June 2026 President's Message

Hi. My name is Matt, and I’m a Planner in Training.

It’s a pin for kids. I know that. But it’s mine, and I like it.

A few weeks after NPC, I noticed that I was trying to explain something in a meeting instead of taking the time to hear where someone was coming from. And that sat with me.

So I pulled out this pin from a session and put it on my notebook as a reminder to own the title more concretely in my day-to-day. To remember to approach conversations with curiosity. And to prioritize moving at the speed of us over the speed of technically correct.

So, here’s some questions that I’m asking myself this summer as a Planner in Training: Did I actually listen, or was I too busy trying to explain? Did I really understand what someone was trying to tell me, or was I just feeling like I needed to give the answer? Can I make it easier to change my mind by slowing down? And – am I okay to completely throw out my gameplan and timeline to make sure we can get there together?

That’s what I’m training for. It’s not really about planning expertise. It’s about finding the opportunity to learn more by being wrong, to engage a little longer before deciding I have it all figured out, and to remember that there’s always a pause worth taking. It’s about planning more like the kids the pins are meant for.