Submitted by Peter Koonce and Kimberly Leung, Western District International Directors

The ITE International Board of Direction (IBOD) had its first meeting virtually this year, so your International Board of Directors waited to meet in person at the Western District Board meeting.

The International Board took several important actions:

• The IBOD approved the 2025 operating budget for ITE. This year’s budget reflects similar levels of spending on most of ITE’s programs and activities and includes investment funds set aside for two major initiatives (replacement of the association management software, and supplemental support for implementation of the brand evolution project).
• The IBOD continued its work on implementing the ITE Brand update. In the coming months, we will initiate conversations in each District about how Sections and Chapters may carry out the implementation. Official communication will be coming soon from ITE International
• The other major topic of conversation was the newly-released Safety Roadmap and Action Plan, another key element of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan. As a part of the roll out of the Safety Roadmap, please join me in a webinar on March 6, 2025 as a first step towards some big actions in the coming year!

Other significant updates included:

• The new Leadership Task Force will hold its first meeting in January, with plans to produce preliminary recommendations by this Fall. In addition to promoting a stronger leadership culture, there will be activities targeting tips and suggestions for succession planning, more recognition of our leaders, and different programs to help strengthen our existing leader skills – and grow the pool of potential leaders to follow in their footsteps. This Task Force is being chaired by Past International President Rosana Correa.
• During an operations update, staff reported that we ended 2024 with more than 18,000 members, the Districts helped support a record seven student leadership summits, and all Sections have completed their beneficial ownership information filings required by the IRS.
• Staff also updated the Board on progress being made toward an update of the Trip Generation Manual, scheduled for debut at the Annual Meeting in early August. More than 2,000 new data points were gathered last year, and the analysis is already underway.
• Elections for the International Vice President will close at noon on March 5. Voting in the election is a wonderful way to stay engage in the District.