Allison Summers, managing director of Site Global and the Site International Foundation, is leaving after seven years to become executive director of Zonta International. Zonta is a global organization whose mission is to improve the status of women through international service projects and its awards programs.
At Site, Summers was behind the startup of the Site International Foundation, led the organization's rebranding, and drove education efforts including Global Education Week and the “Body of Knowledge” initiative.
“I have had the pleasure of being with Site for seven years and this was a hard choice,” she said. “The thing that I will always be in debt to Site for is its people. There was something I learned from everyone I met.” The global nature of Site and the many experiences have been life-changing, she said, like the February summit where she traveled to Cairo with the Site board to provide incentive and tourism professionals in the region with training and insights.
An association leader who has embraced social media and who invites callers to text her if they can't reach her by phone, Summers is proud of how Site has connected its members via technology.
Christie Pruyn, director of operations for Site, also took on those responsibilities for the Site Foundation in the beginning of this year, and Summers is confident in her and in “the strong team we have in place.”
“We wish Allison all the very best going forward,” said Site President David Sand. “She has been a great asset to Site and has left us a great legacy to advance.” Sand and the Site board met last week on the organization's strategic plan for the next three years, which includes doubling membership in that period.
Summers, who will remain in the Chicago area, says she will be around and plans to stay active in the industry. "I don't feel a big sense of goodbye because I've learned the world is such a small place.”
