Association Rockstars

Hester Ndoja, CAE joined the Florida Society of Association Executives in January 2008 and recently, she was named President and CEO in February 2024. Hester has gained experience in just about every area of association management while at FSAE and earned the Certified Association Executive designation (CAE) in 2009. Hester has a passion for salesmanship and discusses the significance of attentive listening and its transformative impact on her professional trajectory. She believes that the key to selling lies in the art of listening intently, empathetically grasping the needs of the customer, and fostering personalized connections to cultivate lasting relationships. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Savannah Bragg Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Jeff De Cagna AIMP FRSA FASAE is an executive advisor for Foresight First LLC in Reston, Virginia, and an association contrarian, foresight practitioner, governing designer, stakeholder/successor advocate, and stewardship catalyst. Jeff shares the importance of intentional learning and challenging your orthodoxy in creating success for the future of your association. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Savannah Bragg Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Kayla Waller is President / CEO at the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed CEO a year and a half after graduating from Virginia Tech. Kayla shares her experience as a younger CEO and how they have overcome technology challenges and tough conversations in her time at the Chamber. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Savannah Bragg Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Listen in as Lowell M. Aplebaum interviews a panel of Association Rockstars from the 2023 season as they reflect on the past year and look forward to 2024. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dana is the Director of Client Partnerships at DelCor Technology Solutions. She likes making clients (and people in general) happy by finding solutions to their problems and creating positive relationships by connecting them with others. She's a big fan of the passion she sees in the association world, and how technology can enable organizations to achieve great things. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Joseph Jones, PhD, MPA, IOM is chief of staff to the president at Des Moines University. He is the former executive director of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University. He is a community volunteer, local elected official, and nonprofit organization board leader. He is a lifelong introvert and spends his quiet time with his 7-year-old Newfoundland and an assortment of backyard chickens. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Adam Levy, CAE is the Executive Director of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. An experienced association executive and career nonprofit professional, Adam previously served as the Deputy and Interim Executive Director of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and held roles at the National Restaurant Association, and SmithBucklin, the world’s largest association management company. He serves on the Board of Directors of Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC), and the Small Staff Associations Advisory Committee of ASAE. Adam was a recipient of Association Forum’s “Forty Under 40” award in 2022, and holds his CAE from The American Society of Association Executives. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

