Annual meeting of association executives becomes forum for industry, profession to denounce discrimination and hatred

National Retail Federation CEO Matt Shay addresses the audience at ASAE17.
Photo: Jennifer Roberts

TORONTO—Social issues continued to hover over what is a networking, education and entertainment event as ASAE Chair-elect Matt Shay and ASAE CEO John Graham both condemned racism and discrimination yesterday.

"Racism, hatred or bigotry of any kind has no place in our society," Shay said to sustained applause at the Tuesday closing session of the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition here.

Shay said he had modified his prepared remarks—which had focused on associations and his role as board chair—to stake his own and his industry's position on the racist violence on Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

The CEO of the $54 million-revenue National Retail Federation, Shay said the violence was incompatible with the values of the association community and the businesses and people it represents.

"There is a fundamental strength in our diversity of thought, of religion, of ethnicity, of lifestyle, and that's what's unique about the association profession—we recognize it as a strength to celebrate and embrace, not a weakness to be denigrated or diminished," he said to another round of applause.

Graham had earlier condemned what he said where the overly restrictive immigration policies of the Trump administration and so-called "bathroom bills" in certain states during his address at the opening general session Sunday.

But he also issued a statement about racism Tuesday.

"Hate and intolerance have no place in this world, including the display of bigotry masked as political speech that we've all witnessed in Charlottesville this weekend. ASAE and associations are about bringing people together, and we remain firmly committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive home for all," Graham said.

Shay said his grandparents immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1930s with little education.

‘All I've ever known'

Turning back to his desire to volunteer on behalf of associations as incoming chair of ASAE, Shay noted he has worked in associations his whole career after spurning a high-paying job at a law firm after earning his law degree. He started as assistant general counsel at the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.

"That was the best professional decision I've ever made," he said. "I love associations—it's all I've ever known, it's all I've ever done."

Shay will officially become ASAE chair in September, succeeding Scott Wiley, CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs. ASAE also introduced the new chair-elect, Sal Martino, CEO of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and incoming secretary-treasurer, Pat Blake, CEO of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.