ESSAE Committee Members

Our ESSAE committee members are the heart of our organization, bringing passion and expertise to everything they do to support our mission. We’re incredibly grateful for their time, energy, and the amazing impact they have on our association.

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Membership Committee

Goals: Recruit, Engage, Retain! 

Chair: Shawn St. James, Membership Manager, ASBO New York
Vice-Chair: Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany

Adam Jacobson, Hotel Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, Resorts World Catskills
Ally Meyers, Executive Coach / Mental Resilience Trainer & Speaker, Ally Meyers Training
Andrew Patel, Sales Manager, Hyatt Regency Rochester
Angela Kelly, CMP, Director of Marketing and Events, National Association for Pupil Transportation
Debra Spass, Program Manager, American Nurses Association - New York
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Kim Hodge, Group Sales Manager, Hilton Albany
Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Director, Visit Buffalo Niagara
Melissa Burke, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
Rebecca Sheehan, Director of Professional Development & Events, ASBO New York
Terry Nawrot, CEO, VideoRequest

Board Liaisons: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business and Gina R. Potfora, CMP, Vice President of Operations, ACEC New York

Program Committee

Goals: Create a vibrant, relevant learning community, develop cutting edge, timely content & strategy.

Chair: Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO, ASBO New York
Vice-Chair: Grazia Yaegar, Associate Executive Director, Caring Gene Healthcare Career Pathways, Inc


Colleen Earley, CMP, HMCC, Fractional Meeting Planner, CME Events, LLC
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
Rebecca Sheehan, Director of Professional Development & Events, ASBO New York
Tracey Burkey, VP of Destination Development, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
April Rounds, Director of Events & Special Projects, Firefighters Association of the State of New York
Blaise Bryant, Communications Specialist, New York Association on Independent Living
Nicole Mastroianni, Admin Support & Event Coordinator, New York Association on Independent Living

Board Liaisons: Addy Waldie, CMP, Events Manager, NY School Nutrition Association, Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC, and Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State

Trade Show Committee

Goals: Evaluate the previous year's Trade Show and prepare for the upcoming year's Trade Show.

Chair: Adam Jacobson, Hotel Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, Resorts World Catskills
Vice-Chairs: Beth Gould, Association Manager, Park Strategies and Meaghan Zimmer, National Sales Director, Visit Buffalo Niagara

Amy Domurad, Senior Sales Manager, The Saratoga Hilton
April Rounds, Director of Events, The Firefighters Association of the State of New York
Claudia Desgaches, Senior Director, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe
Colleen Earley, CMP, HMCC, Fractional Meeting Planner, CME Events, LLC
Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Gina Calisi, Manager of Convention Sales, Visit Binghamton
Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany
Jerry Keohane, Director of Sales, Embassy Suites Syracuse-Destiny USA
Mary Jo Janis, Vice President, Convention Sales & Services, Discover Saratoga
Sara-Melissa Conklin, Member Services Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Shannon Licygiewicz, General Manager, Albany Capital Center
Sharlana Scott, Senior Member Services Associate, NYS Veterinary Medical Society
Susan Baker, CMP, Director of Sales, Saratoga Springs City Center
Tim James, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Rochester
Wendy O'Duffy, VP of Sales, Visit Rochester

Board Liaison: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC

Government Affairs Committee 

Goals: Monitor legislation and inform members of pertinent issues affecting the industry.

Chair: Michael Burridge, NYS Director of Government Relations, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, AIA New York
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Brian Buff, Vice President of Association Management Operations, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.
Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations, NYS School Boards Association
Jessica Cogswell, Professional Development Coordinator, NY School Nutrition Association
Kevin Dugan, Government Affairs Director, NYS Restaurant Association, Inc.
Margaret Vandervort, Senior VP of Operations, The Vandervort Group, LLC
Randy L. McCullough, CAE, Deputy Executive Director, NYS Funeral Directors Association
Lindsay Miller, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living

Board Liaisons: Ashley Ranslow, NY Assistant State Director, NFIB and Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC

Association Leadership Academy (ALA) Committee

Goals: Design and implement the Association Leadership Academy

Chair: Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies

Erica Salamida, Director of Community Outreach, Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters
Ken Allison, Controller, LeadingAge NY
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Alex Thompson, Director of Advocacy, New York Association on Independent Living

Board Liaison: Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.

CAE Committee

Goals: Reach out to current and new CAEs to secure study group leaders. Provide access to exam materials and guidance to CAE candidates.

