WASHINGTON— The ASAE Research Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the AMC Leaders Scholarship, a groundbreaking initiative started last year to support and elevate association professionals working within association management companies (AMCs). This first-of-its-kind scholarship program addresses the unique needs of AMC professionals while strengthening their engagement with ASAE’s dynamic association community.

The AMC Leaders Scholarship was made possible by the vision and generosity of Lynda Bouchard Patterson, FASAE, CAE, founder of Association CEO, and a former Chair of the ASAE Board of Directors. Patterson approached the ASAE Research Foundation in 2025 with the idea of creating a dedicated scholarship to spotlight the valuable role of AMCs in the association ecosystem and to help foster career pathways for professionals in this growing segment of the industry.

Each year, three AMC professionals will be selected to receive a $3,000 scholarship to attend ASAE in-person events. The funding may be used for registration, travel, lodging, or other related expenses. In addition, recipients will gain access to exclusive coaching, curated networking opportunities, educational experiences, and, if not already a member, complimentary ASAE membership — all designed to deepen their engagement and support their career trajectory.

The 2026 AMC Leaders Scholarship recipients are:

Alex Morales, CAE
Account Executive
Bostrom

Catherine Galli, MPH
Digital Content Writer
Associations International

Jessica MacMillan
Meetings and Events Manager
Raybourn Group International (RGI)

 

Their selection reflects exceptional commitment to excellence, leadership, and a passion for advancing the association profession within the AMC model.

The AMC Leaders Scholarship is supported by an impressive coalition of founding corporate donors who share a vision for expanding access and strengthening the AMC community. Founding donors include Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI); Association CEO; Association Management Center; AMPED Association Management; Atlanta CVB; Bostrom; Degnon Associates, Inc.; The Deondo Company; Etherio; MCI USA; Stringfellow Management Group (SMG); and Talley Management Group.

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)