In this episode, Erin Maher-Moran interviews Brittney Grant, the chair of HETMA’s Approved Program Committee. Brittney shares her unexpected journey into higher education technology, which began with her involvement in high school theater and later at her church’s tech team. After working in various fields like healthcare and manufacturing, she returned to live events. The COVID-19 pandemic led to her being one of three people running the entire venue. This experience, along with her role as the SGA’s VP of F&O at Aims Community College, helped her realize her passion for live events and process-oriented work. She applied for a job at Aims after graduating and has been there for three years. 

The Importance of Process 
Brittney emphasizes that her current role at Aims has been a significant learning experience, as there were almost no existing processes when she started. She had to learn everything the hard way, and she and her team are still working to establish and define systems. She likens the situation to “reorganizing the train at full speed,” which is a challenging but necessary task. She also discusses the importance of having a balance between structure and flexibility in her work and personal life. She highlights the need to “take a step back” and “let the chips fall” when faced with setbacks, and she advises listeners that it’s okay to fail and learn from the experience. 

The HETMA Approved Program 
Brittney explains that the Approved Program provides a service to evaluate technology products through the lens of higher education tech managers. This evaluation helps both HETMA members and manufacturers by giving them confidence that a product is suitable for the higher education environment. She notes that the program is expanding beyond hardware to include software. Brittney’s goal is to improve the program’s efficiency and communication by implementing clearer organizational processes and encouraging more HETMA members to participate as evaluators. She believes that a diverse group of evaluators is crucial for providing a comprehensive and accurate assessment of products. She ends the discussion by reiterating that building successful systems involves trial and error and the ability to adapt. She believes that the Approved Program will continue to evolve and serve the community better as more people get involved. 
 
Topics Discussed: 
    Brittney’s Unconventional Career Path 
    The Importance of Defined Processes 
    What the HETMA Approved Program Does 
    The Challenge of Managing Expectations and People 
    The Value of Trial and Error 

Connect with Brittney Grant 
HETMA Approved Program Chair, Aims Community College – Audio Visual Specialist 
E-mail: [email protected] 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brittneymgrant 
Instagram: @btforhim 

Join the Conversation We want to hear from you! Share your reflections, questions, or connection stories in the HETMA community at community.hetma.org. Whether you’re new to the space or a long-time member, your voice matters—and this is the month to merge lanes and grow together.