listen in as Lowell Aplebaum interviews Hassana Howe, CAE, the Chief Experience and Engagement Officer (CXO) of the American Physical Society (APS), with a mission to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics. She comes to APS with 17 years of non-profit executive experience. As CXO, Hassana oversees communications, marketing, and membership engagement activities to deliver a consistent and compelling experience to members and the global physics community. A self-described “scientist with a heart,” Hassana has a B.S. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University and is bilingual in Spanish and English. Well-traveled and has lived or worked in 16 countries across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Dawn Amaskane, CAE, CMP is the Associate Vice President of Administrative Affairs at the American Osteopathic Association based in Chicago. Dawn has 20 years of well-rounded association experience. As a business events strategists, she oversees all association meetings; in addition she leads key governance structure and operations as well as implements association-wide strategies based on the strategic plan. Dawn is an active member in the association community and is a member of the Association Forum of Chicagoland, the American Society for Association Executives and the Professional Convention Management Association. Dawn serves as Secretary on the PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter and in 2022 was honored and received the Association Professional Achievement award from Association Forum of Chicagoland. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Listen as Lowell Aplebaum interviews Anne Ornelas, DES. Throughout her career Anne has held positions with a range of responsibilities, like the utility player in baseball she’s learned how important it is to adapt to changes, be flexible, learn new skills, and remain a master at building and maintaining relationships. She’s covered several bases including CME/education, membership, diversity, and now operations specifically working on technology projects for CASSS’s digital transformation. She’s been humbled by her leadership experiences as an ASAE DELP scholar (class of 2012-2014) and National Urban Fellows – America’s Leaders of Change in 2011, cherishing the relationships she’s built with countless amazing leaders. In the last 3 years of COVID and cancer, she’s learned not to take her physical and mental health for granted when it comes to work/life balance. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Rodneikka Scott, MSC, CAE is the Chief Membership & Diversity Programs Officer at the Endocrine Society. She has over fifteen years of diverse association leadership experience in and around strategic operations, business development, member engagement, component support, value creation, program innovation and implementation, partnership building, communications, marketing, and DEIR. She has been honored in the field of association management by being awarded the 2022-2024 Diversity Executive Leadership Program as well as being a recipient of the Association Forum 2022 Forty Under 40 Association in the association industry­­­­­. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Listen as Lowell interviews Lindsay Currie, CAE, the Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR, www.cur.org). Currie is an association executive focused on enriching and advancing society through associations. She is a believer in the power of practicing foresight and the positive impact it has on associations as they pursue achievement of mission driven goals. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Lowell Aplebaum interviews Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE a psychologist and principal at Executive Therapy and Consulting. Combining his experience as an association executive and a licensed mental health professional, he now conducts virtual psychotherapy with executives and leaders (and is authorized to see patients in over 30 states) as well as speaking about stress management, impostor experience, creating a culture of wellness, and other mental health topics to associations and organizations. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Watch as Lowell M. Aplebaum interviews Stefanie Reeves, FASAE, CAE, Bobby Peralta, CPAE, Joe Lindahl, MA, CAE, Ashley Hodak Sullivan, Natasha Bethea Goodwin, MS, CAE, and David Falchek, CAE for the annual Association Rockstars Roundtable to discuss 2022 reflections and their projections for 2023. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Natasha Bethea Goodwin MS, CAE is the Senior Director of Marketing and Membership at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) where she sets the strategic direction for ITI’s brand awareness and membership activities. She is on a mission to assist young professionals in embracing their greatness by unlocking their sense of competence, confidence, and value in the workplace. Natasha’s current career accomplishments include being selected as a 2018 Forty Under 40 Award recipient by Association Forum and a 2019 ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Lowell interviews the Association Latinos: - Jose Segarra, MNA, CAE, Strategic Director & Senior Account Executive at Bostrom. - Carlos Cardenas, CAE, Director of Information Technology at the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). - Norma Castrejon, CAE, Sr. Technology Consultant at DelCor. - Jay Carino, MBA, CAE, Vice President of Membership Services at the American Osteopathic Association. - Josie Hernandez, IOM, Account Executive at Bostrom and Executive Director for DONA International. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Stefanie Reeves FASAE, CAE is the Deputy Chief of Public Policy and Engagement with the American Psychological Association. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Maryland Psychological Association. A member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), she was named a Fellow of the association in 2020, served on their Board from 2018 - 2021 and is a 2008-2009 DELP Scholar. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

David Falchek ,CAE, is the executive director of the American Wine Society. He began his career in publishing and transitioned to associations after board experience serving a federal credit union and the American Wine Society. He also chairs the City of Scranton Board of Ethics. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Joe Lindahl, MA, CAE, has been a part of the association management community for 12 years and currently serves as a Senior Associate with MCI-USA and leads the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition as the Executive Director. He serves as the organization’s spokesperson and the Board of Director’s strategic partner to enhance the awareness and impact of the MSA Coalition. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Amy discusses superpowers, careers, and more with our panelist of CAEs: Lakisha Miller-Barclay, CAE, EA, Executive Director & CEO at Rubber Division, ACS Jason Guilbeau, PhD, CAE, Executive Director, Association for the Study of Higher Education Courtney Bulger, CAE, Executive Director. Host and Founder: Lowell Aplebaum - CEO & Strategy Catalyst at Vista Cova Producer and Operations: Amy Hager - Strategy Advisor at Vista Cova Video and Audio Editing: Kaelyn Sanders Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/