Corrections_Today_May_June_2020_Vol.82_No.3

Annual Luncheon

“You are a leader when you decide to be a leader” Shannon Huffman Polson gives the address at the ACA Annual Luncheon

T he final event of the ACA 2020 Winter Conference in San Diego was the Annual Luncheon. Attendees gathered in the convention center Ballroom 6A/B to bring this conference to a close, enjoying a delicious catered lunch and the chance to have one last meeting with their colleagues from all over the world. After the lunch portion, Robin Belcher-Timme of Falcon, Inc. appeared to introduce the keynote speaker. Shannon Huffman Polson is described as “a woman of many firsts.” She is one of the first women to fly Apache helicopters in the U.S. Armed Forces, where she has served on three

continents and has led a line company and two flight platoons. She also spent five years leading and managing in the corporate sector at Guidant and Microsoft, according to her website. She is also the founder and CEO of The Grit Institute, which “exercises the whole leader approach, providing training developed from top military performers teaching skills and frameworks to achieve your biggest goals, overcome the most challenging obstacles, and live your most fulfill- ing life.” Polson is also the author of the memoir “North of Hope” and the forthcoming book “The Grit Project.” She is one of the first women to fly Apache helicopters in the U.S. Armed Forces, where she has served on three continents and has led a line company and two flight platoons.

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Corrections Today May/June 2020 — 81