Every year, IABC/Calgary searches for our next Vice President, recruiting for a three-year leadership term that takes the VP candidate through to the President and Past President roles. This year, IABC/Calgary is excited to announce Rizalyn (Reese) Reyes as the incoming Vice President for our next board year (2021-2022).
Reese is a seasoned communicator with more than 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, media and advocacy. She is an aggressive friend-maker and people person who specializes in building engaged relationships, crafting compelling content and delivering quality products. But don’t take our word for it, check out her LinkedIn profile for more details.
We caught up with Reese virtually to ask her a few questions to help our members get to know her better.
Why did you want to be IABC/Calgary’s next Vice President?
Since joining in 2008, I’ve been a part of IABC in many ways – member, board director, volunteer, event attendee – all of which has shown me the true value of promoting our profession, cultivating networks and sharing best practices.
After the year we’ve had – global pandemic, social reckoning, the rise of misinformation, murder hornets! – our roles are ever more important, and I want to be a part of shining a spotlight on communications and the crucial role we play in good times and bad.
What do you want our members to know about you and your approach to leading IABC/Calgary?
Some people lead by driving results. I think the better path is to drive and inspire people. I take an inclusive, people-first approach to leadership and engagement, am dedicated to our local community and regularly engage with a vast network of communicators and friends. These are the cornerstones that will guide my work with IABC.
My focus for my executive term will be to steward communications leadership of diversity and inclusion, increase member value and engagement and broaden our membership base.
What are your favourite hobbies/quirky activities/passions?
I love being a busy bee and can often be found teaching our old dog new tricks (don’t listen to what you’ve heard – it’s possible!), volunteering, knitting, cooking, baking, re-learning to play the piano, winning at board games, losing at chess and so much more. Pre-COVID, I routinely overbooked my calendar, meeting with old friends and getting to know new ones.
And as a true word nerd, even beyond my day job, I spend the majority of my time writing – essays, short stories, poetry, the beginnings and bones of too many novels. I think it’s important to maintain my own voice for narratives outside my 9-5 and I’m always working on honing that.
Congratulations to Reese, who will be a great asset to our chapter, and leader of our volunteer team. We look forward to her officially stepping into her role next September!
