Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
ABAI Celebrates Grand Opening of New Building!
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By Maria E. Malott
On March 20th, 2009, the Association for Behavior Analysis International celebrated years of growth and organizational progress with the grand opening of its new headquarters in Portage, Michigan. Overlooking the scenic wetlands of Portage Creek, the beautiful 14,580 square foot building provides the needed space for ABAI staff to plan, develop, and maintain the programs and incentives that support members’ needs in the practice and science of behavior analysis and education in the field.
The building is more than an office; it is a symbol of the spirit of constant improvement and growth that has characterized ABAI. Of the building’s three floors, the Association only occupies the third and half of the first, which means that the building also provides room for continued growth. In the meantime, the extra space is rented, providing additional streams of revenue to support ABAI infrastructure and activities.
ABAI’s Past Locations
The new location is in sharp contrast to ABAI’s first headquarters. Standing before the new building, it seems incredible that ABAI began modestly as a single, small office housed within Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Psychology Department, in Wood Hall.
ABAI relocated in 1995, when WMU remodeled Wood Hall; necessitating the organization’s move to West Hall. While the new location was intended to be temporary, when the Wood Hall renovations were completed there was no longer space for ABAI.
With ABAI’s services expanding, the organization inevitably needed to upgrade its facilities. This need prompted the purchase of ABAI’s first building and, on October 5th, 2002, we held the official inauguration ceremony for the 1219 South Park Street office in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Finally, as a result of years of improvement and commitment to growth of services, ABAI was housed in its own building. With nearly 3,900 square feet available for office and meeting space, ABAI continued to thrive and evolve.
Growth in Services for ABAI’s Members
Since 2002, the expansion and growth of ABAI has been significant. Registration for the annual convention alone has grown by over 80% since that time. Increased resources have allowed us to improve the value of the annual convention and add two additional conferences per year. The organization now conducts an annual autism conference that will reach its fourth year in 2010. Another example of a specialized ABAI event was a conference on education in 2008. Upcoming in 2011, we are organizing a science conference which we expect will greatly benefit the dissemination of behavioral science.
This expansion has also meant an increased global presence for the organization. ABAI has conducted conferences in Venice, Campinas (Brazil), Beijing, Sydney, and this year, Oslo. ABAI has also organized several international delegations to Russia, China, Bahrain, Jordan, and others. These conferences and delegations are just a few examples of how ABAI has been able to aid in the promotion and development of behavior analysis worldwide.
Behavior analysis continues to strengthen as evidenced by the growth of ABAI’s affiliated chapters and special interest groups. In 2002, ABAI had 40 affiliated chapters (17 international and 23 US). Today, that number has grown to 70 chapters (32 international and 38 US). Our special interest groups have grown to 32 (up from 20 in 2002).
Another example of how services have expanded since 2002 is the creation of an organizational membership to specifically address the unique needs of organizations active in the field of behavior analysis. Currently ABAI has 11 organizations that benefit from the services we provide
Our publications have also grown. Currently, ABAI has three journals—The Behavior Analyst, Behavioral Analysis in Practice, and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. In addition, we have been able to revamp and improve our newsletter, which is now titled Inside Behavior Analysis—this being the first issue.
Our boards and committees have also increased in scope and activity. ABAI now has a Practice Board to support practitioner related issues. This board is providing valuable support for the field in the areas of licensure, legislative advocacy, continuing education, and research in practice. In addition, ABAI now has a Science Board working to support the dissemination of the science of behavior analysis. The Education Board was formed to develop, improve, and disseminate best practices in recruitment, training, and professional development of behavior analysis. Our boards have also increased in complexity and include multiple committees aligned with each of their overall objectives. ABAI is very appreciative of the hard work, initiative, and tireless efforts of nearly 200 volunteer members within the boards, committees, task forces, and Executive Council.
ABAI continues to improve the types of services we can offer our members. Currently, we are restructuring our technology and infrastructure, which should allow the organization to increase the number of services we can provide. One of these new services is a professional liability insurance program, scheduled to launch in September of this year. In order to accommodate the growth of association membership and services, ABAI has also had to increase its staff in the central administrative offices. This team has grown from six full-time equivalents in 2002 to 19 in 2009. In the beginning, staff positions were first filled by students on a part-time basis. However, the job functions have grown significantly in scope since then; meriting new positions and roles.
In addition to our regular staff, ABAI brings aboard approximately 20 students on a seasonal basis to work on the preparations for the convention. The organization also contracts additional on-site team members to manage the annual convention. The event now requires the use of a convention center, four to five hotels, and 79 staff members working behind the scenes (including regular and seasonal staff, and on-site contracted team members).
Our current administrative office structure is constantly changing to adjust to the growth of our services and demands of our members. Currently, our Events Department coordinates the logistics and amenities that accompany conferences and conventions. Our Professional Issues Department oversees continuing education, publications, and support for our boards, committees, special interest groups, and affiliated chapters. The Membership Services Department includes receivables and member assistance and support. The Information Technology Department includes system architecture, network administration, programming, and project management. We are beginning to develop our Sales and Marketing area to handle promotional services, organizational memberships, and other specialized programs such as event-related bookstores. Our Finance area handles payables, investments, and property. Clearly, ABAI has grown considerably since its early beginnings.
The New Building
It did not take many years before the South Park building became insufficient to accommodate ABAI’s growing services and staff. The process of finding new space began in May, 2007. All alternatives were considered, including expanding the South Park facility, the acquisition of adjacent property, buying a building elsewhere, or purchasing land and building to suit. In the fall of 2007, it was decided that the most strategic and cost-effective solution was to purchase new headquarters. On March 19, 2008, after a very careful negotiation and due diligence process, the building in Portage was acquired. Following some basic renovations, the organization moved to the new location on October 18, 2008.
A few days prior to our formal celebration, ABAI welcomed Dr. Linda Hayes as a special guest to tour the new facilities.
This brings us to March 20th, 2009, when we celebrated the grand opening of our new building and offices. The event was attended by about 50 esteemed guests, among them Past President Dr. Jay Moore and Past Secretary Treasurers Dr. Richard Malott and Dr. David Lyon. The festivities began at 2:00 p.m. when then President Dr. William L. Heward cut the ribbon in the company of Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua, Dr. Janet S. Twyman, and Dr. Maria Malott. From there, we invited our guests inside for a tour of the new building.
Members of the local community also contributed to the reception. Two local artists provided their work for display during the event. Classical piano music, played by accomplished local musician Susan Lawrence, entertained our guests as they mixed and mingled in our halls. The tour was concluded with a performance by Allison Downey and long time ABAI and WMU faculty member John Austin, who delighted guests with their “Midwestern Urban Folk” originals.
Then, Dr. Heward made a few remarks about ABAI. Dr. Twyman, President of SABA—which receives in kind space and labor from ABAI—highlighted the important role ABAI and SABA play in supporting the field of behavior analysis. Dr. Wayne Fuqua and Dr. David Lyon, reminded us of the organization’s humble beginnings in Wood Hall, at WMU, as they reminisced on ABAI’s progression through the years. Finally, Dr. Maria Malott, ABAI CEO, introduced the organization’s staff. The afternoon concluded with a special presentation featuring slides of the past buildings and the opportunity for interaction and celebration.
We thank the ABAI membership for its contributions and support throughout the years. It is our plan to continue improving and developing membership services that support the activities of all ABAI constituencies in the years to come.
