ASAE Announces New Leadership for Association Governance Institute

Patricia Blake, FASAE, CAE, to Serve as Strategic Advisor Beginning April 1

WASHINGTON— ASAE announced today that Patricia Blake, FASAE, CAE, will serve as Strategic Advisor to the Association Governance Institute (AGI) beginning April 1, helping guide the next phase of the institute’s growth and impact across the association community.

Blake is a respected association leader and former Chair of the ASAE Board of Directors who recently retired as CEO of the Heart Rhythm Society at the end of 2025. In this new role, she will provide strategic guidance to AGI as it continues advancing excellence in governance practices across the association sector.

As part of this transition, Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, FASAE, who has served as Managing Director of AGI since its launch two years ago, will step away from the role to focus on his consulting practice. During his tenure, AGI has experienced significant growth and momentum in establishing itself as a trusted resource for association leaders navigating increasingly complex governance challenges.

Pomerantz will remain engaged with AGI as a volunteer, assisting with the leadership transition and contributing governance content for the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition 2026, taking place August 15–18 in Indianapolis. Mark Graham, Vice President of CEO Programming and Compensation at ASAE and a co-lead in the formation of AGI, will also remain actively involved in continuing to build and expand the institute’s portfolio of governance resources and programming.

“Paul has been instrumental in establishing the Association Governance Institute as a trusted resource for association leaders navigating increasingly complex governance challenges,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “We are grateful for his leadership in building a strong foundation for AGI. At the same time, we are thrilled that Pat Blake will guide the next chapter of this work. Her deep experience as a CEO and board leader will be invaluable as AGI continues to expand its impact.”

Since its founding, AGI has developed a growing portfolio of programs, tools, and resources designed to equip CEOs, board members, and governance professionals with practical insights and strategies for effective leadership. Key milestones include: 

• A growing portfolio of live education programs and events, including the Governance + Strategy Forum, a two-day in-person course designed for CEOs and elected leaders to align strategy around the most complex and challenging issues facing associations.
• The Introduction to Association Governance micro-credential, created for new CEOs, first-time board members, and governance staff to build a foundational understanding of governance principles and best practices.
• A comprehensive digital resource hub, offering guidance on the rules, practices, and processes by which associations are governed.
• Governance-focused education at the ASAE Annual Meeting, providing tailored, high-level learning for association executives and volunteer leaders focused on future-ready governance.
• The establishment of three advisory committees – CEO, Consultants, and Association Staff – to help ensure AGI continues to meet the evolving governance needs of the association community.

 “It has been incredibly rewarding to help launch and grow the Association Governance Institute,” said Pomerantz. “There is a clear hunger among both CEOs and board leaders for practical governance guidance in today’s complex and fast-changing environment. I’m excited to see Pat take the helm and continue building on this momentum to expand AGI’s reach and impact.” 

Blake will work closely with Pomerantz during the transition to ensure continuity and continued momentum for AGI’s programs and initiatives.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

About ASAE

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 50,000 association executives and industry partners. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)