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The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) held its 2015 World Conference in San Francisco this week. Amidst the keynote talks, breakout sessions, receptions, and a host of other events, 2014-15 Chair Russell Grossman passed the gavel to 2015-16 Chair Michael Ambjorn. Ambjorn takes over the lead volunteer role as the association continues to recover from some turbulence. In this FIR interview, conducted moments after the conference officially wrapped up, FIR co-host Shel Holtz chats with Ambjorn about the state of IABC, his goals for the next year, how the association can remain relevant, how communicators can benefit from membership, and how IABC can serve non-members.

IABC’s 2015-16 Chair Michael Ambjorn discusses his vision for his term during the Annual General Meeting in San Francisco on June 17. Outgoing Chair Russell Grossman (left) and Executive Director Carlos Fulcher listen.

Michael has captured his primary goals for his term in three hashtags:

• #globalprofession
• #insightsandresults
• #createconnection

He discusses the ideas behind these hashtags in the interview.

While Michael spoke extemporaneously at the AGM, the remarks he prepared are available for review on the IABC website.

About our Conversation Partner

Michael Ambjorn is founder of Align Your Org, and passionate about helping changemakers – whether corporate, public sector or non-profit – achieve purpose-driven impact. With a participation- centric approach he and his colleagues enable effective strategic planning, communication – and clarity of execution. Ambjorn has served as chair of IABC’s Europe and Middle East Region and is the facilitator for IABC’s 2014–17 strategy. He has worked in various management roles at IBM, Motorola and, most recently, the 260–year–old Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) in London, where he remains an active Fellow.

Connect with Michael on Twitter at @MichaelAmbjorn.

About Shel Holtz

Shel Holtz, ABC (Accredited Business Communicator), is director of Internal Communications at Webcor, a commercial general contractor headquartered in San Francisco. Before joining Webcor, Shel spent 21 years as principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. In addition to integrating technology into communications strategies, his expertise includes strategic communications planning, change management, organizational culture, business initiatives and communications research. Full bio