"Meet the AACRAO Staff" is an occasional Connect feature. It's one way for members to get to know some of the folks hard at work in the AACRAO office. Another way? Come see us in D.C. -- we'll roll out the welcome mat for you!
This issue, meet Matt Ogle-- Associate Director of Board Services and enthusiastic endurance athlete.
How long have you been at AACRAO and what do you do here?
I've been at AACRAO since June of 2006. I started as an administrative assistant in the International Education Services department. In January 2008, I moved on to my current position as Associate Director of Board Services. In this role, I manage all the activities relating to the Association's Board of Directors. I am also responsible for assisting with other activities relating to the Association's volunteer leadership, like providing support for the Association's Nominations and Elections Committee and managing the annual Leadership and State and Regional meeting held each December here in Washington, DC.
What have been the key take-aways for you in your time here?
The most important lesson I've learned during my time at AACRAO is how to work with people at all levels of an organization. For example, when I started in my current position in 2008, I tended to be more timid than was appropriate of someone serving in my role. At the time, in what I took to be my role, that behavior seemed like the appropriate way to act, but I quickly learned that it served neither the Board Members whose work I was supporting, nor myself. Over time, I learned first-hand the importance of the seemingly banal platitude, "when in charge, be in charge" and how important it is to know the difference between when to speak up and be assertive and when to shut it and keep my thoughts to myself.
Favorite leisure activities?
I enjoy participating in endurance events, like obstacle course races and running races. I've grown particularly fond of an organization called GORUCK that runs an event called the GORUCK Challenge. It's run by current and former military special operations personnel and is designed to be a 12-hour taste of their training. I also enjoy reading a wide variety of books from Tom Clancy-like thrillers to history books and memoirs.
Which AACRAO meeting was most memorable for you, and why?
Several come immediately to mind. Boston 2007 was my first AACRAO meeting. It was also the first time I met the Registrar from my university, Scott Dittman of Washington and Lee University, whose name I recognized from four years of school emails, but hadn't had the pleasure of meeting until then. Philadelphia 2012 was also very memorable for a couple reasons. First was the departure of Jerry Sullivan for whom I had worked for four and a half years, and from whom I learned so much both professionally and personally. Also, the formal introduction of Mike Reilly, for whom it has been my sincere pleasure to work for and with over the past year. This year's San Francisco meeting will also always hold a special place for me as my last AACRAO meeting, as I'll be moving on to new things later this year.
By: AACRAO Connect
AACRAO Connect