By Barbara Harmon
People are always surprised to hear that I’m an introvert. I can get up and sing in front of a hundred people, but given a choice – I prefer to hide in my cubicle and create a cool graph.
So the first time I attended a CEI in 2007 in New Orleans I didn’t have high hopes of connecting with anyone in the compliance world. I was so wrong.
I have forged life long professional and personal relationships at the CEI. Friends from New Jersey, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado….we Facebook; we email… most of all we look forward to seeing each other once a year.
I encourage you to do the volunteer project. If someone says, let’s go to Howl at the Moon – do it. Compliance people are the real deal. Passionate, supportive and open.
Going to the CEI is like an annual booster shot against job apathy. I always return energized and inspired. I am not alone. I am a compliance introvert with friends.