Committees & Governance
APN is governed by its Founding Members acting as equals. Day-to-day work advances through four committees, each aligned to one of APN’s objectives.
Equal members, clear rules
All Founding Members are equal and participate in every final decision of the organization. Each member holds one vote. Committees do the day-to-day work and bring recommendations forward; final decisions remain with the full body under the voting rules below.
Founding Members meet at least four times per year, preferably quarterly, including one annual planning and review meeting. A quorum is a majority of the Founding Members present in person, by video, or by advance written proxy. Between meetings, decisions may be made by unanimous written consent where no deliberation is required.
The Four Committees
Partnerships & External Engagement
Relationships with business communities, regional hubs, and county and state economic development authorities; approved external partnerships.
Business Lead-share
Member introductions and referrals, quarterly meetings, and the annual signature event.
Mentorship
Mentorship programming, junior-professional and student engagement, and professional development.
Finance, Communication, and ad hoc
Dues, budgets, records, websites, marketing, outreach, governance updates, and the member roster, categories, and renewals.
How decisions are made
Different types of decisions require different levels of consensus. This ensures that routine operations stay nimble while changes with lasting impact require broader agreement.
Votes may be taken by show of hands, secret ballot (upon request), or electronic vote. A member with a direct personal or financial interest must disclose and recuse; recused members are not counted toward quorum for that vote.
Standards of conduct
All APN members, guests, and partners are expected to uphold the standards set out in the Code of Conduct, covering professional conduct, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and referral ethics. These standards govern all meetings, events, digital platforms, and communications undertaken in the context of APN membership.
APN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristic. Membership, leadership, referrals, and participation are based on professional qualifications, ethical conduct, contribution, and mission fit.