The CEO

After dedicating 17 years to the American Dental Association, most recently as the COO, being let go was the last thing on Mary Logan’s mind. But, without any warning, Logan found herself out of work in April 2008.

“It was a completely stunning, shocking thing that just happened one day,” Logan says. “It was very hurtful. I had never been fired from anything.”

Logan turned to a professional library for its great resources and professional development. She read numerous inspirational books to get back on her feet, but also used the free resources to jumpstart her job hunt and use her time productively.

Reference books became Logan’s vital source for learning about places she could work. She spent time leafing through directories of non-profit organizations and foundations in the United States.

Logan also used her free time to become a Certified Association Executive. To save money, she studied for the certification exam on her own and went to the local professional library to borrow the two primary books she needed.

Logan encourages anyone in her position to similarly take advantage of the time. She knew “it would help boost my resume, to show that at this age I was still interested in learning, professional development and improving my skills.”

Last summer, Logan discovered a job listing for the CEO position of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation in Washington, D.C. After researching organizations across the U.S., she knew it was the perfect job for her and she jumped on it. After a seven-month long interview process, Logan settled into her new position in April 2009.

Besides researching companies, Logan believes the key to a successful job hunt in this economy is networking. “Anybody who says ‘I don’t know how to network’ or ‘I choose not to network’ is crazy. Because it works.”