CEO Departures

Gaus to retire from care organizations group

The National Association of ACOs ($4.4M-revenue) announced President and CEO Clif Gaus will retire this fall. Gaus co-founded the organization in 2012 and has led the organization since. 

“Clif has been an instrumental leader in the ACO movement, back to the passing of the Affordable Care Act. To this day, he is a stalwart supporter of health care transformation that is driven by providers taking accountability for total cost of care and outcomes to achieve better, more accessible, affordable and equitable care for patients, families and communities. We wish him all the best as he turns the page on this chapter of his career,” said Emily DuHamel Brower, NAACOS board president.

Korn Ferry has been retained to assist in the search.

CEO Arrivals

Robbins promoted at uncrewed vehicles group

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International ($24.8M-revenue) announced Michael Robbins has been promoted from chief advocacy officer to president and CEO. He succeeds Brian Wynne, who left the organization in Feb. 2024.

“Michael has proven himself as an effective advocate and leader in the industry, and with his extensive experience in government, military and industry, was the unanimous Board choice to be AUVSI’s president and CEO. He has invested years in building strong relationships with AUVSI’s members, government stakeholders and within the broader uncrewed systems community,” said William Irby, chair of the Board of Directors.

Robbins joined the organization in 2020 as executive vice president of government and public affairs. Previously, he co-founded Intrepid, a business consulting firm and was managing director of government and public affairs at the Air Line Pilot Association, International. He is also an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. 

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. 

Powell takes the helm at clean energy group

The Clean Energy Buyers Alliance has appointed Rich Powell as the group’s next CEO, effective May 13. He will succeed Kevin Hagen, who was named acting CEO in 2023.

“Rich Powell is an exceptional leader with a strong record of successful energy policy and innovation advocacy, and a unique talent for finding common ground amongst a wide range of stakeholders. Now more than ever, we need to rapidly transform electricity systems to meet growing demand with carbon-free energy in a way that maximizes economic growth and opportunity. CEBA, which has grown to over 400 energy customers and partners, is uniquely positioned to help drive this transformation, and I’m incredibly excited for its next chapter under Rich’s leadership,” said Michael Terrell, chair of CEBA’s Board of Directors.

Powell has led clean energy nonprofit ClearPath for the past nine years. Previously, he spent three years at McKinsey & Company in an energy and sustainability role.

He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University and a law degree from New York University School of Law.

Russell Reynolds Associates assisted in the search.

Williams to lead student nurses group

The National Student Nurses’ Association ($2.4M-revenue) announced the appointment of Kenya D. Williams as CEO. She succeeds Diane Mancino, who had led the group for 28 years.

“In order to better align NSNA with the best practice that of other professional organizations, a unanimous vote by the 2023-2024 Board of Directors concluded that the executive director would become chief executive officer. Throughout her time as executive director, Dr. Kenya Williams has reflected the professionalism and the responsibilities that of a CEO and we wanted to ensure that her title reflected that," said Lauren Lodico, 2023-2024 NSNA President.

Williams joined NSNA in 2016 as director of governance and policy before being named deputy executive director in 2020.

She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, a master’s degree in health systems management from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University. 

Tuft & Associates led the initial search for executive director last year. 

Staff Departures

American Bankers Association— Elizabeth Coit has left her role as vice president and national political director at $592.8M-revenue ABA to join lobbying firm AxAdvocacy as senior vice president of public affairs. She was with ABA for 11 years, originally joining as senior director in 2012.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation — Don Stewart has left his position as an executive vice president at AAI to start his own political advisory firm The Stewart Group. Stewart joined AAI in 2020 and previously spent 22 years in the U.S. Senate, most recently as deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Biotechnology Innovation Organization— Nick Shipley has left his role as chief advocacy officer at $103.2M-revenue BIO. The departure coincides with the group’s decision to shift its stance regarding the BIOSECURE Act, which would prohibit Chinese biotech companies from doing business in the U.S. 

“It was clear that there were just some differences in policy and priorities that were emerging that led to a decision to move on in different directions,” Shipley told Jared Whitlock of Endpoints News.

Shipley joined BIO in 2021 as executive vice president and was previously vice president at the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association.

National Association of Manufacturers— Ken Monahan is no longer vice president of international policy at $64M-revenue NAM. He has joined biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific as senior director of U.S. government relations. Monahan was at NAM for nine years.

National Retail Federation— Dakota Jackson’s position of director of political affairs has allegedly been eliminated at $61.7M-revenue NRF, according to a post on Jackson’s LinkedIn. Jackson originally joined the group in 2021 as a senior manager of political affairs and has since joined fast fashion retailer SHEIN as director of government relations and engagement.

Staff Arrivals

American Cleaning Institute — ACI ($12.9M-revenue) has promoted James Kim from vice president of science and regulatory affairs to senior vice president of science and regulatory affairs. He joined the group in 2018 as associate vice president for science and regulatory affairs. Previously, he was a toxicologist at the United States Office of Management and Budget and senior scientific program manager at the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute.

American Council of Life Insurers — ACLI ($44.9M-revenue) announced several changes to its leadership team.

Jill Kozeny has been named executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. She joined the group in 2019 as senior vice president of communications and public affairs before being named executive vice president of public affairs in 2022. She previously spent three decades in the U.S. Senate and was chief of staff to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Howard Bard is now senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Bard joined ACLI in 2015 as vice president of taxes and retirement security before being named vice president and chief counsel of employee benefits in 2022. He was previously assistant general counsel of retirement policy at the Investment Company Institute. 

Scott Dixon has been promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer. He was named the group’s vice president of finance in 2004. He previously spent nine years at business services firm CBIZ.

Carrie Haughawout was named senior vice president of life insurance and regulatory policy. She joined ACLI in 2023 as vice president of life insurance and regulatory policy. Previously, she spent 12 years at the Ohio Department of Insurance, most recently as deputy director.

Maria Palacios now holds the title of senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Palacios joined the group in 1994 as managing director of human resources before being named vice president and chief human resources officer in 2019.

American Trucking Associations — Jessica Gail has joined $48.8M-revenue ATA as senior director of media and communications. She was most recently communications director for Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and spent over seven years working at the U.S. House of Representatives.

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors — Carol Walsh has been named senior vice president of operations at $9M-revenue NAW. She joins the group from the National Association of School Nurses, where she spent the past six years as chief operating officer. 

National Association of Professional Insurance Agents— $1.5M-revenue PIA announced two promotions to its leadership team.

Dana Anaman has been named chief operating officer. She joined PIA in 2017 as manager of marketing, membership and affiliate relations before being named director of marketing and affiliate relations in 2019. Previously, she spent four years at ASAE.

Jon Gentile has been promoted to chief public affairs and advocacy officer. Gentile, who was formerly vice president of government relations, has been with PIA since 2014. Previously, he spent three years at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, most recently as associate director of government relations.