ASMP Members, Colleagues, and the Entire Visual Creator Community,
I joined ASMP 41 years ago in 1979 when I was early in my career, co-sponsored by two fellow Florida members who were my mentors at that time. Part of my decision to join was based on the way I saw ASMP support fellow photographers and enhance their careers. Fast forward to a point in late 2014, some 35 years later, and I was given the unique and special opportunity to lead this organization as its Executive Director. This year, I will reach an appropriate retirement age, and as I look back, I can see the distinct phases of my professional life; an early time as a Florida newspaper photographer, followed by my time at the Philadelphia Inquirer, my time at the National Geographic Society, my time at the Washington Post, and most recently my time at ASMP. I feel it is now another time – namely one to begin a transition that will allow me to retire from full-time work, while still supporting the community I love.
Shortly after 2020 began, I informed the Board of Directors, Chapter Leadership, and membership about my desire to step back this year from full-time work as Executive Director. Over the coming months, I will be working with the National Board to help find the next Executive Director of ASMP. Once identified, I will be involved in a process to make sure that there is a seamless handover of responsibilities and information. Of course, even after my last day as Executive Director, I will likely continue to be involved with our community in some capacity.
There are few times in life when you can step away from a career stop and feel the separation is both amicable and appropriate, and this is one of those times. I am confident 2020 holds great things in store for this organization we all care for, and I am excited to help usher in the next era of leadership at ASMP.
Thank you all for the privilege I have had to serve in this capacity, and we will be talking again regularly over the upcoming weeks and months. For now and the immediate future, it is business as usual, and when there is new news, you will hear it from me, right here at ASMP.
Best,
Tom Kennedy
ASMP Executive Director