Departures

Neas

Smith

Fildes

Robinson

Cherrey

Dorgan

Layman

Doan

Johnston

Mincielli

D'Ambrosi

Daigle

Neas announces departure from GPhA

Ralph Neas will step down as president and CEO of $13M-revenue Generic Pharmaceutical Association this fall, the organization announced Jan. 20.

Neas has led GPhA since 2011. He was something of an unconventional candidate for the job, having spent a good chunk of his earlier career as a civil rights advocate.

In a statement, Neas said he was leaving GPhA to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and to work on issues such as nonpartisan election reform.

"Over the past 12 months, I have been talking to a number of board members and staff about the next chapter in my life," he said. "This joint decision today will allow the GPhA board of directors and I to execute a smooth leadership transition and also allow me the time to explore leadership opportunities that have been presented to me regarding nonpartisan electoral reform and various entrepreneurial ventures in affordable health care, as well as the chance to resume part-time writing and teaching."

Before joining GPhA, Neas was CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care. He previously led two civil rights groups: the People For the American Way and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

The GPhA board said it has begun a search for Neas' successor.

Dylla to exit physics institute

H. Frederick Dylla plans to retire as executive director and CEO of the $79M-revenue American Institute of Physics when a replacement is found.

Before joining the College Park, Md.-based AIP in 2007, he was chief technology officer and associate director at the U.S. Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab. He also held various positions at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he helped develop technology for nuclear fusion reactors, particle accelerators and materials processing.

He has a Ph.D. in physics from MIT.

Recruitment firm Korn Ferry is assisting in the search for Dylla's replacement.

Golf club group CEO announces exit

Michael Hughes will step down as CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association at the end of the year.

Hughes has led the Charleston, S.C.-based association since 1990. The organization's board of directors has formed a search committee to find his replacement.

McCloskey to leave Faith and Politics Institute

Elizabeth McCloskey stepped down as CEO of the $1M-revenue Faith and Politics Institute on Jan. 21.

She has a Ph.D. in spirituality from Catholic University of America.

O'Brien retires from NAFA

Kim O'Brien retired as CEO of the $1M-revenue National Association for Fixed Annuities on Jan. 16.

She led the association for 11 years. She has an MBA from Edgewood College in Madison, Wis.

Janet Terpening, NAFA's director of operations, has assumed leadership duties until a new CEO is found.

Arrivals

Smith takes top job at CFA Institute

Paul Smith has been promoted to president and CEO of the $240M-revenue CFA Institute. He replaces John Rogers, who left in June 2014 after admitting to a relationship with a senior staff member that the institute's board saw as a conflict of interest, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Smith joined the Charlottesville, Va.-based organization representing financial analysts in 2012 as managing director, Asia-Pacific. He previously was CEO of Asia Alternative Asset Partners and global head of securities services and global head of alternative funds administration HSBC Bank.

He has a master's degree in modern history from Oxford University.

Recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates assisted in the search.

Fildes to head ERISA

Annette Gaurisco Fildes has joined the $2M-revenue ERISA Industry Committee as CEO, effective Jan. 12.

Fildes most recently was EVP, public affairs, at the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

She previously held senior executive positions within the public policy and government affairs groups for General Motors and Honeywell.

She has a master's degree in taxation from Georgetown University and a law degree from Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y.

Robinson joins business college group

The $16M-revenue Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International has appointed Tom Robinson president and CEO. He replaces John Fernandes, who is retiring after working at the Tampa, Fla.-based association for 15 years.

Robinson most recently was managing director of the Americas at the CFA Institute. He previously was a tenured faculty member in accounting at the University of Miami, where he directed the Master of Professional Accounting Program and was acting chairman of the department.

He has a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Realty group names Clements CEO

Walt Clements has joined the $12M-revenue Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute as CEO. The organization is a National Association of Realtors division.

Clements is a real estate developer and longtime CCIM Institute member. He has also been a CCIM Institute instructor for 35 years and is former head of the real estate program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Recruitment firm Leonard Pfeiffer & Co. assisted in the search.

