Aaron Wolowiec

Michigan native Aaron Wolowiec is an exceptionally talented and passionate leader whose diverse achievements guide and propel association goals and initiatives, especially as they relate to education and learning. Aaron has more than a decade of experience in the meetings industry, and has taught for three years at a Michigan college. Aaron is a certified association executive, a certified meeting professional and a certified tourism ambassador, and he earned a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University. Aaron is a meetings innovator and professional development trailblazer who strives to deliver dynamic, meaningful and inspiring experiences your members won’t soon forget.

An active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Aaron is both past chairman of the Young Association Executives Committee and a 2009-2011 Diversity Executive Leadership Program scholar. In these roles, he facilitates and coordinates the engagement of young professional members; promotes volunteer involvement; contributes content resources; and forwards diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the association community.

In 2010, Aaron was approached by the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) to establish a new Emerging Professionals Committee. In addition to championing this initiative, Aaron has served as the committee’s chairman since its establishment. Today, the mission of this group is to cultivate emerging association leaders through the development and enhancement of resources that enable career advancement and excellence.

Aaron is also a regular contributor of young/emerging professional and association-related content to industry newsletters, newspapers and magazines, including “Associations Now” and “Association News.” In 2009, he was featured in a special edition of “USA Today” at ASAE’s annual meeting in Toronto and served as an Acronym guest blogger for eight months (during which time the blog garnered more than 75,000 page views and more than 55,000 user sessions each month).

In 2010, Aaron co-presented two very well received sessions for ASAE: “Crisis Management 101: How prepared are you to handle a crisis at your next meeting?” (at the Great Ideas conference in Colorado Springs) and “Beyond Diversity: Building an Inclusive Environment” (at ASAE’s annual meeting in Los Angeles). In August 2012, he will co-present a session titled, “Reimagine Signature Events to Empower Self-Directed Learners” (at ASAE’s annual meeting in Dallas).

Most recently, Aaron was one of 18 young professionals invited to meet Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder during a luncheon outlining his commitment to making the state a vibrant place to work. Aaron also received the prestigious 2011 MSAE Emerging New Leader award, a symbol of extraordinary achievements and the promise of future accomplishments within the association management profession.

Today, Aaron serves as founder and president of Event Garde LLC, a professional development consulting firm based in Grand Rapids, Mich., that marries dynamic people and their diverse needs with visionary leadership to deliver compelling member experiences that inspire learning, engagement and community. Specifically, Aaron works with leaders who want to plan engaging events and associations that want to deliver dynamic member experiences. By partnering with clients to tear away all preconceptions about learning and networking events, Aaron reveals truly dynamic programs, events and professional development experiences that produce remarkable, unexpected results.

For more information about Event Garde LLC, download the promotional brochure, visit the website and connect on Facebook.