As we enter the New Year we are excited about several initiatives that we have in place and new programs and enhancements scheduled for 2010.  Our board member PO Improvement Communities (IC) and the organic IC’s that have formed are making great progress.  And, at the close of 2009, we announced and welcomed our newest board member, Michele Sliger, to the team and we are excited to have her expertise guiding us.

The Scrum Alliance thanks team members Jodi Marsh Gibson, Howard Sublett and Tonya Thomas for their continued work with the organization and welcomes new team member Tobias Mayer (CST).  Tobias will join the staff in 2010 in a new role for the Scrum Alliance and be responsible for the creative direction of the organization, including outreach to individuals and groups in the Scrum and wider Agile communities to collect ideas and synthesize them for the benefit of Scrum Alliance membership in all areas.  The search for a permanent Managing Director continues with the search committee in the final steps of selecting a recruiting firm.  To prepare for an extended interim period, Lowell Lindstrom (CST) will remain the interim Managing Director as planned through February.  Jim Cundiff, former Managing Director, has agreed to extend his agreement with the SA and take over as interim Managing Director in March while the search progresses.

We are all excited and looking forward to a productive 2010 and we appreciate and value the input of our members.  A few of the exciting initiatives to look for in the New Year include:
the Orlando Scrum Gathering in March featuring deep dive workshops and much more, a new SA scholarship program, a mentoring program for CST applicants, continued focus on the established IC’s and development (as needed) of new IC’s, additional Scrum Gathering events throughout the world, website enhancements, CSM exam and certification review, CSP enhancements, additional updates regarding Scrum resources, articles, content, research and much more!

Thanks to each of you for your work in the community this past year.  As Scrum Alliance members, we collectively move forward striving to transform the world of work!
Best wishes for the New Year!

_{posted by Scrum Alliance (05 Jan 10)}