We are excited to have Alan Kriegel join us as Co-Chair of the San Francisco chapter! As a long time SEGD member, Alan has been involved with many local chapters and attended several events on the national/international level. We asked Alan a few questions about his experience with SEGD so you all could learn more about him!

Which SEGD event has been your favorite and why?
The national conference in Montreal in 2011 will always be special to me. It was my first and as a recent graduate I couldn’t afford to attend the entire conference so I just went for half, but stayed in the city for the duration. I got to experience some fantastic sessions as well as explore Montreal a bit. Though I was sad to miss some of the conference, the mix of professional development and exploration has left an indelible mark on me.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a member of SEGD? 
Definitely the community-oriented nature. SEGD is very close-knit so everyone knows you. When I lived on the East Coast I would regularly attend events in Philly, New York, and Boston and that feeling of building such a diverse network so early in my career was incredible. Out here, the San Francisco Chapter is very active and there are lots of opportunities to meet people and grow those important relationships. Additionally, being national, but still very local means I can tap into that personal network when I travel as well. 

What aspects of being a Co-Chair are you looking forward to most?
Just as I benefited from the socializing and networking early in my career, I am looking forward to being able to give back and help provide that for new designers coming into the field. I’m proud of the vibrant and active chapter we have and am excited to help it grow.