National Health Council selects new CEO

The $3M-revenue National Health Council has promoted Marc Boutin to CEO, effective March 1. He replaces Myrl Weinberg, who announced last year she was stepping down.
Boutin has worked at the council since 2003. He is currently EVP and COO. He previously was VP, government relations and advocacy, for the American Cancer Society.

He has a law degree from Suffolk University in Boston.

Matthews named head of music publishers

The $2M-revenue American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has promoted Elizabeth Matthews to CEO. She replaces John LoFrumento, who retired in 2014 after working at the association for 33 years.

Matthews joined the New York City-based association in 2013 as EVP and general counsel. She previously was EVP and deputy general counsel at Viacom Media Networks.

She has a law degree from Emory University in Atlanta.

Cherrey takes up ILA job

Cynthia Cherrey has been appointed president and CEO of the $777K-revenue International Leadership Association, effective Sept. 1.

Cherrey previously led the in Silver Spring, Md,-based organization as a part-time president. In an interview, she said the organization had grown to the point where she could now lead it full time.

Cherrey currently is VP for campus life at Princeton University. Before joining the university, she was VP of student affairs, dean of students and a clinical professor at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.

She has a Ph.D. in communications studies from the University of Denver.

Johnson to lead women's forum

Marilyn Johnson has joined the $3M-revenue International Women's Forum as CEO.

Johnson spent 35 years at IBM, retiring as VP of market development in Armonk, N.Y.

Recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles assisted in the search.

Former lobbyist to head mentor program

The $2M-revenue ACE Mentor Program of America has selected Jack Kalavritinos as president and CEO, effective February 2015.

Kalavritinos most recently was director of global government affairs for health care products company Covidien. He was director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush and the former director of government affairs and general counsel at the American Council of Engineering Companies.

EDUCAUSE names new president

The $32M-revenue EDUCAUSE has hired John O'Brien as president and CEO, effective June 1. He replaces Diana Oblinger, who is retiring.

O'Brien joins the Louisville, Colo.-based education technology association from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, where he was senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs.

He has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Minnesota.

Meier to lead ARIAS-U.S.

Sara Meier has been named executive director of $878K-revenue ARIAS-U.S. in Westbrook, Conn.

Meier is SVP at Coulter, the association management company that administers ARIAS-U.S., which provides services to the insurance and reinsurance arbitration industry.

Lighting group promotes staffer to president

The $2M-revenue American Lighting Association has promoted Eric Jacobson to president. He replaces Dick Upton, who retired at the start of 2015.

Jacobson, who joined the Dallas-based association in 1994, most recently was VP of membership.

Geologist to head geological society

The $8M-revenue Geological Society of America in Boulder, Colo., has appointed Vicki McConnell executive director, effective April 1.

McConnell currently is state geologist of Oregon and executive director of the state's Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. She has a Ph.D. in geology and volcanology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Pork board hires Hodges

Chris Hodges will join the Des Moines, Iowa-based National Pork Board as CEO on Feb. 16.

Hodges currently is SVP, business development, for Smithfield Farmland.

The board oversees the pork checkoff program, which raises money to educate the public about the industry.

Bereson to lead nondestructive testing group

Arny Bereson has joined the $8M-revenue American Society for Nondestructive Testing as executive director, the Columbus, Ohio-based group announced Jan. 6.

Bereson most recently was CEO of the Academy of Certified Diabetes Educators. He has a Ph.D. in human services from Capella University, an online institution.

Religious press group names new head

The Evangelical Press Association in Boulder, Colo., has promoted CFO Lamar Keener to executive director, effective Jan. 15. He replaces D'Arcy Maher, who recently stepped down to run a joint ministry with her husband.

Keener was the publisher of Christian Examiner newspaper group from 1988 to 2014 and is the current publisher of Refreshed Magazine, launched last year.

Childers to lead pension coalition

Bailey Childers has joined the $836K-revenue National Public Pension Coalition as executive director. She replaces Jordan Marks.

Childers previously was state strategies manager at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from Wellesley College.

The coalition is an advocacy group working to protect pensions of public sector employees.

Arnoff to head Jewish community center group

Stephen Hazan Arnoff has been appointed CEO of the $18M-revenue Jewish Community Centers Association, with offices in New York City and Jerusalem. He replaces Allan Finkelstein.

