ESSAE Committee Members

Membership Committee

Goals: Recruit, Engage, Retain! 

Chair: Shawn St. James, Membership Manager, ASBO New York
Vice-Chair: Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany

Adam Jacobson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center
Ally Meyers, Executive Coach / Mental Resilience Trainer & Speaker, Ally Meyers Training
Angela Kelly, CMP, Director of Marketing and Events, National Association for Pupil Transportation
Debra Spass, Program Manager, American Nurses Association - New York
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Gabby Fisher, Founder, Gabby Fisher Consulting
Kim Hodge, National Sales Manager, Sagamore Resort
Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Director, Visit Buffalo Niagara
Melissa Burke, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
Rebecca Sheehan, Director of Professional Development, ASBO New York
Terry Nawrot, CEO, VideoRequest

Board Liaisons: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business and Gina R. Potfora, CMP, Vice President of Operations, ACEC New York


Program Committee

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

Chair: Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO, ASBO New York
Vice-Chair: Adrienne Ceneviva, Training & Events Coordinator, New York Association for Training and Employment Professionals

Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
Colleen Earley, Fractional Meeting Planner, CME Events, LLC
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
John Nicoletta, Manager, RSM US LLC
Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living
Robin Granger, Association Director, Hinman Straub Association Management Services
Tracey Burkey, VP of Destination Development, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection

Board Liaisons: Addy Waldie, CMP, Events Manager, NY School Nutrition Association, Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC, and Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State


Trade Show Committee

Goals: Evaluate the previous year's Trade Show and prepare for the upcoming year's Trade Show.

Chair: Adam Jacobson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center
Vice-Chairs: Beth Gould, Association Manager, Park Strategies and Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Director, Visit Buffalo Niagara

Alicia Gazda, Convention Sales Manager, Visit Rochester
Amy Domurad, Senior Sales Manager, The Saratoga Hilton
April Rounds, Director of Events, The Firefighters Association of the State of New York
Claudia Desgaches, Senior Director, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe
Colleen Earley, Fractional Meeting Planner, CME Events, LLC
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Gina Calisi, Manager of Convention Sales, Visit Binghamton
Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany
Jerry Keohane, Director of Sales, Embassy Suites Syracuse-Destiny USA
Kelly McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, New York State Network for Youth Success
Laura Cardwell, Director of Operations and Events, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of NYS
Laura Gibson, Program and Event Planning Specialist, New York State Association of County Health Officials
Reanna Darone, Director of Convention Sales, Destination Niagara USA
Sara-Melissa Conklin, Member Services Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Shannon Licygiewicz, General Manager, Albany Capital Center
Sharlana Scott, Senior Member Services Associate, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Susan Baker, CMP, Director of Sales, Saratoga Springs City Center
Tim James, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Rochester
Wendy O'Duffy, VP of Sales, Visit Rochester

Board Liaison: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC


Government Affairs Committee 

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

Chair: Michael Burridge
, Director of Government Affairs, AIA New York
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Brian Buff, Vice President of Association Management Operations, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.
Caroline Bobick
, Senior Governmental Relations Representative & Federal Advocacy Manager, NYS School Boards Association
Kathy Febraio, CAE
, President/CEO, NYS Association of Health Care Providers
Kevin Dugan
, Government Affairs Director, NYS Restaurant Association, Inc.
Margaret Vandervort
, Senior VP of Operations, The Vandervort Group, LLC
Randy L. McCullough, CAE
, Deputy Executive Director, NYS Funeral Directors Association
William Van Slyke
, Senior Advisor, Capital Health Consulting

Board Liaisons: Ashley Ranslow, NY Assistant State Director, NFIB and Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC


Association Leadership Academy (ALA) Committee

Goals: Design and implement the Association Leadership Academy

Co-Chairs: George Swain, M. Ed., CAE, Director for Evaluation and Professional Learning, NYS Association of Independent Schools and Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Executive Vice President, AIA New York State, Inc.

Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Ken Allison, Controller, LeadingAge NY
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Alex Thompson, Director of Advocacy, New York Association on Independent Living

Board Liaison: Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.


CAE Committee

Goals: Reach out to current and new CAEs to secure study group leaders. Provide access to exam materials and guidance to CAE candidates.

Chair & Board Liaison: Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State
Vice-Chair: OPEN

George Swain, M.Ed., CAE, Chief Operating Officer, New York State Association of Independent Schools
Jennifer Martin, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, NY School Nutrition Association
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Mark Nelson, Ph.D., CAE


Rita Lashway Scholarship

Goals: Market scholarship program and review applicants

Chair: Jennifer Van Ort, MAB, Executive Director, NYS Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers 
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Board Liaison: TBA 


Awards Task Force

Goals: Review nominations/submissions and determine award recipients 

Chair: Kim Hodge, National Sales Manager, The Sagamore Resort
Vice-Chair: TJ Coté, CAE, MBA, President and CEO, NextGen Association Management

Amber Carpenter, Managing Director, NYS Association of Professional Land Surveyors, Inc.
Amy Domurad, Senior Sales Manager, The Saratoga Hilton
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
Cutina Griffin, Conference & Meetings Specialist, The Consortium for School Networking
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Rebecca Sheehan, Director of Professional Development, ASBO New York
Sylvia Daigle, Vice President, Lane Press

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business


Nominating Committee

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: George Swain, M.Ed., CAE, Chief Operating Officer, New York State Association of Independent Schools

Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, New York Library Association
Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
TJ Coté, CAE, MBA, President and CEO, NextGen Association Management


Finance Committee

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: Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC
Vice-Chair: Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society

Connie Neal, Executive Director, New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Erica Wells, Director of Finance, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business


Audit Committee

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

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

Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
Erica Wells, Director of Finance, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, American Nurses Association - New York
Jennifer Van Ort, MAB, Executive Director, NYS Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society


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: Addy Waldie, CMP, Events Manager, NY School Nutrition Association

George Swain, M.Ed., CAE, Chief Operating Officer, New York State Association of Independent Schools
Jeremy Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Kathy Febraio, President/CEO, NYS Association of Health Care Providers
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business


Board Governance & Curriculum Development Committee

Co-Chairs & Board Liaisons: Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO, ASBO New York and Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State 

Kendra Hems, President, Trucking Association of New York
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Ron Epstein, President/CEO, NY Construction Materials Association


CEO / Senior Leadership Programming Committee

Co-Chairs: Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living and Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC

Board Liaison: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC