohio)
Ohio (Southwest Ohio)
Philadelphia/Delaware Valley
Phoenix
Pittsburgh (IRMAP)
Portland |
Rochester/Upstate New York
Sacramento Valley
San Francisco Bay Area
Scandinavia
Seattle (DRMA)
South Africa
Spain
St. Louis
Sydney, Australia
Toronto, Canada (Information Resource Management Association of Canada)
Virgina (Central Virginia)
Washington, DC. (National Capitol Region)
Wisconsin |
This is the list of DAMA international chapters. For details, visit our Web site: www.dama.org.
Can't find a chapter near you? See our Web site for information about our Member-at-Large program and forming chapters. |
Beverly Ostrowiecki, vice president of marketing for DAMA International.
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