Inside NIRMA Spring 2021

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From the CRM Records Management Career — A Series of Song Lyrics T hroughout my life, I have related life’s moments to song lyrics more often than I care to admit. Often, I say it out loud and those that know me well, expect it, and may respond with their own dueling song lyric. But, for those newcomers to my world, I may get an eye roll or a wrinkled confused look. I will most likely get both responses from this readership and “it’s alright” (Traveling Wilburys). Bear with me as I relate my records and information management career to song lyrics. Phase 1 — “Mud on the Tires” I completed my MBA in 1995 and was searching for the next level in my professional life when my Department Manager at Savannah River Site (SRS) proposed a solid path to the CRM certification for those in the department who were qualified. The two in-house CRMs established study groups and the competition began. Despite a crazy work schedule and unexpected obstacles in my personal life, I remained persistent in studying for the exam and was very thrilled to pass Part 6 of the exam in January 1998 to become a CRM. Joining the elite CRM group gave me the feeling that I had a “brand new Chevrolet” to try out on a dirt road. I had reached a new level in my career and I felt so professional and so ready to prove myself that I could “hardly wait to get a little mud on the tires”. I felt obligated to give back to the profession and immediately became a test grader for Part 6 and began mentoring CRM candidates. I became immersed in ARMA International leadership starting with my local ARMA Chapter serving as Chapter Treasurer, Chapter Newsletter Editor, and Chapter President. I became a regular speaker for chapters in the Mid-Atlantic Region and enjoyed visiting the chapters and their cities. As if that was not enough, I jumped into ARMA Region leadership roles including Region Coordinator, Region Treasurer, and Region Manager. This enthusiasm for the profession, then resulted in being elected to serve a By Denise L. Pickett, CRM/NS/FED, IGP three-year term on the ARMA Board of Directors. The CRM designation was the key to breaking into my next awesome role with Deloitte & Touche as Regional Records Manager. The role was so diverse and allowed me to work with and travel to so many offices (cities) across the firm. Without the CRM, I would have never been offered this role. You cannot be scared to “get a little mud on the tires” and “stake out a little piece of shore line” of your own in your professional career. Phase 2 — “Big Shot” A new role as Records Management and Document Control Manager in the Nuclear Department at Black & Veatch pushed me back into the nuclear industry and opened the door to become very active in NIRMA. I had attended NIRMA conferences while at SRS in the 1990s and with company support began attending the annual NIRMA conferences again. During that first time back at a conference, I attended a study session for the CRM/Nuclear Specialist (CRM/NS) and immediately knew this was my next phase in my certification progression and my career. Mary Binkholder was the NIRMA President at that time and she said she was going to apply for and take the Nuclear Specialist examination which challenged me to do the same. I earned my NS designation the year after Mary earned hers and I felt like a “Big Shot”. I had to “prove it to the crowd” that I could be a part of the small group of active CRM/NSs. After being shocked by the low number of active Nuclear Specialists, I began challenging others to work toward this and “my friends were so knocked out” that two more active CRM/NS professionals have been added to the elite group. I have truly enjoyed the family feeling of NIRMA and being a part of the Membership & Marketing Business Unit and serving on the Board. The networking opportunities have been priceless so I invite all of you 18 Spring 2021 NIRMA.org Inside NIRMA
who are reading this to volunteer and/or attend future NIRMA conferences so you can be a “Big Shot” in a great industry. Phase 3 — “The Future’s So Bright” My next phase is a slight overlap with the previous one. While at Black & Veatch and as a result of serving on the ARMA International Board of Directors, I knew the Information Governance Professional (IGP) certification would be a feather in my cap and would show that “the future’s so bright” for the profession. The ARMA President challenged each of the board members to apply and take the examination since the board was instrumental in the strategic shift in mission and vison to the IGP. I was fortunate to gain more and more electronic and digital transformation experience each year and was anxious to prove that I was knowledgeable by sitting for the IGP examination, so attaining the IGP certification was very enticing. I passed that examination and I recognized that my resume was going to shine and that was when I knew that “the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades”. Phase 4 — Imagine Dragons “Whatever it Takes” The next phase is the pinnacle; it is the culmination of 30 years of experience as an information management professional in the federal government, nuclear industry, and accounting which led me to the role as Records Management Program Manager for the Office of Legacy Management and then to my current role of Director of Records & Information Management/Public Information Act Officer. During this phase, I felt that “Whatever it takes…Yeah, take me to the top I'm ready for…Whatever it takes…'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins”. A new certification of Federal Specialist was introduced and I knew with my 20 years of experience with the federal government that I had to do “whatever it takes” to add that certification to my resume. I passed and this last certification has allowed me to be the only CRM/NS/FED, IGP in the profession which is very cool. The current role of Director, RIM/PIAO for a county government hospital that has a noble cause of serving as a safety net hospital for Dallas County. In many aspects it is similar to working in the federal government with the addition of electronic health records. The role allows me to set the RIM policy for the hospital and serve as the government directed Records Management Officer and Public Information Act Officer. In closing, enjoy your career as a Records Manager (or a Document Control Manager or an Information Management Manager) and remember to “Celebrate….Good Times ….Come on”. If we cannot enjoy what we do and enjoy other colleagues in the profession, then why are we doing this? “Well, it's alright (alright), we're going to the end of the line” and “I’ve got the perfect place in mind”. I look forward to sharing my successes in the development of the hospital’s information governance program with this audience as this is my ”sweet dream baby”. Song References: Billy Joel – Big Shot Brad Paisley – Mud on the Tires Imagine Dragons – Whatever it Takes Kool & The Gang - Celebration Roy Orbinson – Dream Baby Timbuk 3 – The Future’s so Bright Traveling Wilburys – End of the line NIRMA’s Financial Holdings As of: February 11, 2021 Michelle Smith NIRMA Treasurer Money Market Account $ 109,810.43 Checking Account $ 18,987.12 Back to Content | Inside NIRMA NIRMA.org Spring 2021 19
Page 1 and 2: Issue # 10, Spring 2021 Inside Lead
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Spring 2021 in every issue
Page 5 and 6: FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT Bruce Walte
Page 7 and 8: Defining Microfilm “Production Sc
Page 9: NIRMA’s 45 th Anniversary Confere
Page 12 and 13: Continued from previous page. Look
Page 14 and 15: A Retrospective on Information Mana
Page 16 and 17: Lifetime Member Profile MEET MARGIE
Page 20 and 21: Digitize Microfilm/Fiche Without Sh
Page 22 and 23: News from the Records & Information
Page 24 and 25: Leaders, policy experts, researcher
Page 26 and 27: Nuclear Must Be Part of Taxonomy, s

Inside NIRMA Spring 2021

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