Elevanta Associate Vice President of Association Operations Debra Finkler earns CAE credential – one of three in Georgia

March 2, 2021 (via ASAE.com)

WASHINGTON, DC — One hundred and eighty-nine association executives recently earned their Certified Association Executive (CAE®) credential from the CAE Commission of ASAE, joining more than 4,700 industry leaders worldwide.

The Winter 2021 class of CAEs successfully completed the CAE examination administered nationwide December 1-14, 2020. They will be honored, along with the Summer class of CAEs, during the 2021 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition the week of August 16th. A full list of the Winter 2021 class is at the end of the release.

“Congratulations to the dedicated new class of CAEs! Obtaining the CAE credential is no easy task, and this class had the additional difficulty of studying and taking the exam during a worldwide pandemic. These individuals should be extremely proud of the commitment they’ve made to their careers and the association management profession by pursuing and achieving this distinguished marker,” said DJ Johnson, IOM, CAE, chair of the CAE Commission and VP, Membership and Volunteer Engagement for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. “Welcome to the CAE Community, your journey to earn your CAE is one you will never forget.”

The CAE Program elevates professional standards, enhances individual performance, and designates those who have acquired and have demonstrated the knowledge essential to the practice of association management. The CAE Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

For more details about the CAE, visit asaecenter.org/cae.

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

About ASAE
ASAE is a membership organization of more than 48,000 association executives and industry partners representing 7,400 organizations. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at asaecenter.org.

CAEs By Country, State
Winter 2021 Class

AUSTRALIA

Toni Brearley, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Australasian Society of Association Executives
Hendra, QLD

Damian Mitsch, CAE
CEO
Australian Dental Association
St Leonards, NSW

UNITED STATES

Arizona

Brandy Richardson, CAE
Association & Conference Manager
KCA Inc
Chandler, AZ

Dawn B. Thomas, CAE
Executive Director
National Association of Campus Card Users
Phoenix, AZ

California

Adam Francis, CAE
Director of Government Relations
California Academy of Family Physicians
San Francisco, CA

Evan Hawkins, CAE
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Sacramento, CA

Colorado

Alexander Alavi CPA, CAE
Controller
EDUCAUSE
Boulder, CO

Nancye D. Bailey, CAE
Executive Director
Financial Planning Association
Denver, CO

Matt Hemmendinger, CAE
Manager of Member Engagement
American Water Works Association Headquarters Office
Denver, CO

Todd Richard Ohlheiser, CAE
Executive Director
Colorado Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Centennial, CO

District of Columbia

Karen Bernstein, CAE
Associate Director, Leadership & Governance Learning Programs
ASAE: The Center For Association Leadership
Washington, DC

Dean J. D’Ambrosi, CAE
Executive Vice President
Character.org
Washington, DC

Peter Frank, CAE
Senior Director of Operations and Membership
Association of Proposal Management Professionals
Washington, DC

Sara Goodman-Stickler, CAE
Executive Director
Women’s Transportation Seminar International
Washington, DC

Melanie Gottlieb, CAE
Deputy Director
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Washington, DC

Christina Sharp Herle, CAE
Senior Director, Member Relations
American Health Care Association
Washington, DC

Tim Hopkins, CAE
Senior Consultant
McKinley Advisors
Washington, DC

Kimberly Jones, CAE
Executive Vice President of COE
Council for Opportunity in Education
Washington, DC

Allyson Jones-Brimmer, CAE
Director of Operations
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
Washington, DC

Allison Klein, CAE
SVP, Strategic Engagement
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
Washington, DC

Kevin D. Korenthal, CAE, CAE
Chapter Executive
The ESOP Association
Washington, DC

Suzanne Le Menestrel, CAE
Senior Program Officer
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Washington, DC

Sarah Magee, CAE
Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives
American Psychological Association
Washington, DC

David H. Mann, CAE
Senior Director
American Chemistry Council
Washington, DC

Shannon McCracken, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
The Nonprofit Alliance
Washington, DC

Kelly McFarland Stratman, CAE
Chief of Staff
League of Women Voters of the United States
Washington, DC

