Staff ‘Road Warrior’ Bonnie Moore Prepares for Retirement
February 2025
When Bonnie Moore joined the staff of the Public Affairs Council in 1990, the first George Bush was president, “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips was the No. 1 song in America, and the Hubble Space Telescope was launched. Most people had never heard of the World Wide Web, and cellphones, if you were lucky enough to have one, were the size of shoes.
In her 35-year career with the Council, Bonnie has made remarkable contributions in technology, graphic design, database management and board relations, among other areas. In our conversation with her, she recounts highlights of her Council journey and how she plans to hit the road once she retires.
Can you tell us a little about your career from starting with the Council to your current role?
Back in 1990, I was hired to manage membership, events, Board relations and “technology,” which wasn’t much back then. Before long, I took an interest in making our Board materials look better, so with a lot of self-paced learning, I picked up desktop publishing skills. Soon thereafter, I was designing publications, and I helped the Council earn several awards throughout the years from APEX and Association Trends.
As technology started to evolve more rapidly, it eventually took over more of my responsibilities. This included migrating to a server environment — and eventually the cloud — as well as implementing and managing a few AMS [association management software] databases along the way.
You’ve been at the Council for an impressive 35 years. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen during that time?
Aside from the Council’s explosion of success, the biggest change for me personally is the evolution of technology. The Council has provided me the tools and resources to keep our organization on par with current trends, so there’s always a ball (or two) in the air!
Can you share some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of?
What I am most proud of, even though design is outsourced today, are the many materials, publications and books I’ve designed for the Council.
I’m also proud of guiding the organization through technology changes. We now use a technology partner to help us navigate this ever-changing environment, but before that time, when it was all internal, it was very challenging.
What are some of your favorite memories?
This is going way back, but one of my fondest Council memories is the staff retreat we had at the O Street Mansion, one of the Smithsonian’s top five historic venues in the world! As part of a team-building exercise, we were split into groups and had to perform a song. My group choose “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer — and with props, it was quite hysterical!
Bonnie (right) with the late Wes Pederson (former Communications Director) receiving an Associations Trends Award in 2001
What are you going to miss the most about working here?
The Council has been ingrained into my being, so it’s hard to pinpoint what I’m going to miss the most. I’d say the work because I like to be challenged, but I think it’s more the people I’ve established a deeper connection with. From staff to vendors, I will always look back with great fondness on those relationships.
Now for the fun stuff: What are you most excited about in retirement?
I am excited to RV travel with my husband and our two pups to places in the U.S. we’ve never seen before. This year, we are visiting the East Coast beaches and mountains. Next year, we’re headed out West to visit the national parks and be one with the wildlife. Looking forward to so many adventures!
Bonnie and husband Fayne sightseeing.
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