Around ten years ago I happened to be in the right place at the right time — meeting Jen McClure as she was setting up an extraordinary organization: The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR).

I was honored to be invited as a Founding Fellow and it has led to many wonderful friendships. I’m glad that Jen’s hard work has paid off as she announces a merger with The Conference Board, which has the resources to take the important work of SNCR further and farther afield with its offices in 60 countries. 

Here is Jen McClure to explain:

Ten years ago a small group of early adopters, big thinkers, and bold practitioners founded a new research and education foundation and think tank -- a scrappy little upstart of a nonprofit startup with a big name and an even bigger mission statement.

The Society for New Communications Research was formed to explore the latest developments in new communications tools and technologies such as social media, mobile, and other emerging digital technologies and their effect on business, media, health, law, culture, and society.

SNCR achieved many amazing things, including:

- 100+ Fellows have participated in SNCR’s volunteer fellowship program
- 14 conferences, including: 6 NewComm Forum events and 8 SNCR Research Symposium & Awards Galas
- 300+ case studies published through our Excellence in New Communications awards program
- 9 volumes of the Journal of New Communications Research, subscribed to by many college, university and business libraries
- Seminal independent research studies conducted and authored by our Fellows
- One of the founding member organizations of the Social Media Measurement Standards Conclave
- “Social Media for Social Good” initiatives, including partnering with the Ad Council, the IAVA, the Millennium Project, and founding Health Justice CT

Nearly two years ago, SNCR Senior Fellow Giovanni Rodriguez introduced me to Mary Beth Reidy, Executive Director, Member Engagement at The Conference Board and we began talking about how our organizations could partner.

Today, I am incredibly honored, pleased and excited to announce that SNCR is merging with The Conference Board, a highly respected, 100-year old nonprofit, nonpartisan global organization with a long and successful history of equipping organizations with the practical knowledge needed to improve their performance, deal with the most critical issues of our time, and better serve society.

I can think of no organization better positioned to take on the mantle of SNCR's great and ambitious mission.

Founded in 1916, The Conference Board has more than 1,000 public and private companies as members in 60+ countries. It produces research in a wide array of areas, including global economics, human capital, corporate governance, sustainability and philanthropy.

By becoming a division of The Conference Board, SNCR not only has the opportunity to expand the reach of our Fellows' expertise, research, publications and best practices, The Conference Board strengthens the value it brings to its membership through SNCR's offerings.

This new division of The Conference Board is called The Society for New Communications Research of The Conference Board.

I am honored to be leading the advisory board of this new division, along with a great leadership team from The Conference Board, including Matteo Tonello, VP & Corporate Leadership Practice Lead, and Alex Parkinson, Associate Director, and a wonderful group of SNCR Fellows and Conference Board program directors, including:

Danielle Badler, Program Director, The Conference Board
Nora Ganim Barnes, Ph.D., Chancellor Professor of Marketing, Director, Center for Marketing Research, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, SNCR Senior Fellow & Research Co-chair
Jan Botz, Program Director, The Conference Board
Vanessa Di Mauro, CEO, Leader Networks, SNCR Senior Fellow & Research Co-chair
Paul Gillin, Principal, Paul Gillin Communications, SNCR Senior Fellow & Best Practices & Awards Chair
Shel Holtz, Holtz Communication + Technology, SNCR Founding Fellow
Fard Johnmar, Founder & President, Enspektos, Senior Fellow
Mike Moran, Senior Strategist, Converseon, SNCR Senior Fellow & Program Director, The Conference Board
Alicia Nieva-Woodgate, Managing Director, ANW Networks, LLC, SNCR Fellow, Events & Education Program Chair
Katie Delahaye Paine, CEO, Paine Publishing, Senior Fellow & Industry Standards Chair
The Conference Board will continue SNCR’s fellowship, research, publication and awards programs. The Excellence in New Communications Awards program will be held in conjunction with The Conference Board’s 21st Annual Senior Corporate Communications Management Conference, which will take place in New York City in May.

I want to thank everyone who has served on the SNCR Board of Directors for their leadership and support over the past decade:

Don Bulmer
Vanessa DiMauro
Elizabeth Fletcher
Paul Gillin
Francois Gossieux
Steve King
Kathy Klotz-Guest
Dean A. Kruckeberg
Mike Manuel
Katie Paine
Matthew Podboy
Alicia Nieva Woodgate

And especially, Gina Hernandez - who has served as our executive director for the past five years - thank you Gina!

This is just the beginning of a new chapter for SNCR.

http://www.conferenceboard.org/SNCR