Todd Reitzel, CAE
Director of Publications
American Bar Association
Washington, DC

Brian Riddleberger, CAE
Chief Operating Officer
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Washington, DC

Dana Ritchie, CAE
NFP and Constituent Services Senior Director
American Health Care Association
Washington, DC

Lisa Tillinghast, CAE
Managing Director
SIFMA
Washington, DC

Margaret Weigers Vitullo Ph.D., CAE
Deputy Director
American Sociological Association
Washington, DC

Erin Weeks, CAE
Chapter Relations Director
SIOR
Washington, DC

Sonji Medders Wilkes, CAE
Vice President, Policy, Advocacy & Government Education
Hemophilia Federation of America
Washington, DC

Grace Elizabeth Woods, CAE
Chief Learning Officer
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Washington, DC

Christina J. Wurster, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Society for Maternal – Fetal Medicine
Washington, DC

Florida

Evelyn Cardenas, CAE
President/CEO
Central Florida Auto Dealers Association
Sanford, FL

Reno Deschaine, CAE
Vice President, Global Education and Member Services
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
Orlando, FL

Jennifer Norman, CAE
Director of Customer Experience
Novi AMS
Orlando, FL

Julie Ramirez, CAE
Executive Director
Lee County Medical Society
Fort Myers, FL

Judith D. Tilton, CAE
Account Executive
Arden Solutions LLC
Largo, FL

Dana Varble, CAE
Chief Veterinary Officer
North American Veterinary Community
Orlando, FL

Peter Alexander Zimek, CAE
Founder & CEO
Novi AMS
Orlando, FL

Georgia

Betsy Eddy, CAE
Associate Director
Southeastern Affordable Housing Management Association
Decatur, GA

Debra Ann Finkler, CAE
AVP, Association Operations
Elevanta
Kennesaw, GA

Carly Sharec, CAE
Membership & Communications
Association Management Executives
Norcross, GA

Illinois

Carol Bennett, CAE
County Farm Bureau Manager
Johnson County Farm Bureau
Vienna, IL

Emily Besser, CAE
Manager of Advocacy and Practice Affairs
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association
Rolling Meadows, IL

Yumeka Brown, CAE
Program Officer
American Library Association
Chicago, IL

Kathleen Burbidge, CAE
External Affairs Associate Director
Water Quality Association
Lisle, IL

Margaret Bussan, CAE
Simulation Education Coordinator
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Schaumburg, IL

Alexis Curtis MBA, CMP, CAE
Manager, Volunteers & Meetings
American Dental Association
Chicago, IL

Heather Duve, CAE
Membership & Development Director
Water Quality Association
Lisle, IL

Penelope Evans, CAE
Manager, Member Development
National Association of Realtors Conventions and Meetings Division
Chicago, IL

Kim FitzSimmons, CAE
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
American Association of Endodontists
Chicago, IL

Mary Davis Fournier, CAE
Deputy Director
American Library Association
Chicago, IL

James S. Goodman, CAE
Senior Vice President, Business Group
American Dental Association
Chicago, IL

Steven G. Houg, CAE
Simulation Education Manager
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Schaumburg, IL

Laura Jiggens, CAE
Market Research Manager
Emergency Nurses Association
Schaumburg, IL

Marcy Johnson, CAE
CFO
American Rental Association
Moline, IL

Barbara Kemmis, CAE
Executive Director
Cremation Association of North America
Wheeling, IL

Laura Kuhn, CAE
Membership Manager
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Chicago, IL

Nicole Larson, CAE
Associate Director, Volunteer Relations
Association of Legal Administrators
Chicago, IL

Robert Lendi, CAE
Chief Financial Officer
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Chicago, IL

Allison Lundberg, CAE
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Association Management Center
Chicago, IL

Eileen McCarthy, CAE
Executive Director
Strategic Management Society
Chicago, IL

Erin C. Menet MBA, CAE
Director of Governance and Leadership Programs
CCIM Institute
Chicago, IL

Tina Morton MBA, CAE
Director, Member Marketing and Engagement
American Academy of Pediatrics
Itasca, IL

