2020-2021 Committee Members

Membership 

Goals: Recruit, Engage, Retain! 

Chair: Liz Mancini, Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.
Vice-Chair: Samantha Vivirito, Executive Meeting Manager, Turning Stone Resort Casino

Melissa Burke, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
Michele Endries, Senior Sales Manager, Discover Albany
Angela Kelly, CMP, Marketing & Communications, National Association for Pupil Transportation
Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Manager, Visit Buffalo Niagara

Board Liaison: Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, New York State Veterinary Medical Society 

Program 

Goals: Create a vibrant, relevant learning community, develop cutting edge, timely content & strategy.

Chair: Addy Waldie, CMP, Director of Development & Marketing, Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Inc.
Vice-Chair: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, President/CEO, Association of Proprietary Colleges

Tracey Burkey, CDME, Director of Sales, Visit Finger Lakes
Colleen Earley
Mary Jo Janis, Vice President/Convention Sales and Services, Discover Saratoga
Erica Lavigne, Director of Meeting Services, ACEC New York
Kathy Gormley, CMP, Director of Conference Management, LeadingAge New York
Victoria Palasieski, CMP, Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.

Board Liaisons: Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living

Trade Show 

Goals: Evaluate the 2021 program and prepare for 2022.

Susan Baker, Director of Sales, Saratoga City Center
Gina Calisi, Manager, Convention Sales, Visit Binghamton
Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany
Beth Gould, Association Manager, Park Strategies
Mary Jo Janis, Vice President/Convention Sales and Services, Discover Saratoga
Jerry Keohane, Director of Sales and Marketing, Embassy Suites Syracuse-Destiny USA
Shannon Licygiewicz, CEM, General Manager, Albany Capital Center 
Kim Ryan, Education & Membership Coordinator, Hospice & Palliative Care Association of NYS 
Alex Tancredi, Business Development Associate, Overit
Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Director, NYS Association of School Business Officials

Board Liaison: Adam Jacobson, Director of Sales, Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center

Strategic Partnership, Marketing, and Engagement

Goals: Expand partnership opportunities and sponsor network. Design sponsorship packages around special programs and events. Explore new avenues to secure advertising revenue. Enhance the visibility of ESSAE through media and communications. Promote association events and benefits. Assist with packaging all society efforts. 

Chair: Natasha Burns, Director of Marketing & Communication, ACEC-New York
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Ali Bullis, Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services
Shakira Hernandez, Communications, ANA-NYS
Shannon Licygiewicz, CEM, General Manager, Albany Capital Center   
Beth Mahar, Executive Director, Bleeding Disorders Association of Northeastern New York
Ashleigh Roche, Membership Coordinator, NYS School Nutrition Association
Rebecca Sheehan, Professional Development Manager, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Alex Tancredi, Business Development, Overit

Board Liaison: Meagan Bowker, CAE, Section Head & Senior Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.

Government Affairs 

Goals: Monitor legislation and inform members of pertinent issues affecting the industry.

Chair: Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Mark Dorr, President, New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
Brian Buff, Vice President, Association Management Operations, Capitol Hill Management Services
Michael Burridge, Director of Government Affairs, AIA New York
Johnny Evers, Ph.D., President, ACEC New York State
Kathy Febraio, CAE, President & CEO, NYS Association of Healthcare Providers
Randy L. McCullough, CAE, Deputy Executive Director, NYS Funeral Directors Association
Margaret Vandervort, Legislative Director & Business Manager, The Vandervort Group

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, NY Assistant State Director, NFIB

Association Leadership Academy (ALA)

Goals: Design and implement the Association Leadership Academy

Chair: George Swain, M. Ed., CAE, Director for Evaluation and Professional Learning, NYS Association of Independent Schools