Chair & Board Liaison: Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State
Vice-Chair: OPEN

George Swain, M.Ed., CAE, Chief Operating Officer, New York State Association of Independent Schools
Jennifer Martin, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, NY School Nutrition Association
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Mark Nelson, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director, Association Headquarters

Rita Lashway Scholarship

Goals: Market scholarship program and review applicants

Chair: Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, American Nurses Association - New York 

Jeff Handelman, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Human Resources and Operations, New York School Boards Association
Jennifer Martin, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, NY School Nutrition Association
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Jennifer Van Ort, MAB, Executive Director, NYS Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers 
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Brian Buff, Vice President of Association Management Operations, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.


Board Liaison: TBA 

Awards Task Force

Goals: Review nominations/submissions and determine award recipients 

Chair: Amber Carpenter, Managing Director, NYS Association of Professional Land Surveyors, Inc.
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Amy Domurad, Senior Sales Manager, The Saratoga Hilton
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
Sylvia Daigle, Vice President, Lane Press

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

Nominating Committee

Goals: The Nominating Committee members shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board annually. The Immediate Past Chair shall be the chair of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will collect, review, and submit a slate of nominees to the Society Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall serve in the year they are appointed. Develops a strategy for identifying members for leadership positions with the Society and preparing them to assume those roles.

Chair: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Courtney Carroll, Executive Director, NYS Recreation and Park Society
TJ Coté, CAE, MBA, President and CEO, NextGen Association Management

Finance Committee

Goals: Composed of seven members, with the Board Treasurer shall serving as chair, the committee shall: Review the financial status of the Society; Advise the Board of Directors regarding financial policies and financial positions; Prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors.

Chair: Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC
Vice-Chair: Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society

Connie Neal, Executive Director, New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Erica Wells, Director of Finance, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Addy Waldie, CMP

Board Liaison: Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

Audit Committee

Goals: Oversees the annual audit of the Association's finances.

Chair & Board Liaison: Megan Osika, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC
Vice-Chair: OPEN

Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Erica Wells, Director of Finance, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Executive Director, American Nurses Association - New York
Jennifer Van Ort, MAB, Executive Director, NYS Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association
Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society

By-Laws Committee

Goals: The Bylaws Committee shall be composed of five members with the Vice-Chair serving as chair of the committee. The committee shall review and evaluate existing bylaws and consider proposals for changes submitted by members. The committee shall prepare the proposed amendments, appropriate language, for review by the Board of Directors and approval by the membership at the annual meeting.

Chair: Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO, ASBO New York

Addy Waldie, CMP, Events Manager, NY School Nutrition Association
Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
George Swain, M.Ed., CAE, Chief Operating Officer, New York State Association of Independent Schools
Jeremy Johannesen, CAE, Executive Director, COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Maura Ryan, Executive Director, NY Government Finance Officers' Association

Board Governance & Curriculum Development Committee

Co-Chairs & Board Liaisons: Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO, ASBO New York and Kristen Phillips, CAE, MPA, Director of Trustee Education & Director, Community Healthy Policy, Healthcare Trustees of New York State & Healthcare Association of New York State 

Kendra Hems, President, Trucking Association of New York
Kyle Stewart, Executive Director, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc.
Ron Epstein, President/CEO, NY Construction Materials Association

CEO / Senior Leadership Programming Committee

Co-Chairs: Lindsay Miller, MPH, Executive Director, New York Association on Independent Living and Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC

Board Liaison: Donna Stelling-Gurnett, Vice President, Association Management Services, Hinman Straub, PC

Social Media Committee

Chair: Ally Meyers, Executive Coach / Mental Resilience Trainer & Speaker, Ally Meyers Training

Executive Meet-Up Committee

Co-Chairs: Sarah Ravenhall, Executive Director, New York State Association of County Health Officials and Erin Sinisgalli, Executive Director, New York State Public Health Association

Technology Committee

Co-Chairs: Mark Nelson, Ph.D, CAE, Executive Director, Association Headquarters, John Nicoletta, Manager, RSM US LLC, and James Page, Chief Information Officer, NYS School Boards Association

Board Liaison: Tim Atkinson, Executive Director, NYS Veterinary Medical Society

Amanda Grace Wing, Deputy Executive Director & COO
Blaise Bryant, Communications Specialist, New York Association on Independent Living
Bobby Pierce, Production Manager, ON Services
Dan Singer, Business Development/Event Manager, Visual Technologies Corporation
David Foor, President/Owner, Visual Technologies Corporation
Debby Goedeke, Destination Services Manager, Discover Albany
DJ McKeon, Regional Director of Venue Services, ON Services
Justin Cheshire, Director of Marketing & Business Development, Cheshire Audio Visual
Matthew McGarvey, Strategic Partnership Director, Center for Internet Security
Nicole Mastroianni, Administrative Support & Events Coordinator, New York Association on Independent Living
Paul Lambert, Professional Development & Events Coordinator, Association of School Business Officials of New York
Rose DiLiello, Corporate/Association Sales Manager, Hyatt Place Long Island/East End/Long Island Aquarium