Posted by Jason Elias on Feb 23, 2023

Today my guest commentator is my dear friend, the incomparable Jason Elias. Jason will be leaving the NPAworldwide board on March 2. Jason’s years of membership and service to NPA has been iconic. His professionalism, dedication, and advocacy for all members of the network is a benchmark and a standard of service excellence.

In addition to being a loving family man and industry leader, Jason possesses a quick wit and a spontaneous sense of humor. I think Jason could have a second career as a stand-up comic! I have a big smile on my face as I think of several times in the midst of a serious discussion, he inserted some comic relief. Often, it was so fast and clever that it went right over my head…

Jason, we thank you for your dynamic leadership and remarkable service to NPA. You have touched the lives of so many. It has been my honor to serve alongside you on the Board and the Executive Committee. Above all, I thank the Lord for the gift of your friendship. —JL

I remember as a 12-year-old child sitting in the hall at my old school. The principal lectured us and said, “What you put in is what you get out.” Your efforts determine your success. 

This is has proven true in many facets of life, none more so than NPAworldwide. 

After 10 years of volunteering, please forgive the self- indulgence. 

I joined NPAworldwide around 20 years ago due to a chance meeting with another member, Owen Firth, who was one of the early adopters in Australia. I happened to luckily join the same week of the Australian/NZ annual meeting. I walked into the room and instantly felt welcome. It was like a reunion, yet I knew nobody but Owen. I had found my tribe. Warm, collaborative and authentic, these were “my people.” Many of them I am still proud to count as close friends today. 

Those who know me well, may be aware of my interest in technology. I built a jobs board in the early 2000s and saw an opportunity for NPA to do something similar given its size, industry and geographic reach. I pitched the idea to Genie Matthews who had the foresight to see the potential. That led me to nominate for the Board of Directors and in 2007 was elected as Aust’/NZ co-director with Christine Sturgess. I served in that capacity for four years, where I was blessed to learn from such generous and inspiring leaders like our very missed Manny Rao along with Kay Durkin, Russ Bray, Nancy Neumann, Rick Corey, Steve Morris, Laura Schmieder, and Kimberley Chesney. It was a lot more work than I anticipated, but boy did I learn so much about the network, people, how a board operates, and a newfound understanding of how a diverse group of people from such diverse backgrounds can work together for a common purpose.  

I served four years on the board and watched NPA grow globally. In 2014 I had the honour of receiving the Chairman’s Award in New Orleans, one of my favourite cities on the world. 

I then spent a few years focusing on my own business before being elected Secretary/ Treasurer and joining the Executive Committee in 2017. NPA governance had progressed so much in 6 years. The board had been streamlined and was more nimble. Processes and procedures were more efficient, and less time was spent "in the weeds” under the leadership of Nerissa Reyes and Bill Benson. Dave Nerz had also restructured his team to have a greater focus on members and their needs and this has been a resounding success. 

We were back in gorgeous New Orleans in 2020 whereupon Bill Benson passed the Chairman’s gavel to me. Few of us realised that the world was about to dramatically change over those next few days. Covid struck and the recruitment world was thrown into turmoil. Fortunately, it was just a blip and many of us found that our businesses quickly returned to better than pre-Covid levels as staff shortages hit globally. NPAworldwide was a great resource during this time. 

Many of us reconvened in Fort Worth last April and it was like a family reunion. Great to see old friends and make new ones. If you have not attended a Global Conference yet, I highly recommend it. Not only for the great training and networking opportunities but you will understand what NPAworldwide is all about—the collegiality and friendships. 

As I step down from the EC, I want to thank all those at head office, all those who I have worked with and all those who entrusted me. A big shout out to Jim Lyons, Pam Robison, Dave Nerz and the Board and staff who put so much time into the network. 

I will enjoy having some extra time for my business and family but do not regret serving this network that I love. It is no coincidence that those who have made lots of splits have also volunteered in the network and attended meetings. Visibility leads to credibility which leads to profitability. I am lucky to have reached platinum status now and that is proof that my school Headmaster in 1983 was right. What you put in is indeed what you get out.