The AMS has been an integral part of me from the start of my career. I began as a student member, and first volunteered to be co-chair of the 4th annual Student Conference as a way to hone my networking skills and learn about the weather, water, and climate enterprise. As I’ve taken on new and exciting professional opportunities, my volunteer involvement with many AMS boards and committees has grown. Being involved with AMS has allowed me to expand my own professional knowledge and connections as well as be a better steward for NOAA. My commitment to AMS as a member and volunteer has always been an important part of my professional journey. It would be an honor to serve as Councilor for AMS and work together to meet the many challenges we face as a Society.

Some specific challenges I see facing AMS that would have my attention and focus include:

• Maintaining and increasing the relevancy of the Society for itself and for its entire membership. AMS membership has broadened over time and has a multitude of expertise, which should be leveraged to ensure AMS continues to promote the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.
• Continuing to attract early- and middle-career professionals as well as an overall diverse membership. AMS needs to ensure it has its pulse on our ever-evolving enterprise, and by attracting a diverse set of early- and middle-career professionals it can identify those opportunities and challenges for the Society to remain relevant.
• Striving for transparent communication, discussion, and partnerships on topics relevant to our enterprise among members as well as with AMS affiliations and nontraditional groups. AMS is well established with the help of its journals and conferences acting as mechanisms of communicating to its members and beyond. Greater attention to all aspects of communication both internal and external to AMS should continue to be a priority.
• Establishing the Society’s role in helping to build a Weather Ready Nation. After having spent my career in NOAA on a broad range of missions, including operations, science and technology, external affairs, policy, and organizational change, I continue to support the agency and the nation in this grand challenge to become more responsive and resilient to weather. NOAA cannot build a Weather Ready Nation on its own, and this is where a professional organization like the AMS must play a key role.

 There are many challenges and opportunities which the AMS faces, and you have my commitment and enthusiasm for our Society and to our science to continue to make AMS a valued and trusted professional society.

Bleistein, Andrea J., Change Management Analyst, Office of Organizational Excellence, National Weather Service, Silver Spring, MD. Born November 7, 1982, Bay Shore, New York. B.S. Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, 2004; M.S. Science and Technology Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 2013.

Professional Experience: NOAA NWS Eastern Region Headquarters , Meteorological Aide, 2002-2003; NOAA NWS, Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center and State College Weather Forecast Office, Meteorological Aide, 2003-2004; NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service, Physical Science Technician, 2004-2005; Itri Corporation, Observation Systems Analyst, 2005-2007; NOAA NWS Office of Science and Technology, Meteorologist, 2007-2008; NOAA NWS Office of the Assistant Administrator (OAA), Staff Advisor, 2008-2010; NOAA Office of Communications and External Affairs, Project Manager, 2010-2011; NOAA Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observations and Prediction, Policy Advisor, 2011-2012; NOAA NWS OAA Roadmap Team, Execution Manager, 2012-2014; NOAA Budget Office, Budget Analyst, 2013; NOAA NWS Budget and Headquarters Restructuring Project, Deputy Project Manager and Governance Lead, 2013-2014; NOAA NWS Budget and Headquarters Restructuring Project, Project Manager, 2014-2015; NWS HQ Reorganization Implementation Team, Deputy Project Manager, 2015; NWS Office of Organizational Excellence, Change Management Analyst, 2015-present.

Professional Activities: Weather and Society Integrated Studies Certificate, 2007; Lead Planner, 1st NWS WAS*IS Meeting, 2007; Certificate of Completion, NOAA Leadership Training Program, 2014; Member, DC Weatherfest Coalition, USA Science and Engineering Festival, 2010; Member, Penn State Meteorology Department Advisory Board, 2014-present.

AMS Activities: Member, AMS, 2002-present; Co-chair of the 4th Annual AMS Student Conference, 2004 - 2005; Alumna, AMS Summer Policy Colloquium, 2006; Vice-Chair, DC-AMS Local Chapter, 2007-2009; Chair, DC-AMS Local Chapter, 2009-2011; Member, Local Chapter Affairs Committee (LCAC), 2008-2011; Chair, LCAC, 2010; Member, Board on Enterprise and Economic Development, CWCE, 2008; Co-chair, AMS Committee to Improve Climate Change Communication, 2010-2013; Co-chair, Board on Enterprise Planning, CWCE, 2012-2013; Member, 92nd AMS Annual Meeting Planning Committee, 2011-2012; Co-chair, 95th AMS Annual Meeting Planning Committee, 2014-2015; Co-chair, Board on Enterprise Strategic Topics, CWWCE 2013-present; Program Chair, Symposium on the Weather, Water and Climate Enterprise, 2012-present.

Honors and Awards: Hans A. Panofsky Scholarship, 2002, 2003; WAS*IS Award for Outstanding Scientific Integration, 2007; Outstanding Service, Board on Enterprise Communication, CICCC co-chair, 2013.

Publications: Hirschberg et al. A Weather and Climate Enterprise Strategic Implementation Plan for Generating and Communicating Forecast Uncertainty Information. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Volume 92, Issue 12 (December 2011) pp. 1651-1666; NEXRAD Now. 'An Historical Look at NEXRAD.' December 2010, Issue 20. (http://www.roc.noaa.gov/WSR88D/PublicDocs/NNOW/NNDec2010/NNowDec2010.pdf); Weather and Society Watch: Vol 2, #2, 1/18/2008: One Step Closer to Integrating Social Science and Meteorology.