2022 Committee Members

Membership 

Goals: Recruit, Engage, Retain! 

Chair: OPEN
Vice-Chair: Samantha Vivirito, Executive Meeting Manager, Turning Stone Resort Casino

Amber Carpenter, Managing Director, NYSAPLS, Inc.
Ellen Boyd, Administrative Assistant, Stony Brook Medical Center
Melissa Burke, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
JoAn Collins, Regional Director of Sales, Visions Hotels Eastern NY/New England
Michele Endries, Senior Sales Manager, Discover Albany
Tim James, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Rochester
Angela Kelly, CMP, Marketing & Communications, National Association for Pupil Transportation
Terry Nawrot, CEO, Insightpath
Ashleigh Roche, Membership Coordinator, NYS School Nutrition Association
Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Manager, Visit Buffalo Niagara

Board Liaisons: Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, New York State Veterinary Medical Society and Adam Jacobson, Director of Sales, Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center

Program 

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

Chair: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, President/CEO, Association of Proprietary Colleges
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Lisa Conarton, Conference Sales Manager, Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tracey Burkey, CDME, Director of Sales, Visit Finger Lakes
Colleen Earley, Hospitality Professional
Barry Entwistle, Director of Member Relations, NYS School Boards Association
Kathy Gormley, CMP, Director of Conference Management, LeadingAge New York
Kris Knox, Director Client Relations, Halmyre
Phil Meher, Program Manager, American Nurses Association - New York
John Nicoletta, Manager, Association Management and Notforprofit Solutions - RSM US LLP
Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living
Victoria Palasieski, CMP, Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc

Board Liaisons: Jill Delaney, President & CEO, Discover Albany and Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Director, NYS Association of School Business Officials

Trade Show 

Goals: Evaluate the 2022 program and prepare for 2023.

Chair: OPEN
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Susan Baker, Director of Sales, Saratoga City Center
Ali Bullis, Association Manager, Capitol Hill Management Services
Gina Calisi, Manager, Convention Sales, Visit Binghamton
Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany
Sara-Melissa Conklin, Membership Services Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Alicia Gazda, Convention Sales Manager, Visit Rochester
Beth Gould, Association Manager, Park Strategies
Katy Hobbs, Manager, Global Accounts, Helms Briscoe
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
April Rounds, Convention & Event Manager, The Firemen's Association of the State of New York
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Sharlana Scott, Senior Member Services Associate, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Alex Tancredi, Business Development Associate, Overit
Jim Truong, Sales Manager, Ramada By Wyndham - Liverpool/Syracuse

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

Government Affairs 

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

Chair: Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC
Vice-Chair: Michael Burridge, Director of Government Affairs, AIA New York

Mark Dorr, President, New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
Brian Buff, Vice President, Association Management Operations, Capitol Hill Management Services
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
Tom Tatum, Deputy Director of Government Relations, ASBO New York
William Van Slyke, Principal Van Slyke Strategic Consulting

Board Liaisons: Ashley Ranslow, NY Assistant State Director, NFIB and Jill Delaney, President & CEO, Discover Albany

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

Board Liaison: Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, ANA-NY
Board Chair: Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, Chief Officers of State Libraries Agencies

CAE 

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

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

Board Liaison: Meagan Bowker, CAE, Director of Association Management, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.

Rita Lashway Scholarship

Goals: Market scholarship program and review applicants 

Marissa Crary, Director of Marketing & Education, New York State Association of Health Care Providers
Juliet Barney, Communications Manager, APTA New York

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, NY State Director, NFIB

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 Hickey Bruce, CMP, President / Consultant, CCi Consulting
Amber Carpenter, Managing Director, NYSAPLS, Inc.
Rebecca Sheehan, Professional Development Manager, ASBO New York

Board Liaison:  Ashley Ranslow, NY State Director, NFIB

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: Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NYS Government Finance Officers' 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
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
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NYS Government Finance Officers' Association

Audit Committee

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: George Swain, Ed.M., CAE, Director for Evaluation and Professional Learning, NYS Association of Independent Schools
Kathy Febraio, CAE, President & CEO, NYS Association of Healthcare Providers
Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NYS Government Finance Officers' Association
Jennifer Martin, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, NY School Nutrition Association