I have been in awe of the MRA since I first became a member.  The MRA has always been an organization that grew and evolved with the work of amazing volunteers and a great staff on the national level.  Being a member of a MRA chapter you get the opportunity to see up close what power a small group of motivated volunteers can have.  I was lucky enough three years ago to be asked to volunteer my time on the Southwest Chapter Board.   I was hesitant initially of course, but I quickly found out that all the other volunteers were just like me.   We all worked in this same dynamic industry and we all had the same driving interest in seeing marketing research knowledge and understanding flourish.  With a great board and amazing membership behind me I see great opportunities for our chapter to grow and learn this next year and many more to come.

As a 3^rd generation market researcher I am lucky to have been around Southwest chapter members and former board members for more than half my life.  I was a teenager when I first went to the SWMRA Las Vegas conference and I wasn’t even allowed on the casino floor.   Our Southwest Chapter has an amazing history and many great traditions.  We have a legacy of putting on some of the industry’s most insightful and educational events and providing great opportunities for members to network.   This next year we need to push ourselves to evolve, offering new opportunities while celebrating our traditions and past.

Many members of our chapter new or old consider each other family.  I hope this next year we can make each of our members and event attendees feel like a part of that growing family.  If you see a new face at any of our events don’t hesitate to introduce yourself and welcome them.  We can learn so much from each other’s knowledge and experiences

Get Weird in Austin!

This August 6^th & 7^th our chapter will be hosting our annual Educational Forum in Austin, Texas.   We will be kicking off the event with a reception up in the Eighteenth over Austin lounge at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown.  The reception will be a great opportunity to network with others in the marketing research field while enjoying some great food and drinks.   We also will enjoy some local Austin music with The CDR band playing throughout the evening.

Friday we have a full day of insightful speakers and a corporate researcher panel.  Join us for breakfast, lunch, and many thought provoking sessions.

Vegas Vacation

We are in the final planning stages for our 30^th Annual Las Vegas Conference.   That is correct.  Our chapter with the help of others has continued the tradition for 30 years.  A special thanks is due to each and every board member or volunteer that has had a hand in any of the past 29 years.  Mark your calendars for April 5^th-7^th, 2016.  In addition to insightful speakers our will work to provide great opportunities to network with other knowledgeable researchers just like yourself.

If there is anything we can do to increase the value and education you are getting from your MRA Membership don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]

Thanks,

David Galloway