Press Room

April 16, 2017

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Donates to Food Pantries for the Capital District & Rita Lashway Foundation

Albany, NY – The Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) split the total proceeds raised during its annual December Holiday Charity Auction between the Food Pantries for the Capital District and the Rita Lashway Foundation. Each benefactor received a check for $2,652.50.

Since 1993, ESSAE has selected a charity to receive the proceeds of its December auction, held in conjunction with the organization’s annual holiday party. Auction items are donated by ESSAE members and range from gift baskets to fine art to weekend getaways. Proceeds are collected and passed along to the charity the following year when all proceeds are collected. To date, ESSAE has donated over $155,000 to twenty-three deserving charities.

“Access to food is a growing concern as hunger is now a chronic problem, nationally 14.5% of American households are living below the poverty line,” said Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District. “Locally, more than 1 in 10 people (11.99%) struggle with having adequate food resources. Support from partners like Empire State Society of Association Executives is very important, as it allows us to fulfill our mission of working together to feed the hungry in our communities. The generous donation made by the Empire State Society of Association Executives can provide up to 15,625 pounds of food, this will tremendously help our neighbors in need.”

The Rita Lashway Foundation serves an important purpose: to provide financial aid to ESSAE member association professionals who wish to expand their knowledge and expertise in the fields of association and meeting management, by obtaining their Certified Association Executive (CAE) or Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designations.

Whether in the early years of a promising career or a more tenured position, ongoing professional development is necessary to hone skills and maintain cutting edge creativity. Everyone benefits from advanced training and development opportunities. Yet not everyone works for associations that can afford to fund certification opportunities to their staff.

“By contributing to this program, we help to ensure the continued professional growth of colleagues who represent, and are dedicated to, our profession.” said Vanessa LaClair, CMP, Executive Director of ESSAE. “What better gift can we give than to support the industry that we have made our lifetime work while helping friends and colleagues.”


February 10, 2017

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Installs 2017 Board of Directors

Albany, NY - The Empire State Society of Association Executives installed new officers and directors to its board of directors on Thursday, February 9, 2017 during the Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet held at Sixty State Place in Albany, New York.

ESSAE’s elected officers include: Chair: Thomas Coté, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, Academy of Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition | Vice President of Strategic Development, Capitol Hill Management Services; Vice ChairKelly Garceau, Executive Director, NY Physical Therapy Association; TreasurerDonna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians; SecretaryBrian Buff, Vice President, Association Management Division, Capitol Hill Management Services; and Immediate Past Chair: Debra Trulli-Cassale, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC

ESSAE’s newly elected directors include: Michael Borges, Executive Director, New York State Association of School Business Officials; Sylvia Daigle, Vice President, Lane Press; Johnny Evers, Director of Government Affairs, The Business Council of New York State, Inc.; Jeremy Johannesen, Executive Director, New York Library Association; Jennifer Martin, MBA, Executive Director, New York School Nutrition Association; and Jennifer Van Ort, Executive Director, NYS Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Returning to the board is: Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association; Todd Garofano, President, Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau; James Page, Director of Information Technology/ Member Services, NYS School Boards Association; and Kathleen Van De Loo, President & CEO, Association Development Group.


February 10, 2017

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Celebrates 2016 Successes and Installs 2017 Board 

At its Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on February 10, 2017, the Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) inducted its 2017 Board of Directors, recognized its award winners for the George Burton, Distinguished Member of The Year, Associate Member of the Year, Rising Star and Association Excellence awards.

The 2016 Association Excellence Honorees were:

Association Excellence Award for Education: American Institute of Architects NYS with Urban Green Council for its Conquering the Energy Code Partnership; Association Excellence Award for Government Relations: NYS Academy of Family Physicians; Association Excellence Award for Member Recruitment and/or Retention: Association Development Group and Insurance Brokers’ Association of the State of New York for their Emerging Leader project; and Association Excellence Award for Publications: New York Association of Convenience Stores for its 30th Anniversary Commemorative Journal.

Shannon Licygiewicz, Director of Sales, Albany Capital Center, was honored as the 2016 Rising Star for demonstrating extraordinary potential for future leadership in the association industry.

Linda D’Agostino, CMP, Sales Director, Visit Buffalo Niagara, was honored as the 2016 Associate Member of the Year for her personal and business philosophy of collaboration, extraordinary customer service, leadership and excellence when it comes to the association market. 

Mark R. Nelson, Ph.D., MBA, CAE, Executive Director, Computer Science Teachers Association, was honored as the 2016 Distinguished Member of the Year Association for his belief in sharing from his vast professional experience and donating countless hours of service to ESSAE. 

Rebecca Marion Flach, Executive Director, Hope Full Life Center, Inc., was honored with the 2016 George Burton Award for her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer leader. Flach has served on the ESSAE Board as a Director and Officer (2011-2016). In April 2014, Rebecca became part of the Executive Committee, serving as Secretary and then serving as Treasurer for two years (2015-2016). She has consistently gone above and beyond expectations in her service to ESSAE and has selflessly provided support to multiple Board Chairs and to the ongoing operations of ESSAE. 

The 38th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet was held at Sixty State Place. 


February 12, 2016

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Installs Board of Directors

Troy, NY - The Empire State Society of Association Executives installed new officers and directors to its board of directors on Thursday, February 11, 2016 during the Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet held at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany, New York.

ESSAE’s elected officers include: Chair: Debra Trulli-Cassale, Vice President, Park Strategies, LLC, Vice Chair: Tom Coté, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, NYS Psychological Association, Treasurer: Rebecca Flach, Executive Director, Hope Full Life Center, Inc., Secretary: Kelly Garceau, Executive Director, NY Physical Therapy Association, and Immediate Past Chair: Kathy Febraio, CAE, Executive Director, Pharmacists Society of the State of NY.

ESSAE’s newly elected directors include: Rita Ferris, President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, Todd Garofano, President, Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, Alison Ritchie, Director of Program Operations, NYS Dispute Resolution Association, and Kathy Van De Loo, President & CEO, Association Development Group.

Returning to the board is: Brian Buff, Vice President, Association Management Division, Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc., Donna Denley, CAE, Director of Finance, NYS Academy of Family Physicians, Jeannine Garab, Executive Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern NY, Inc., Kim Keenan, Sales Manager, Turning Stone Resort, Kristen Myers, CAE, Vice President of Member Services and Marketing, LeadingAge New York, James Page, Director of Information Technology/Member Services, NYS School Boards Association, and Sue Ellen Wagner, Executive Director, Healthcare Trustees NYS, Healthcare Association of NYS. 

###


February 4, 2016

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Welcomes New Executive Director

Troy, NY - The Empire State Society of Association Executives’ Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Vanessa LaClair, CMP, as Executive Director.

Vanessa, most recently with the Independent Power Producers of New York, has 15 years of experience in managing the internal operations of a trade association, including financial planning and budgeting, design, implementation and execution of events, marketing and communications with an emphasis on social media and technology, and vendor/sponsor management. In addition, she has six years of experience in volunteer leadership positions.

“The Board of Directors is very excited to bring to ESSAE a relationship builder who is able to work with divergent points of view and develop strategic partnerships,” said Board Chair Kathy Febraio, “Vanessa is a problem-solver. She has shown she can formulate ideas that will take ESSAE to the next level.”

“Vanessa’s ‘people first’ attitude coupled with her passion for outreach will enable ESSAE to engage with its stakeholders through a range of activities and channels. “The Board of Directors was impressed with her entrepreneurial spirit and her cross-generational vision,” said Debra Trulli-Cassale, ESSAE’s Vice Chair.

“I am honored to serve the membership of ESSAE and advance its mission to guide and empower association leadership. My goal is to help members be their best by building connections to knowledge, ideas, relationships, and marketplace opportunities,” said Vanessa LaClair.

 

###