2021 State of the Association Address

It’s quite the understatement that 2020 was a challenging and different year for everyone.  It’s my hope that DAA was able to help youas a business professional last year – be it through our town halls, our COVID resources, our career-enhancing educational offerings – and by providing a community of your peers.

I know 2021 will look different too, as I step down to retire soon.  I am so very proud of where DAA is and I leave knowing that DAA is in a great place.

Highlights for the Year:

• We have ended the year as the highest number of members in our history – inching close to 6,000!
• We held an incredibly successful OneConference with highly rated pre-conference workshops – all while having to pivot to do it virtually. Attendees came from three continents, 10 countries, 26 states, and three Canadian provinces. Quanties took on a new look with video presentations by the finalists.
• The long-awaited Compensation Study update was unveiled.
• A 10-part mini webinar series on soft skills for digital analysts was developed and shared with our community.
• Our chapters had 36 events in 2020, most of them virtual. Since in-person Symposia was not an option, DAA held a virtual Symposia, with almost 700 global registrants. Salt Lake City joined the growing list of DAA chapters.
• We hosted 14 webinars, and the DAA SIGs (Media SIG and Search SIG) held several events.
• The COVID and Anti-Racism town halls attracted 350 attendees, and over 100 resources were listed for the Community.

Plans for 2021

• DAA is hosting a virtual Career Fair Jan 27, in response to the needs of our member employers and candidates.
• In addition to another Virtual Symposium, retitled Digital Exchange (Spring 2021), DAA will host an Analytics Day in June. More to come on that!
• We will be undertaking a deep study of our member’s journeys, in order to provide the best possible resources to meet the needs of all our members.
• DAA is committed to our efforts to eradicate racism. The Anti-Racism Task Force has identified over 15 concrete areas where DAA can make a difference, and has publicly listed those on our website for accountability.
• We will continue the important work of updating the Competency Framework, with the goal of unveiling it at the OneConference.
• The DAA OneConference, scheduled for Oct 5-7, has plans for an in-person gathering in Chicago, but we are exploring a hybrid option to accommodate our member’s needs.
• The board is exploring international expansion, in both India and the U.K.
• The Essential Series will be changing, with a SQL course in the spring to replace the Fundamentals course, as that content is covered well in other areas of DAA. In addition, we have inked a partnership with Lea Pica and her well-regarded Storytelling Academy.
• The Women in Analytics group will continue their work on the Women in Tech Maturity Model, and the robust mentoring program.

DAA has a great 2021 planned – all of it with YOU in mind as the member we serve.  I will miss all of you.  I’m proud that DAA has weathered this pandemic well and we are well poised for success.  I look forward to looking at DAA in another five years and saying WOW!

To your continued success!