Emerging Professionals Initiative Committee (EPIC)
Make Your Career EPIC
Join us for our first networking event on Thursday, Nov. 5! See details here.
Emerging professionals are not simply the future of the association industry - you are already shaping it. Your ideas, perspectives and growing influence help organizations make smarter decisions, embrace innovation and remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. Through EPIC, CSAE is creating a community where you and other emerging leaders build relationships, strengthen your voices and expand your impact.
The CSAE Emerging Professionals Initiative Committee (EPIC) is a new community created specifically for association professionals with seven years or fewer in the industry. EPIC is designed to help emerging professionals build meaningful relationships, strengthen their skills, expand their professional networks, and discover new opportunities to grow within the association community.
More than a program, EPIC is a community shaped by emerging professionals themselves. Participants will have a voice in the experiences, programs, and opportunities EPIC offers—helping create a community that reflects what today’s emerging association professionals actually need. Whether you work in membership, meetings and events, communications, marketing, education, government affairs, operations, technology—or you're still figuring out where your association career might take you—there's a place for you in EPIC.
Why Join EPIC?
Your first several years in association management can open the door to an incredibly rewarding career, but knowing where to find mentors, peers, professional development, and opportunities to become involved isn’t always easy. EPIC brings those opportunities together.
Through EPIC, you’ll have opportunities to:
- Build your network with other emerging professionals throughout Colorado’s association community.
- Connect with experienced association leaders who can share insights, advice, and lessons learned throughout their careers.
- Develop practical career and leadership skills through workshops, webinars, roundtables, and other professional development experiences.
- Find mentors and professional resources that can help you navigate your career and identify your next steps.
- Become involved and help determine the topics, programs, networking opportunities, and resources that will be most valuable to their careers.
- Build genuine peer relationships through mixers, coffees, small-group gatherings, and other informal networking opportunities.
- Help shape EPIC by sharing what you need and want from your professional community.
EPIC's programming will combine peer connection with practical career and leadership development, including skill-building programs, mentoring and access to experienced association executives, networking opportunities, and volunteer leadership experiences.
Current CSAE members are invited to participate in EPIC at no additional cost. Not yet a CSAE member? You're invited to experience EPIC and discover the professional community, resources, and opportunities available through CSAE membership.
Interested in sponsoring this initiative through December of 2027? This is an outstanding opportunity for businesses and associations who want to develop emerging professionals and be seen as a thought leader for the future professionals of our industry. Contact Su Hawk at [email protected] for full details. Sponsorship Prospectus. 
EPIC Leadership
Amelia: "I think the CSAE EPIC initiative is crucial to building the next generation of association professionals. As someone who is still relatively new to the industry, I’m interested in meeting the peers I will likely grow alongside in my career. I’m excited to strengthen our community of early professionals, establishing a space of support, development, and discovery."
EPIC Volunteer Committee Members
Rachel Coy, PR & Content Marketing Specialist, Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) "As someone who is still early in my career, I am always looking for opportunities to connect with other young professionals, and this committee provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Getting involved in an organization can feel intimidating as a young professional, but CSAE EPIC is helping to bridge that gap. I am excited to be part of something that is helping the next generation of association professionals find their place in the industry!"
Jack Murphy, Government Affairs Director, Colorado Nonprofit Association "So often, professional development is built around the C-suite and established leaders. Through EPIC, CSAE is taking an innovative step to invest in association professionals earlier in their careers. By bringing together tailored trainings, cross-sector mentorship, and meaningful relationship-building opportunities, EPIC will help emerging professionals strengthen their leadership skills, navigate their careers, and build deeper connections within Colorado’s association community."
Raven Refuerzo, Technical Programs Specialist, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) “Associations bring people together to move industries forward and make a meaningful impact. EPIC is important to me because none of that happens without people willing to step up and carry it into the future. Our responsibility is as much about the people as it is about the work”
Bailey Schmidt, Association Manager through Etherio “As someone new to the association field, I’m excited that EPIC equips all emerging professionals with real connections, practical learning, and mentors who open doors. It turns early‑career uncertainty into momentum and builds a true community.”
Board Liaison: Michael Hoehn, Chief Operating Officer, Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) "The future of our industry — and a strong, vibrant Colorado association community — depends on welcoming emerging professionals and helping them build rewarding careers. Developing people is one of the most meaningful parts of leadership for me. Through EPIC, I'm excited to champion new professionals and help them access the relationships, opportunities and resources they need to succeed."
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