Rhonda Lahm, Director of the Nebraska DMV and Chair of the AAMVA International Board of Directors, has been hard at work over the past few months. Her role as Chair has kept her very busy, but she says has really enjoyed visiting the many different places she’s travelled to so far.

“I’ve had an opportunity to travel to different places and across jurisdictions to meet some more of my colleagues, which is always fun,” says Lahm. “Better yet, I learned about some of the things happening in their jurisdictions and how they’re meeting challenges. Also, I’ve had a chance to get a better idea of the impact of AAMVA in other places besides our jurisdictions—in our sister organizations and in the greater motor vehicle community, across North America and across the globe.”

“I started traveling in the fall in my home region, Region 3, for the Region 3 Conference, so that was like going home. I’ve been all the way from Portland, Maine to Glendale, Arizona. It’s been fun, too, because you see different parts of the country and, of course, get to meet more and more people.”

Lahm says that her time as Chair has given her a deeper appreciation of the important role AAMVA plays, not only for its members, but for the greater transportation community.

“I’ve learned a lot, mostly about people, and really how important it is that we keep the organization vital and healthy,” she says. “The services that AAMVA provides to the jurisdictions are so critical to helping them meet their mission, which is ultimately our mission to meet customers. I think the thing I’ve learned is there’s always more to be done. There are challenges, and we all experience the same challenges, but there are also solutions, and that’s what AAMVA’s part of.”

Chair Lahm and her team at the Nebraska DMV are looking forward to welcoming the AAMVA Community to Omaha for the 2019 Annual International Conference. She says there’s plenty to do and see while people are in town, and particularly recommends visiting the Omaha Zoo.

“We’re planning a fun event in Omaha – of course there will be the traditional educational and solid programming and good work sessions to attend, but we’re hoping to show people a little Midwestern hospitality. We’re hoping to make it a little more of a laid back conference. We want people to come, learn things, and then leave for home rested and relaxed. And we’ll probably have steak a time or two in Omaha!”