Arnoff most recently was director of the Office of Culture, Community and Society at Shalem College in Jerusalem.

Catholic Charities appoints new director

The $28M-revenue Catholic Charities USA in Alexandria, Va., has appointed Donna Markham, an Adrian Dominican sister and clinical psychologist, as its new president.

Markham most recently was president of Behavioral Health Institute for Mercy Health Partners, a Catholic hospital and clinic system covering Ohio and Kentucky. She is the first woman to head Catholic Charities USA.

Recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates assisted in the search.

Business college group names CEO

The $1M-revenue National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship has named Rebecca Corbin as president and CEO. She replaces Heather Van Sickle, who recently stepped down after leading NACCE for nearly 10 years.

Corbin joins the Springfield, Mass.-based association from Burlington County College in Mount Laurel, N.J. where she was VP of institutional advancement and executive director of the college foundation.

Kastelic to lead Indian charity group

The $3M-revenue National Indian Child Welfare Association has promoted Sarah Kastelic to executive director. She replaces Terry Cross, who will become a senior consultant for the organization.

Kastelic most recently was chief of staff and deputy director at the organization. She previously led the National Congress of American Indians' welfare reform program and was founding director of NCAI's Policy Research Center.

Government affairs

Kimberly Olson Dorgan will step down as senior EVP, public policy, at the $54M-revenue American Council of Life Insurers at the end of January.

Dorgan started her career at ACLI in 1999. Before joining the association, she was a consultant who represented a number of companies and nonprofit organizations, including Children's Television Workshop, the National Captioning Institute and America's Public Television Stations. She plans to return to consulting.

ACLI CEO Dirk Kempthorne said he offered Dorgan the opportunity to continue to represent the association as a consultant through 2015, and she agreed.

"In the four years I have worked with her, I have appreciated her professionalism and many talents," he said in a statement. "She has made significant contributions to the success of ACLI and to the well-being of the industry."
Dorgan has a master's degree in international relations from The George Washington University. She is married to former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.).

***

Jarrod Thompson has joined the $34M-revenue Airlines for America as VP for legislative and regulatory policy.
Thompson most recently was director of congressional affairs at United Airlines.

***

Mike Liptak has joined the $2M-revenue Travel Technology Association as VP of government relations.

Liptak most recently was director of government affairs for the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association. He previously was government affairs director at Washington Strategies and spent more than two years as a legislative correspondent to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

He has a bachelor's degree in communications from Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

***

The $71M-revenue America's Health Insurance Plans has hired Matthew Eyles as EVP of policy and regulatory affairs.

Eyles most recently was EVP of Avalere Health, where he led the firm's work with health plans and providers and Avalere Communications, its strategic communications practice. He previously was VP for public affairs and policy at Coventry Health Care and VP of corporate public policy at Wyeth. He began his career as an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office.

He has a master's degree in public policy from the University of Rochester.

***

The $14M-revenue International Franchise Association has appointed Michael Layman as VP of regulatory affairs.
Layman most recently worked for IFA in an of counsel capacity on workforce policy issues since September 2014.

He previously was a senior manager with Littler Mendelson. He also worked at the Society for Human Resource Management as manager of employment and labor policy.

He has a master's degree in public administration and policy from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Georgetown University.

***

The $33M-revenue Portland Cement Association has named A. Todd Johnston VP for government affairs, effective Jan. 19.

Johnston most recently was staff director for the Subcommittees on Environment and Energy under the U.S.

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Prior to working for Congress, he was director of air quality for the National Mining Association and environment manager for Kyanite Mining Corp. in Dillwyn, Va.

***

Jamie Gregorian has joined $62M-revenue Biotechnology Industry Organization as director of federal government relations.

Gregorian previously was senior manager, government relations and specialties at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He previously was a senior associate at the government relations firm Anchor Consulting and an election attorney for President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

He has a law degree from George Mason University.

***

The $18M-revenue American Association for Clinical Chemistry has hired Loretta Doan as VP of policy and global affairs, effective Jan. 14.

Doan most recently was director of science policy at the Endocrine Society. Before joining the society, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Experimental Immunology Branch of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

Doan has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Administration

The $8M-revenue American Cleaning Institute recently promoted three staffers.

