It took Jeffry Raynes, then-CEO of IEEE, more than two years and a dozen trips to Asia to make inroads with Chinese officials and convince them of the value of opening a satellite office of his association near Beijing’s business district. The job cast Raynes, a seasoned association leader, into a new role—international business diplomat—charged with educating foreign officials about the role associations and volunteerism can play in supporting government activities. His experience is typical of the expanding international scope for a new breed of association leaders, who must acquire global business contacts and be adept at navigating overseas regulatory systems—and… Read More