Looking Ahead to 2026:
A Focus on Community

By Adam Bannon

On behalf of Exemplar Global, I hope 2026 is off to a positive start for you and your organizations.

I want to begin by thanking you for your continued engagement with Exemplar Global and for the role you play in strengthening the assessment and conformity sector.

As many of you will be aware, one important change took place at the end of 2025 when our longtime President and CEO, Andrew Baines, retired after more than a decade in leadership roles at Exemplar Global and ASQ. Exemplar Global enters this new phase with a strong foundation thanks to Andrew’s leadership and the work of the team over recent years. It is a privilege to step into the role of Executive Managing Director and to work with the Exemplar Global Board, chaired by Sid Bhatnagar (CEO of our parent organization, ASQ), as we shape the next phase of Exemplar Global’s journey.

At the heart of our strategy for 2026 is a clear focus and investment in community. We are building a more active and engaged community of like-minded professionals because we believe navigating your career should be about more than formal recognition through personnel certification and training alone. It should be about connection, ongoing learning, career pathways, and being part of a global network of peers.

Wherever you are in your professional journey, Exemplar Global aims to be a place to build capability, stay current, connect with industry, and navigate change in a complex and evolving professional environment.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to explore the Exemplar Global Community and register. It’s quick, free to join, and open to anyone interested in being part of a global professional network.

You will see this reflected across our associated brands and programs, including iNARTE, which supports engineers and technical professionals worldwide, and The Auditor, which provides practical insights and commentary for the auditing community. These are integral parts of a broader professional ecosystem focused on competence, credibility, and continuous learning.

This work is strengthened through our deepening relationship with our parent organization, ASQ, a global leader in quality which is celebrating 80 years in 2026. Our shared purpose is to elevate quality, empower professionals, and support organizations in their pursuit of excellence.

In 2026, we will also be strengthening how we engage with industry more directly. A key step will be the establishment of the Exemplar Global Industry Advisory Panel, bringing together leaders and industry participants from across sectors and around the world to provide insight, challenge, and guidance as we continue to evolve our programs and services. I look forward to sharing more on this important initiative over the coming months.

You will also see Exemplar Global increasingly present in key industry forums and events in 2026. We are proud to again be supporting a long-time partner by sponsoring the SQF Excellence Awards at the SQF Unites event in St. Louis this March. SQF Unites recognizes the accomplishments and dedication of SQF auditors and practitioners.

Exemplar Global continues to evolve alongside the assessment and conformity sector. Our commitment remains simple: to support your professional journey, to uphold robust and credible certification, and to build a community that creates real value for the people and industries we serve.

Exemplar Global exists to support you and your career, and we look forward to shaping what comes next together.