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President's Letter: 2024 Year in Review

Published on | Andrea Lehmkuhler | News & Updates
When I penned my opening letter to our membership in February, I had no idea just how quickly the year would go by. Now, as we prepare to welcome a new RIA President and board, I want to take a moment to reflect on the goals we set for this year and the progress we’ve made together.
RIA Board
President at podium

Looking back, I focused on three key priorities for 2024:

  1. Enhancing communication and transparency with our membership.
  2. Launching the PDC.
  3. Delivering a value-packed Summit.

In terms of communication, we’ve made meaningful strides. Our quarterly huddles are now established and will continue with a consistent cadence in 2025. Along the way, we recognized the need for more direct support and connection with our members. This realization led to the creation of the new Member Manager position. To date, we’ve received dozens of applications, and several strong candidates have emerged. We’re eager to see who will fill this role and help us continue serving this incredible industry.

Regarding the PDC, I knew it would require significant attention, but I didn’t fully anticipate the scope of this project. While we’ve made notable progress and seen strong growth, we also recognize this as an ongoing effort-one that must evolve to deliver clear and sustained value to our members.

The Summit, however, was an undeniable highlight of the year! With 92% of retail attendees saying they’d return, we’re building on that momentum to make next year’s event even bigger and bolder. We’ve taken constructive feedback to heart and look forward to seeing many of you in Atlanta in just a few months!

Reflecting personally, this year has taught me so much. In my own business -and likely yours- we strive to create an effortless experience for our customers, even though we know how much work goes on behind the scenes. The RIA operates in much the same way. From finding the right people to meticulous resource planning and navigating the unexpected, the work behind the scenes is immense, but the outcomes are worth it.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside such a phenomenal group of people. To the board: I’ve learned so much from each of you and remain deeply grateful for your service and impact.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited to see the RIA continue its forward momentum under its new leadership. Thank you all for your support this year-it’s been an honor to serve as your President. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the year ahead.

Warm regards,

Andrea Lehmkuhler

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