Mark Amodeo, Director of Board & Membership Relations, Business Council of New York State, Inc.
Tom Cote, MBA, CAE, Founder & President, NextGen Management Consulting, LLC 
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA 
Jennifer Martin, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, NYS School Nutrition Association 
Mark Nelson, Ph.D., MBA, CAE, FASAE, Executive Director, MAC 
Victoria Palasieski, CMP, Director of Association Management, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.
Ashleigh Roche, Membership Coordinator, NYS School Nutrition Association
Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, ANA-NY

ALA Advisor: Barbara Bradley, CAE (Retired)
Board Liaison: Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Executive Vice President, AIA New York State Inc.
Board Chair: Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NYGFOA
ESSAE Staff: Vanessa LaClair, CAE, CMP, Executive Director, ESSAE

CAE 

Goals: Reach out to current and new CAEs to secure study group leaders and develop a comprehensive 2019-2020 Program.

Chair: Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education, Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) and Director, Community Health Policy, Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS)

Patti Dugan, CAE, NYS Farm Bureau
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA
Kristen Myers, CAE, Vice President of Member Services and Business Development, LeadingAge New York
Mark Nelson, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director, MAC
George Swain, M. Ed., CAE, Director for Evaluation and Professional Learning, NYS Association of Independent Schools

Board Liaison: Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Executive Vice President, AIA New York State Inc.

Rita Lashway Scholarship

Goals: Market scholarship program and review applicants 

Chair: Gina Mintzer, CMP, MHA, Executive Director, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and CVB
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Marissa Crary, Director of Marketing & Education, New York State Association of Health Care Providers
Rita Lashway, MBA, CAE (Retired) 

Board Liaison: Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, ANA-NY

Awards Task Force

Goals: Review nominations/submissions and determine award recipients 

Chair: Kim Hodge, National Sales Manager, The Sagamore Resort
Vice-Chair: Shannon Licygiewicz, CEM, General Manager, Albany Capital Center

Jennifer Bruce, CMP, Association & Meeting Management Consultant, CCi Consulting
Amber Carpenter, Managing Director, NYSAPLS, Inc.
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Kathy Gormley, CMP, Director of Conference Management, LeadingAge New York
Debby Goedeke, Convention Services Manager | Albany Film Commissioner, Discover Albany
Linda Persico, CMP, Retired
Patricia Wood (retired)

Board Liaison: Gina Potfora, CMP, Vice President of Member Services, ACEC New York

Nomination & Leadership Development 

Goals: The Nominating Committee members shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board annually. The Immediate Past Chair shall be the chair of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will collect, review, and submit a slate of nominees to the Society Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall serve in the year they are appointed. Develops a strategy for identifying members for leadership positions with the Society and preparing them to assume those roles.

Chair: Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association

Kim Keenan, Sales Operations Manager, Turning Stone Resort
Todd Garofano, Executive Director, Discover Schenectady
Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education, Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) and Director, Community Health Policy, Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS)
Kelly Garceau, Executive Director, New York Physical Therapy Association

Finance 

Goals: Composed of seven members, with the Board Treasurer shall serving as chair, the committee shall: Review the financial status of the Society; Advise the Board of Directors regarding financial policies and financial positions; Prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors.

Chair: Jennifer Van Ort, Executive Director, NYS Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Jim Calvin, President, NY Association of Convenience Stores
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association
Bob Schneider, CAE, CPA, Associate Executive Director & COO, NYS School Boards Association
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs

Audit Committee (Sub-Committee of Finance)

Goals: Oversees the annual audit of the Association's finances.

Suzanne Baker, CPA, CFO, The NYS Business Council
Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association
Bob Schneider, CAE, CPA, Executive Director, NYS School Boards Association
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians

By-Laws Committee

Goals: The Bylaws Committee shall be composed of five members with the Vice-Chair serving as chair of the committee. The committee shall review and evaluate existing bylaws and consider proposals for changes submitted by members. The committee shall prepare the proposed amendments, appropriate language, for review by the Board of Directors and approval by the membership at the annual meeting.

Chair: Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA

Jim Calvin, President, NY Association of Convenience Stores
Kathy Febraio, CAE, President & CEO, NYS Association of Healthcare Providers
Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association