Every SDA member has a unique story - one that reflects their journey, growth, and connection to our vibrant community. In our new blog series, SDA & Me, we’re highlighting the voices of our members as they share what brought them to SDA, how their experience has evolved, and the moments that have made the biggest impact. Whether it’s professional development, lasting friendships, or unforgettable experiences, these testimonials showcase the value of being part of SDA. Today, we feature Vincent Lafitte, CDFA, who shares his SDA journey and what keeps him engaged in our community.

When did you join SDA and what initially motivated you to join?

I joined SDA in 2014, February if I recall, and signed up to take the CDFA at the same time. We had acquired the firm Sarah Wallace was working for at the time, and I still remember the day she walked to my office to talk about SDA with me. She was the current National President at the time, and I could feel the passion and energy that she had for the organization.

How has your experience with SDA changed over time?

It started as a way for me to learn more about the parts of the industry I was not familiar with. I knew the HR portion of the job; that’s really transferrable across industries. I did not know much about any of the rest of it.

This moved to a larger understanding of the industry, and a network of friends all over the nation willing to stop at the drop of a hat to help me with any question I needed.

What aspects of SDA have you enjoyed the most?

The school I attended for 1^st -12^th Grade focused on fostering a lifelong love of learning. SDA encourages every member to learn as much as they possibly can. Knowledge is power. I also like talking to and meeting new people. SDA provides many opportunities to do that.

What motivates you to stay engaged or involved with SDA?

What motivates me to stay engaged and involved with SDA even as my role has shifted and changed is the people. The people are excited every time I am there, excited to ask questions, excited to learn.

I also like the way that SDA helps me feel empowered to make a difference in both my career and job, and the organization as a whole.

Can you describe a memorable experience you have had as an SDA member?

The challenge is picking just one (or two) experiences out of almost a decade of memorable experiences.

I think things that I will remember for years to come are various moments from EdSymposiums, but I will recount one non-EDS memory. I was Atlanta Chapter President at the time, it was bosses’ day, in October. We were at Maggiano’s, and I had brought Brad Adler, a labor attorney based in Atlanta. During my preamble, I gave a speech about perspective. How at a stop light you have to consider if someone is having a bad day or has some reason for not going when the light is green. Brad got an interesting look as I worked through my speech. When it concluded and I finished introducing him he skipped forward several slides to talk about perspective as being a key element of his session. It was affirmation that maybe I really do know what I am doing . . . at least some of the time.

Want to share your SDA story? Each member’s journey is unique, and we’d love to hear yours! If SDA has made an impact on your career and connections, reach out to us (admin@sdanational.org) to be featured in a future SDA & Me spotlight. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our amazing members!