Christine Murphy Peck, CAE
Senior Director, Education and Learning Services
SmithBucklin
Chicago, IL

Lise A. Puckorius CMP, CAE
CEO
OLC Education & Conference Center
Rosemont, IL

Florence Rivera, CAE
Director, Early Childhood Initiatives
American Academy of Pediatrics
Itasca, IL

Debra Schaller, CAE
Vice President Marketing
American Rental Association
Moline, IL

Mia Short, CAE
Senior Director, Education
Interventional Academy | Complex Cardiovascular Catheter Therapeutics
Barrington, IL

Callan E.H. Stapleton, CAE
President, Illinois Bankers Education Services
Illinois Bankers Association – Springfield Office
Springfield, IL

Ellen J Sullivan, CAE
Chief Operating Officer
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Chicago, IL

Amy Thomasson, CAE
VP, Marketing and Membership
Affinity Strategies
Geneva, IL

Oolagamani Ungapen, CAE
Executive Director
American Association of Law Libraries
Chicago, IL

Indiana

Tonja Eagan MPA, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Kappa Delta Pi
Indianapolis, IN

Nick Estrada, CAE
Director of Membership
Raybourn Group International, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN

Katie Feltman, CAE
Chief Operating Officer
American College of Sports Medicine
Indianapolis, IN
Meegan Isenhour, CAE
Director of Administration
Midwest Political Science Association
Bloomington, IN

Cory Martin, CAE
Executive Director
The Corydon Group
Indianapolis, IN
Thomas Morrison, CAE
Account Associate
Bloomearng
Indianapolis, IN

Kansas

Kelly Allen, CAE
Senior Manager, Membership and Meetings
Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds
Overland Park, KS

Emily Bowers, CAE
Vice President, Education & Operations
Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds
Overland Park, KS

Elsie Kreidler, CAE
Association Executive
Lawrence, KS

Travis Lowe, CAE
Vice President
Braden Heidner Lowe & Associates
Topeka, KS

Kentucky

Kelly Ives, CAE
Executive Director
AIA Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Rachel Poarch, CAE
Program Manager
AMR Management Services
Lexington, KY

Lauren Santangelo, CAE
Executive Director
AMR Management Services
Lexington, KY

Cindy L. Stanley, CAE
Executive Director
Associations International
Lexington, KY

Maine

Cathryn Stratton, CAE
Executive Director of Medical Specialty Societies
Maine Medical Association
Manchester, ME

Maryland

Susan D. Adams, CAE
Director, State Legislative & Regulatory Affairs
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Rockville, MD

Justin Barch, CAE
Director
Association for Financial Professionals
Bethesda, MD

Andrea Bauerfeind, CAE
Director, Office of Scientific Meetings and Conferences
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Rockville, MD

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw, CAE
Associate Director of Clinical Certification
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Rockville, MD

Valerie M. Evans, CAE
Vice President, Governance & Membership
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Rockville, MD

Melissa A. Howerton, CAE
Senior Vice President, Member Services
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Silver Spring, MD

Julene Joy, CAE
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Rockville, MD

Tiffany Knowlton JD, MBA, CAE
Executive Director
Association of Academic Physiatrists
Owings Mills, MD

Ester Magorka, CAE
Vice President for Marketing
National Asphalt Pavement Association
Greenbelt, MD
Parul Divya Parikh, CAE
Vice President of Research & Education
Medical Professional Liability Association
Rockville, MD

Michael Providence, CAE
Volunteer Operations Mgr
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Rockville, MD

Hedy Ross, CAE
Director, Membership & Communications
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Silver Spring, MD

Pamela Ruiz, CAE
Chief Business Development Officer
Inteleos
Rockville, MD

Steven B. Shivak, CAE
Director of Membership
National Asphalt Pavement Association
Greenbelt, MD

Rebecca Stinner, CAE
Account Executive
Clemons & Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, MD

Daniel Tadesse, CAE
Customer Service Manager
American Urological Association
Linthicum, MD
Melanie J Wells, CAE
Chief Operations Officer
American College of Medical Genetics & Genomics
Bethesda, MD

