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1/9/2026
Happy New Year, Heartland,
As we reflect on 2025, we are excited about the progress our Chapter has made together and for the collective commitment of our remarkable community of directors, board leaders, sponsors, and partners. Please join me in thanking our outgoing board members Jim Shay (past-chair), Kevin Connor (past vice-chair), & Lisa Hardwick for their incredible leadership and dedication to NACD Heartland Chapter!
This past year, the Heartland Chapter continued to broaden access to governance education through a commitment to select hybrid programs, making it easier for directors to engage across our five-state footprint. We delivered 23 NACD credit-granting programs in partnership with our incredible sponsors, reinforcing access to high-quality, relevant topics for our 1000-plus Heartland director community.
Engagement grew with overall program attendance increasing an extraordinary 25%, nearly doubling the number of first-time attendees. Programs were delivered across six active markets, extending our reach beyond Kansas City and reinforcing the Chapter’s regional presence. Strong alignment with our sponsors and partners supported thoughtful conversations grounded in the real challenges directors face.
We successfully leveraged sister Chapter best practices to elevate our marketing and provide earlier visibility into programming to facilitate members’ engagement consistently throughout the year. Importantly, board leadership representation now spans all active Heartland markets, reinforcing that each region has a voice in shaping the Chapter’s direction.
At the national level, we celebrated the well-deserved recognition of two Heartland Chapter members named in the prestigious 2025 NACD National Director 100 Recognition Award! And, once again, our Wicked Smart Chapter was well represented in the fall at the 2025 NACD Summit hosted in our nation’s capital.
As I conclude my term as Chair, I thank our members for your trust and commitment, and express my appreciation to our amazing board, sponsors, and staff for their partnership and dedication throughout the year. The momentum built in recent years positions the Chapter for continued growth and impact.
As we turn the page to 2026, we are confident in the Chapter’s continued direction. Next week, you’ll hear from Dave Komar, Heartland’s incoming Chair, who will share 2026 priorities and opportunities.
It’s been an honor to serve as Chair of the Heartland community. Cheers to another great year!
Warm regards,
Christine Pierson
Heartland Chapter Board Chair (2025)
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