1. ç ç Benefits of Professional Development One of the many values of the VSR program

2. ç ç What is professional development? Professional development is active participation in conferences, training sessions, seminars, and programs. It is the key to developing your personal and professional self.

3. ç ç Stay Relevant in Your Profession

4. ç ç Professional development needs to be an on- going process to ensure that the skills and insight brought to the table are valuable and continue to be relevant.

5. ç ç Perfect Your Communication Skills

6. ç ç Participation is an opportunity to get comfortable and gain confidence talking about your office’s attributes. You also learn to actively listen to colleagues which is an equally important communication skill.

7. ç ç Build Professional Relationships

8. ç ç Meetings are ideal environments to create a network of colleagues you can turn to for collaborations. They offer opportunities to hear from the best innovators and learn best practices.

9. ç ç Generate New Ideas

10. ç ç One of the best ways to get a fresh perspective is to step out of your day-to-day routine. The direct benefit is returning with ideas and solutions to current problems, as well as justification for strategies your office currently utilizes.

11. ç ç Take Away

12. ç ç Playing an active role in your personal and professional development is about using what you are learning to better yourself and make a positive impact on your peers, colleagues, and your community.