24 Association Executive Profile Michele Ware’s path to leadership within the association world is an inspiring example of how persistence, mentorship, and the willingness to embrace new opportunities can create a rewarding and impactful career. From an unexpected start posting job listings to becoming the president of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles (BOMA GLA), Michele’s journey has been marked by quick transitions, pivotal moments, and a dedication to making a difference. In this interview, Michele shares her thoughts on her career path, the power of mentorship, and what it means to lead in today’s fast-changing world. Association Chat (AC) Michele, can you start by telling us a bit about your journey into the association world? How did you come to be the president of BOMA Greater Los Angeles? Michele Ware (MW) Like many in association management, I didn’t set out to work in this field. You don’t learn about association management in school, and most of us find our way into it by chance. I was a young mother at the time, working for the Long Beach Unified School District, and I had to take some time off after getting sick during my pregnancy. After I gave birth, I didn’t want to go back, so I decided to return to school. I was in nursing school when a family member told me about a part-time job at an association, and I decided to interview for it. I was hired by Professionals in Human Resources Association to handle job listings. This was before the internet, so I would drive to an office to pick up job postings from the fax machine and record them for people to call in every Friday. After three weeks, a marketing assistant position opened up, and they encouraged me to apply. I had no marketing experience, but they liked me, and I quickly moved from a part-time job to a full-time marketing assistant role. FROM JOB LISTINGS TO LEADERSHIP An Interview with Michele Ware, President of BOMA Greater Los Angeles That was just the start. I soon became an events coordinator, planning conferences and association events, all while finishing school. I eventually realized nursing wasn’t for me, and after a few interim CEOs, the
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