The Wired-Side Chat: From the Desk of the CEO - February 2022
Happy February! It is Black History Month! A time when the accomplishments of African American contributions around the world are the focal point.
From the pioneering days of Westward Expansion where my Great Great Grandfather Albert Evans moved mountains and traveled by covered wagon with 40 men, women, and children in tow from Texas to Oklahoma to escape the emerging Jim Crow Laws, to me, serving IACET as the first African American, and first woman, Chief Executive Officer in present day.
I certainly stand on the strong shoulders of my ancestors of French Creole Indian and African descent. But I also stand on the shoulders of others who fought and died for the sake of justice and equality right here in the United States of America. I stand beside those who continue to pave the way for my children, my grandchildren, who will one day, go on to be leaders. I am sure of it! In the words of former First Lady, Michelle Obama, “History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.” It is my hope, my dream, that tolerance of one another becomes genuine acceptance of one another. Regardless of ethnic origin, religious affiliations, political beliefs, internal or external influence, we can leave this world better than we found it!
Now that I have your attention – let’s get down to business!
"Doing Business As" (DBA) Name
We have had a growing number of inquiries and questions regarding the “name change.” In 2020, we announced the organizational name adoption. The Pandemic slowed the processing of documents, and it has taken a lot longer than expected. The legal name continues to be the International Association for Continuing Education and Training and our operating name is the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training. The DBA adoption tells the world who we are, and more importantly, what we do. IACET is an Accreditor.
We continue to have Individual Affiliates who make up a society of continuing education and training professionals and Corporate Affiliates who align products and services with the ANSI/IACET CE/T Standard 1-2018. That won’t change. But our name adoption defines us much more clearly.
- Our DBA is International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training
- Our DBA will appear on your plaque and any other marketing/communications collateral
- Visit the Resources area of your portal for the most up-to-date marketing language for your own marketing/communications purposes
- Our legal name is International Association for Continuing Education
- For accounting purposes, you will use the legal name or IACET. If you use the DBA, we will still be able to process your payments
- Our legal name will still appear on our tax filing, W-9, W-2s, and NEC forms
I hope this answers any questions you may have. However, you can always reach out for further clarification!
Guidance on using Consultants
Here’s a little ‘consultant speak’ - Have you hired or thought about hiring a consultant to assist you with your accreditation goals? It’s something that should be well thought out. Recently, we have been made aware of some challenges that some of our Accredited Providers (APs) have experienced and even questions from prospective APs. Let’s make sure that you are informed of the ideal practices and processes when it comes to achieving accreditation and re-accreditation.
Some training organizations opt to contract with a consultant to assist in the process. While it is optimal to have a dedicated person on your staff to achieve this outcome, we understand that there are smaller training organizations that need to enlist the help of a third party. Unfortunately, some of our Accredited Providers have had some negative experiences that have been brought to my attention.
Let me be very clear. We do not have any affiliates in the consulting space that are authorized or certified to assist you in any IACET accreditation endeavors. The only group that are current on any of our standards or practices and who we would consider trained experts, are members of the IACET Commission. Holding an IACET individual affiliate ship is not the same. If we find this type of misrepresentation of IACET, rest assured, action will be taken, and active affiliate ships will be terminated. Please exercise extreme caution when using consultants to work with you on this very impactful decision for your respective organizations.
We do hear you and we know that there are organizations who really need the assistance of a consultant. Our commissioners are not able to consult on IACET Accreditation. We are in the process of considering a program on how we can provide you with those resources without conflict. We are all committed to ensuring that you are equipped with the knowledge to protect your business and be successful in achieving accreditation.
We have an amazing Director of Accreditation and Training, Dr. Karen LaMarsh, who leads our Accreditation and Training department. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or needing some additional guidance, please feel free to contact Karen to discuss.
In closing, I have a question: Could it be that Punxsutawney Phil was wrong? I can’t tell today. Or even yesterday. But the rest of the week, we are looking at 60-degree weather in Virginia! I don’t know about you – and I know that most are not a fan – but I want more snow! I just haven’t had enough! Storms are brewing… I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. Maybe, just maybe… 😊
Keep each other safe until we meet again
About the Author
Casandra Blassingame, MEd, is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET). She is a recognized leader in adult and continuing education and has over 20 years of experience in higher education, continuing and professional studies, and workforce development. Prior to joining IACET as CEO, Casandra was the Vice President of Education Services for the American Gear Manufacturers Association where she led the organization’s effort in achieving and maintaining IACET accreditation. She has also served as an IACET commissioner, reviewing dozens of applications, and an IACET Board Member.