I’ve known Caitlin for many years now, and I have never stopped being astounded at the level of love and commitment she has for our industry. Many of you know only a small fraction of the tremendous amount of work that she does. But instead of giving you paragraphs full of work details, I would like to talk about something else that she has contributed to our industry…

Caitlin has a rare gift of not only being able to recognize the strengths in others, but to help others recognize and develop their own strengths.

For more than a decade, she has overseen the groups of volunteers who assist us in running Conference every year. In the matter of a week’s time, she turns a group of relative strangers into a tight-knit and functional family. In addition to overseeing the largest event in our industry, she is also helping to instill in these volunteers a deep abiding love of serving our industry. She is somehow able to chan- nel being a friend/parent/sister/boss/teacher at exactly the moment each of these things is needed. Many of us have walked away from these experiences knowing ourselves better and with a strong desire to give back to this industry that we love. I feel like Caitlin is primarily responsible for this feeling.

Even after Conference, she makes a commitment to keep in touch with past volunteers, to offer support when needed, to pass along information about job openings, to spread the word when someone needs help, and to stay involved with this extended family. None of that is her job, that is simply dedication. To me, it shows how much her love for our industry extends beyond the confines of our profession, and into the lives of its practitioners. We are truly, truly lucky to have her.—Sarah Wooten

Caitlin “Mama Duck” McDiarmid is a pillar of power and the foundation of many facets of Conference. She’s the glue of the volunteer family and a prime example of what a strong, caring, and passionate person can do to affect change in the lives of others. I’m endlessly thankful to have her as a mentor, a leader, and an example of how to move through the world. She dances, she laughs, and she cries with us all, and she’s never afraid to get down in the mud with us and help us dig.- Dae Jedic

My first year at Conference was scary, but after meeting Caitlin and talking to her in person for the first time, all my anxiety went away because I could tell that no matter what she would be there to help me through the experience. And she did. I don’t know how the APP would function without her. She is the reason I come back year after year. —Aaron Foster

Many of you have heard me speak about Caitlin McDiarmid, who is often simply referred to as Mama Duck. I also have the distinct pleasure of referring to her as my twin;  we share the same birthday. But we also share so much more than that. I have been fortunate enough to celebrate this woman; during the 20th Annual Conference Banquet, I was able to stand in front of hundreds of you and tell every- one what I already knew – Caitlin is very special. I recited a piece of writing about pie. Pie is never the easy choice, but it is always worth the effort it takes. A perfect reminder that behind the scenes for many years there has been someone putting in the love, the long hours, the team building, the hard work, and all of if for us. I am lucky enough to have had this powerhouse of a woman as a boss, an employee, a men- tor, and most importantly as a friend. She has changed my life and lives of many others. So it is only fitting in an issue where we honour some of the many women who have lost sleep, spilled tears, and shed blood for their tribe, that we get out of our chairs and give this woman a standing ovation. This organization would not be the same without her and all she has done over the last decade.—Kendra Jane B

I met Caitlin only a short time ago but in a mere few months, she has single handedly changed my life, whether she is aware of it or not. I have her to thank for who I am growing into as a person and as a professional. During my overwhelming time (for myself and those around me) at the 2017 Conference, Cait- lin was at my beckoning if I needed her at all. For anything that I needed to speak about, cry about, or just to sit with. She put her needs aside for all of those who volunteered prior and present to help make the Conference happen every year. Our Mama Duck lived a turbulent year in 2017, but none of it stopped her from moving forward and keeping the APP alive and well, making sure our needs were met, that we were healthy and taken care of. She especially has impacted me to become more aware of my mental health and to take action on it. I hadn’t realized I needed to make a serious reality check on myself prior to my first Conference. She spoke to me gently and with immense professionalism, making sure that I fully understood where she was coming from as a Mama Duck. I have her to thank for the path that I am leading now. She truly is a strong warrior danc- ing queen. Mama Duck never quits; she works all year long for us and with us. Caitlin is a victorious manager and lead- er for our growing industry and I thank her for always keepin’ on. I love you, Caitlin.—Love always, Duckling Nina Mikulin

Caitlin’s title might be Administrator, but her expertise is far more than office management. She very much speaks the language of the industry and knows what’s happening before the rest of us. Piercers, studio owners, environmental health agencies, educators, jewelry companies, and health care providers all reach out to the organization for help. That makes Caitlin the first contact many of them have. She has to understand their needs and speak a language they understand. A school nurse’s needs will be different than a health inspector and Caitlin is proficient in communicating with both. Sometimes she needs to refer people requesting information and help to piercers in the APP community. This means she needs to be aware of who has certain skill sets and experiences and best suited for the job. If nothing else she must be an expert at delegating. Caitlin is great at her job and that can only happen if she loves what she does. So it’s obvious she has a lot of love for piercing, and whether or not you’re an APP Member, you benefit from her hard work.—John Johnson

Caitlin McDiarmid was the first person to really give me a shot at participating in  the APP. She helped me get some of my ideas incorporated into Conference; I’m happy to see both the Mentor Program and the workshop style of classes succeed because of that chance. Caitlin is a true inspiration to a generation of piercers who want to volunteer and see the industry and our organization grow. Thanks Caitlin! —Ryan Ouellette