Hi y’all!
My name is Emily McGruder and I am SO excited and honored to be serving as the new Membership Development Director for the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance (formerly Fort Polk Progress).
My family and I have spent the last five years on Fort Polk. In that time, I’ve been graced by incredible opportunities to meet many of the influential figures in our local area. Being a military spouse has given me a true purpose in serving the military community. I’ve dedicated the past several years to helping improve the quality of life at Fort Polk through various nonprofits. By combining my unique work and educational background with my volunteer experience, I’m able to bring a unique skillset to the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance (LAFA) team.
I am a proud spouse of a Soldier on Fort Polk and grew up in a family of Veterans. I have spent the majority of my adult life in different areas of Louisiana and am looking forward to advancing the ideals of our cooperative installation. I have grown deeply connected roots to the Fort Polk area and am excited to be joining the LAFA team as their first Membership Development Director!
The entire team at LAFA is ambitious and energetic. Our connections to State and local elected officials and business owners give us an advantage to ease the burdens felt by service members and their families. This helps us greatly in continuing the advancement of quality-of-life initiatives.
In this new role, my focus is on three things: 1. Member growth and retention. We want the people that join our cause to see the goodness that comes with fighting for our cause. 2. Improving our overall member services/benefits. Joining LAFA should be a symbol of community and state unity. 3. Communication. Every person from club member to decision maker is a stakeholder in our organization. Keeping people well informed will be a crucial element in ensuring our ideas remain relevant in real-time.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, drinking far too much coffee, playing with our two golden retrievers – Butter and Biscuit, traveling and volunteering in the local area. Have questions about membership benefits or just want to say hello? Feel free to email me any time at emily@fortpolkprogress.com.
V/R,
Emily McGruder