AFCEA International Chapter News
ARKLATEX CHAPTER CHAPTER - Jan 13, 2015

Chapter Has Change in Command

The chapter sends best wishes to outgoing executive vice president Kevin Smith. He leaves the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, area for work in Austin, Texas. Smith had not yet retired from the 8th Air Force when he became the chapter's executive vice president more than eight years ago. He was instrumental in growing relationships with industry partners. Smith said, “Because of [those sponsors], we've been able to hit our target of putting on world-class events and raise enough funds to give out at least $30,000 each year in scholarships—normally 10 $3,000 student scholarships—and we've targeted giving out, on average, about five $2,000 teacher grants [every year]. We've attracted the very best in speakers across our industry, academia and government/military partners.” Ask any chapter member and he or she will tell you Smith has built an excellent chapter community in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Smith said, “We invited all of the key Bossier and Shreveport public officials and A-list community leaders. When you put on a great luncheon with a quality speaker, the audience [is engaged and loyal].” Smith nominated Senior Master Sgt. Barbara Schleben, USAF, Air Force Global Strike Command Directorate of Communications at Barksdale, as the interim executive vice president, and she was unanimously approved. Master Sgt. Schleben was confirmed in a vote by the general membership at the monthly chapter luncheon held in January. “It will be hard to fill in Kevin's shoes, but we have a wonderful organization doing great things for future scholars and educators in the area. I look forward to working with our corporate partners and community leaders highlighting education and technology,” Master Sgt. Schleben said. Chapter Publicity Chair Jill Macchiaverna notes there is a lot of work to do to fill Smith's role: “Kevin has always been such an energetic coordinator and relationship builder. He's been the backbone of our chapter for a long time, and we'll miss him.” Smith said, “We've never shied away from hosting large events or helping put on events like the NC3 Symposium or the Smart Cities Initiative/Mobile Enablement Symposium. Our goals have always been ambitious and far-reaching. We couldn't have done any of it without the outstanding people in our organization. It has been a great team effort.”

Event Photographs:

Present at the January chapter board meeting to vote on an interim executive vice president (l-r) are Benjamin Rosales; Lt. Chaim Shmuel Stitzer, USAF; outgoing executive vice president Kevin Smith; Senior Master Sgt. Barbara Schleben, USAF; Master Sgt. Alfred O'Connor; Brigette Melton of General Dynamics Information Technology; Lt. Timothy Hoffman, USAF; and Joshua Fisher of General Dynamics Information Technology.
Present at the January chapter board meeting to vote on an interim executive vice president (l-r) are Benjamin Rosales; Lt. Chaim Shmuel Stitzer, USAF; outgoing executive vice president Kevin Smith; Senior Master Sgt. Barbara Schleben, USAF; Master Sgt. Alfred O'Connor; Brigette Melton of General Dynamics Information Technology; Lt. Timothy Hoffman, USAF; and Joshua Fisher of General Dynamics Information Technology.

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