The Leadership Committee develops a pool of candidates for board service based on several criteria, including how they best characterize ASAE’s strategy, represent their organizations’ membership and enhance ASAE’s commitment to diverse representation, which is inclusive of geography, association size, career level, gender, identity, ethnicity, skill sets and areas of expertise.

The Leadership Committee is chaired this year by Heidi Brock, President and CEO, American Forest & Paper Association, and Immediate Past Chair of the ASAE Board.

“The depth of talent, experience, and leadership represented in this year's candidate pool was impressive," Brock said. "The Committee had the privilege – and the challenge – of considering highly qualified leaders who bring diverse perspectives, specialized expertise, and a deep commitment to serving the association community. As ASAE prepares to launch a new strategic framework that will shape our work and impact for years to come, this is a pivotal moment. We are confident that this outstanding slate of nominees possesses the vision, experience, and collaborative spirit needed to help lead ASAE into its next chapter and advance our mission on behalf of the entire association sector."

The following nominees will serve as officers of ASAE and the ASAE Research Foundation:

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Sheri Sesay-Tuffour, PhD, FASAE, CAE, ICE-CCP, IOM
Chief Executive Officer
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
will become Chair of the ASAE Board.

Philip K. Bell, CAE
President
Steel Manufacturers Association
will become Chair-Elect of the ASAE Board and Chair of the ASAE Research Foundation Board.

Marc R. Cadin, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Finseca
will become Secretary-Treasurer of the ASAE Board and the ASAE Research Foundation Board.

Jay Karen, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)
will become Immediate Past Chair of the ASAE Board.

The following nominees will serve three-year terms as “At-Large” directors on the ASAE Board:

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Torey Carter-Conneen
Chief Executive Officer
American Society of Landscape Architects
Washington, DC

Kelly Mariotti, CAE, JD, CPA
President and CEO
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Washington, DC

Chris Swonger
President and CEO
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Inc & Responsibility.org
Washington, DC

Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, FASAE, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
American Epilepsy Society
Chapel Hill, NC

Robin K. Wiener, Esq.*
President
Recycled Materials Association
Washington, DC

Christopher Finelli (Industry Partner)
Vice President Global Sales & Events
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Chicago, IL

 

*Robin Wiener will fill the ASAE Board seat vacated by Anne Forristall Luke upon her retirement, serving the remaining two years of the term.

Carter-Conneen and Toyama are also nominated to serve on the ASAE Research Foundation Board.

The new boards will be officially installed and join the current board members during the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition August 15-18, 2026 in Indianapolis.

ASAE Bylaws provide the opportunity for additional nominees to be proposed through a petition process. Should any member be proposed by petition, the petition should contain the signatures of at least 2.5% of the ASAE voting membership and should be received at ASAE Headquarters no later than August 1, 2026, to the attention of Heidi Brock, Chair of the Leadership Committee.

 

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)