Massachusetts

Susan Barber, CAE
Executive Director
McKenna Management Inc
Westford, MA

Kara A. Kieran, CAE
Senior Director of Member Engagement
Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants Inc
Boston, MA

Michigan

Monica L. Ackerson, CAE
Executive Director
Michigan Road Preservation Association
Dewitt, MI

Melissa Aldrich, CAE
Director of Events & Learning
National Association of College and University Food Services
East Lansing, MI

Andrew Burns, CAE
Executive Director
Slag Cement Association
Farmington, MI
Brian T. Lepacek, CAE
Glenn, MI

Tobi Lyon Moore, CAE
CEO
Ngage Management LLC
Okemos, MI

Cornelius Sheridan, CAE
Executive Director
Michigan Townships Association
Lansing, MI

Minnesota

Jennifer Carlson, CAE
Membership & Event Specialist
Synergos AMC
Saint Paul, MN

Eric Fletty, CAE
Eagan, MN

Amy Kaloides, CAE
Senior Director, Advocacy
American Academy of Neurology
Minneapolis, MN

Missouri

Anne Hamilton Fehr, CAE
Executive Director
Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association
Jefferson City, MO

Theresa Fleck, CAE
Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Logan University
Chesterfield, MO

Bradley Patterson, CAE
Chapter Membership Manager
American Public Works Association – MO Office
Kansas City, MO

Kristy Stephens, CAE
Executive Director
Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri Inc
Saint Louis, MO

Newlyn Wing, CAE
Association Manager
Junior Chamber International
Chesterfield, MO

New Jersey

Donna-Jean Plante, CAE
Executive Director
SAAGNY
Woodcliff Lake, NJ

New York

Jonathan Riegel, CAE
Executive Director
Hewlett, NY

North Carolina

Rachael McGuffin, CAE
Membership and Community Manager
International Society of Automation, ISA
Research Triangle Park, NC

Michele Pore, CAE
Executive Director, Administrative Affairs
American Board of Anesthesiology
Raleigh, NC

Kathleen Shelton, CAE
Executive Director
AIA Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Cynthia Walsh, CAE
CEO
Brunswick County Association of REALTORS
Shallotte, NC

Ohio

Margaret Bohen Barlow, CAE
Association Management Professional
Management Excellence Inc
Dayton, OH

Amanda Marie Hohler, CAE
Senior Manager, Learning Engagement
The Ohio Society of CPAs
Columbus, OH

Suzanne McCann, CAE
Director, Strategic Communication and Marketing
The Ohio Society of CPAs
Columbus, OH
Roxzelle West, CAE
Management Associate
Management Excellence Inc
Dayton, OH

Oklahoma

Vanessa Finley, CAE
CEO
National Association of Legal Assistants Inc
Tulsa, OK

Alisha Loper, CAE
Vice President, Marketing
Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants
Oklahoma City, OK

Julie Odom, CAE
Chapter Management Professional
Tulsa Area Human Resources Association
Broken Arrow, OK

Oregon

Shaina Weinstein, CAE
Special Projects
Green Building Initiative
Portland, OR

Pennsylvania

David Falchek, CAE
Executive Director
American Wine Society
Scranton, PA

Jerome Ozog, CAE
Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute
Harrisburg, PA

Rhode Island

Suzanne Silva, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Providence Board of REALTORS
Cumberland, RI

South Carolina

Jameson Root, CAE
Interim Executive Director
National Association for Campus Activities
Columbia, SC

South Dakota

Angela Lammers, CAE
Owner, Managing Partner/CEO
Cetera Services
Sioux Falls, SD

Tennessee

Kelly Braniff, CAE
Executive Director
Midwest Nursing Research Society
Franklin, TN
Daniel Ryan, CAE
Chief Learning Officer
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Memphis, TN

Texas

Melissa Danielle Ball, CAE
Professional Development Manager
National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Carrollton, TX

Eric Boehm, CAE
Executive Director
El Paso Veterinary Medical Association
El Paso, TX

Mary Ellen Fletcher, CAE
Governance Operations Manager
American College of Emergency Physicians
Irving, TX

Riane Gay, CAE
Director, Corporate Development
American College of Emergency Physicians
Irving, TX

