Attention Hull House NC Bloggers: NASW-NC is proud to welcome Aaron Swart as the new Director of Membership Services
After graduating from North Carolina State University in 1996 with a Business Management degree, Aaron spent several years gaining valuable skill sets within both the human resource management and sales and marketing arenas, which has served him well in preparing him for the work he is passionate about today. Aaron’s interactions with on-site consulting and recruiting with SonyEricsson and in launching and promoting billion-dollar products with GlaxoSmithKline led him to appreciate and promote the value of relationships and respect, and to provide excellent service towards others. In keeping with his passion, in late 2003, Aaron left his role as a pharmaceutical representative to pursue social work.
After spending valuable time in the field as a mentor, a case manager, and in mental health crisis diversion, Aaron simultaneously pursued his Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a concentration in Management and Community Practice. Aaron’s internship experiences include working with SAFEchild, a non-profit child abuse prevention agency in Wake County, and with SAS Institute in the Work/Life and EAP Group, in Cary. Aaron continues to be actively involved in facilitating groups with SAFEchild as a volunteer, and as a result of a grant with the agency, teaches program evaluation curriculum at Peace College that focuses on evaluating parenting education programs provided to domestic violence offenders who have children living in the home.
While integrating social work values with business sense, Aaron strongly adheres to the reality that when individual and family work/life balance is supported by any organization or agency, employees are more proactive and productive in their respective line of work. Hence, after receiving his MSW in 2008, Aaron served as a Work/Life and EAP (employee assistance program) consultant with a local company in Raleigh, providing clinical case management, first responder crisis assistance, and work/life consulting in a state-of-the-art call center.
As the newly-appointed Director of Membership Services with the North Carolina Chapter, one of Aaron’s long-term goals is to provide NASW members with reliable resources and practical online tools that advocate and celebrate work/life balance at any life stage. In the short-term and across the life span of the role, Aaron seeks to promote the importance and necessity of being involved as a member of the NASW, including communicating its strength in providing professional development, in lobbying efforts, and in securing myriad benefits for individuals practicing social work in North Carolina.
Aaron currently resides in Raleigh, and has a 5-year-old son named Noah. Aaron enjoys anything that involves water, frequents the local YMCA, loves to hike and spend time photographing nature, and also relishes the latest movies and restaurants in the area. While Aaron has spent time traveling overseas on missions trips and respects various cultures and traditions, he similarly enjoys being at home with his two cats, Pickles and Zadie.
