It’s a dream come true when IBOs are invited to their first Amway-sponsored event in recognition of their hard work and achievement. This year it is especially so after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The August 2022 session of the New Platinum Conference gathered nearly 200 new IBO Leaders from across North America. All IBOs were excited to tour the IBOAI offices and Amway™ World Headquarters – to learn more about the history of the IBOAI, the partnership between the Corporation and IBOAI Board, how products and programs are developed, and where the Business is headed. And, of course, celebrate their milestone achievement!
On arrival day, IBOAI staff greeted the New Platinums warmly and walked them through their headquarters, explaining the origin, purpose, and structure of the Association. The IBOAI’s most spacious meeting room, referred to as the American Way Association (AWA) Boardroom, is named after the original Association. Amway Co-founders Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel made it clear that the IBO was their first priority when they, along with founding Field Leaders, formed the AWA in 1959, which many years later became known as the IBOAI. This room is regularly utilized by the Board, and by the Legal & Ethics Committee.
Howie Danzik, IBOAI Vice Chairman, engaged group after group with his knowledge of the Association’s history and examples of how its collaboration with the Corporation has grown stronger through the years. Michael and Jane Swortwood from Springfield, Illinois were especially taken with Howie’s remark, “When you come into the AWA Boardroom, you take your LOA hat off and speak for all IBOs and the Business as a whole. When we’re making important decisions, we also think of the new IBOs. If it will work for them, it’s good for all.” Howie was also pleased to answer questions and pose with IBOs for photos.
The additional boardrooms, named after the Association’s Field founders – Hansen, Victor, and Dutt – are also where current Board members, in partnership with Corporate staff, give birth to great ideas and smart solutions for the Business. Visitors learned the Business Operations Committee formerly gathered in the Hansen room. Now that the Marketing Advisory Committee has become part of Business Operations, they all gather in the more spacious Victor Boardroom. The Awards & Recognition Committee meets in the Dutt meeting room. Sharon Tran from California exclaimed, “I’m excited, grateful, and impressed to see where important decisions are made that affect my Business. People are making plans here so that we can all have a better business, better life. It makes me want to be a part of this someday!”
Dilan and Raeanna Zilliox of Des Moines, Iowa were honored to step into the AWA Boardroom, “…where masterminds come together and have our best interest at heart.” Raeanna said she learned, “ … how deeply thought out everything is and that there is a true collaborative effort between the Board and the Corporation. I had no idea they had committees for specific things like recognition and new products. They all work so hard!”
Throughout the IBOAI offices, popular Amway products from the past and present are showcased. Amanda Demith of Fort Worth, Texas remarked on how she enjoyed viewing products and packaging from decades ago, and how some products that are still sold today have evolved. Veronica Santiago and Salvador De Jesus from the Bronx in New York City were also captivated by the product displays.
Jaspreet Singh and Avneet Bindra of Toronto, Canada were pleased to learn the Association’s history from Howie Danzik, a respected and knowledgeable IBO Leader. They also were looking forward to touring the Amway Corporation and the new XS™ plant. Jaspreet said, “It would be wonderful to serve on the IBOAI Board someday and work with Amway for the good of the Business.”
As the New Platinums exited the IBOAI offices, they were each given a goody bag packed with supplies for their busy days ahead – XS™ Energy Drinks, Perfect Empowered Drinking Water®, IBOAI® signature pen, journals, luggage tags, and a sports towel.
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