Lobbyists, COOs and board members step up during search for new leaders

Associations often tap top staff members to be the interim CEO or executive director. A sample of those filling the top job at a dozen groups, and the interim's current or previous position:

American College of Cardiology
Tom Arend, general counsel and COO

Gramlich

American Wind Energy Association
Rob Gramlich, senior vice president for public policy

America's Natural Gas Alliance
Greg Pensabene, vice president of government relations, Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

Drug Information Association
Management team of Carlos Fulcher, worldwide deputy executive director; Susan Cantrell, director, DIA North America; and Bayard Gardineer, director of finance/CFO

Emerging Markets Private Equity Association
Jennifer Choi, vice president of industry and external affairs

Experimental Aircraft Association
Jack Pelton, EAA board chair and retired CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company

Meeting Professionals International
Cindy D'Aoust, COO

Mortgage Insurance Companies of America
Susan Ironfield, director of legislative and regulatory affairs

National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys
Doug Kleine, association management consultant

National Association of Wheat Growers
Bing Von Bergen, farmer and elected NAWG president

School Nutrition Association
Patricia Montague, COO

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
Ken Bentsen, executive vice president, public policy and advocacy