Wanda Stokes was named director of administration. Previously associate director of administration, Stokes has worked at the association in a variety of key positions since 2003.

Martha Chapin was promoted to associate director of education and Web services. Chapin previously was senior manager, education and Web services, and has been with ACI since 2008.

Leonard Bellisario was named manager, government affairs. Leonard joined ACI in 2013 as government affairs coordinator.

***

The $4M-revenue TechNet has appointed Matthew Mincieli as executive director, Massachusetts and northwest region.

Mincieli joins TechNet from Nauset Advisors Inc., a government relations and political consulting firm he founded in 2013. He also was a consultant to former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez.

He has a bachelor's degree in political science from James Madison University.

***

The $4M-revenue Epicomm has promoted Dean D'Ambrosi to EVP, effective Jan. 14. He previously was VP and chief financial officer.

Before joining Epicomm in 2012, D'Ambrosi was director of member services for the Construction Financial Management Association. He previously spent 10 years in a variety of positions at the National Association for Printing Leadership, one of three associations that merged into AMSP/NAPL/NAQP in 2014. The new Epicomm name was announced Jan. 20.

D'Ambrosi has a bachelor's degree in business management and finance from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J.

***

Stan McCoy has been promoted to president of the $62M-revenue Motion Picture Association of America's Europe/Middle East/Africa region. He replaces Chris Marcich, who was named president, international, a new position reflecting the growing importance of the global film industry.

McCoy joined MPAA last year as SVP and regional policy director for the region he will now oversee. McCoy previously was assistant U.S. trade representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

He has a law degree from the University of Virginia.

Before joining MPAA, Marcich was assistant U.S. trade representative for Europe and the environment in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He has a master's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.

***

The $19M-revenue Appraisal Institute has promoted Beata Swacha to CFO.

Swacha previously was senior director of finance and administration for the Chicago-based organization. She was previously auditor for RSM McGladry, auditing not-for-profit organizations.

She has a master's degree in accountancy from DePaul University in Chicago.

***

The $23M-revenue International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum has appointed Stu Upson as COO.
Upson joins the Newport, R.I.-based organization from the U.S. Bowling Congress, where he was executive director. He previously was SVP, sales and marketing, at Skip Barber Racing.

Recruitment firm Wood-Snodgrass assisted in the search.

Meetings, education & programs

The $6M-revenue National Air Transportation Association has hired Timothy Obitts as SVP for business development, membership and general counsel.

Obitts joins the Alexandria, Va.-based association from law firm Gammon & Grange, where he was managing partner.

He has a law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego.

PR & communications

The $77M-revenue America's Natural Gas Alliance has hired Nicole Daigle as director of regional communications and special projects.

Daigle most recently was director of public and government affairs at the Independent Petroleum Association of America. She also was an executive for FD Dittus Communications (later acquired by Financial Dynamics) in Washington, D.C.

She has an MBA from the University of New Orleans.

***

The $71M-revenue America's Health Insurance Plans has hired Ben Jenkins as VP of communications.
Jenkins joins AHIP from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, where he was VP of state government communications. He also is a former press secretary for the Republican Governors Association.

He has an MBA and master's degree in communications, both from Johns Hopkins University.

***

Tracy Cullen has left the $32M-revenue SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, where she was SVP, communications and marketing.

Cullen joined the association in 2005. She previously was VP of communications, meetings and member services at the Chlorine Institute. She also held senior management and communications positions with the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the American Society of Internal Medicine.

***

Blair Jackson has joined the $32M-revenue American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living as VP of public affairs.

Jackson most recently was VP of corporate communications for Golden Living, a post-acute care provider, for more than 10 years. He previously was assistant VP of public relations for AdvancePCS, a pharmacy benefit manager.

He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

***

Anthony Coley has joined the $19M-revenue Managed Funds Association as EVP and managing director, communications, effective Jan. 12.

Coley most recently was deputy assistant secretary, public affairs, at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He previously was director at Brunswick Group, where he advised Fortune 500 companies and others facing critical public affairs challenges. He also was the former communications director for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

He has a master's degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University.