Jennifer George, CAE
Executive Director
Institute of Real Estate Management Austin Chapter
Austin, TX

Katherine Johanns, CAE
Marketing and Communications Director
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Austin, TX

Holly McCauley, CAE
Manager, Governance and Executive Operations
Texas Society of CPAs
Dallas, TX

Jennifer Wray Peters, CAE
American Society of Civil Engineers Texas Section
Austin, TX

Tracy Vecchio, CAE
Director, Membership & Marketing
USFN America’s Mortgage Banking Attorneys
North Richland Hills, TX

Virginia

Meghan Architect, CAE
Marketing and Communications Director
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International – Executive and Foundation Offic
Alexandria, VA

Michael F Bober, CAE
President and CEO
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
Alexandria, VA

Ryan Carroll, CAE
Vice President, Government Affairs
Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association
Arlington, VA

Brian Cleary, CAE
Director
National Automobile Dealers Association
Tysons, VA

Sean Currigan, CAE
Patient Safety & Quality Officer
Centreville, VA

Gwyn Donohue, CAE
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
Alexandria, VA

Rhea George, CAE
Managing Director
American Institute of Architects Virginia
Richmond, VA

Michelle Gross, CAE
Director of Credentialing / Account Executive
Metacred Inc
Mc Lean, VA

Kelly Ann Gull, CAE
Sr. Manager, Governance & Executive Office
National Society of Professional Engineers
Alexandria, VA

Samantha Kenny, CAE
Government Affairs Director
Organization Management Group Inc
Chesapeake, VA

Sara R. Kilkenny, CAE
Director of Meetings
School Nutrition Association
Arlington, VA

Carolyn Lagermasini, CAE
President
Association and Conference Group LLC
Leesburg, VA
John David Lingerfelt, CAE
Senior Manager, Engagement & Outreach
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Alexandria, VA

Heather L. Maurer, CAE
CEO
Vienna, VA

Eileen McKeown, CAE
Vice President of Marketing and Sales
International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration
Alexandria, VA

Lisabeth McLaughlin, CAE
Executive Director, Student Assembly & PTA Caucus
American Physical Therapy Association
Alexandria, VA

Daniel Nappi, CAE
Director of Workforce Development
Vienna, VA

Kathy Rabalais MPA, CAE
Executive Director
Virginia Water Environment Association
Glen Allen, VA

Meagan Roloff, CAE
Director of Member Engagement & Partnerships
Association of Child Life Professionals
Arlington, VA

Ronald Rosenbaum, CAE
Chief Global Marketing & Business Development Officer
Alexandria, VA

Jennifer Schlueter IOM, CAE
Director, Association Resources
National Apartment Association
Arlington, VA

Rachael Swetnam Smith-Cohn, CAE
Senior Director of Operations
National Grants Management Association
Sterling, VA

Amy Freed Stalzer, CAE
Self Employed
Arlington, VA

Joseph P. Stangl CPA, CAE
Chief Financial Officer
Air Force Association
Arlington, VA

Marie Stravlo IOM, CAE
CEO
Association Development Services
Alexandria, VA

Ellena Talbott, CAE
Director of Operations & Member Engagement
Association for Postal Commerce
Alexandria, VA

Jennifer Watson, CAE
Director of Membership Engagement
FBI National Academy Associates Inc
Quantico, VA

Steven A. Williams, CAE
Partner
Hardiman-Williams LLC
Charlottesville, VA

Jason Yusko, CAE
Director of Information Technology
American Traffic Safety Services Association
Fredericksburg, VA

Washington

Vanessa Dennison, CAE
Principal
Dennison & Associates
Seattle, WA

Felicia Denise Kenan, CAE
Association Executive
SBI Association Management
Seattle, WA

Liz Truong, CAE
Association Management Inc
Gig Harbor, WA

Wisconsin

Brenda J. Barnhardt, CAE
Executive Vice President
REALTOR® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin
Eau Claire, WI

Jodi Fisher, CAE
Founder and CEO
Impact Association Management
Madison, WI

Rosanne Stelpflug, CAE
Director of Administration
Executive Director, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI