Leadership

Meet the Leadership Team

Kay Whalen

President

Kay Whalen, MBA, CAE is the President of Executive Director, Inc. (EDI). Since she and her original partner purchased the company in 1993, the firm has more than quadrupled in size.

Kay began her career at EDI in support services, working in accounting and management information systems. In 1995, she began serving clients in the capacity of executive director. Kay now serves as the executive director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM). She also serves as consulting partner to 12 other professional organizations.

Kay has worked in the association management field since 1986. She has a degree in accounting, a master’s degree in business administration, and received her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in 1999. She remains active within ASAE, serving on the ASAE AMC Key Committee. Kay was awarded the Industry Advocate Award from the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives (WSAE) in 2006 and the AAAAI Distinguished Layperson Award in 2010.

 

Tara Withington

Vice President

Tara Withington, CAE is a principal and Vice President of EDI.

After serving many nonprofit organizations at the grassroots, local, state, and regional levels, Tara joined EDI in 1998 and became an EDI principal in 2003. She serves as a consulting partner or executive director to multiple healthcare related clients of EDI. Tara also leads EDI’s Preferred Provider Network and co-leads EDI’s Communities of Practice. Tara has assisted associations in broadening and enhancing organizational missions and services, reducing expenses, increasing fundraising and developing strategic plans. She takes special interest in improving organizational processes, including bylaw clarification and infrastructure improvement.

Tara holds a degree in Business Management, as well as the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.

Outside of EDI, Tara is a member of the Board of Directors for the AMCi and is a member in good standing in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), as well as state and local management groups.

 

Daniel Nemec

Vice President of Financial Operations

Dan Nemec, MBA, CAE is Vice President of Finance and principal of EDI.

Dan began his career at EDI in 1994 serving as an accounting coordinator for all of EDI’s clients. Currently, he oversees the accounting and information services teams and serves as the chief financial officer for all of EDI’s clients in addition to co-leading EDI’s Communities of Practice. He became a principal of EDI in 2000.

Dan received his BBA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. In 2012, he achieved the CAE designation from the American Society of Association Executives, where he is also a past member of the Association Management Company Section.

 

Celeste Rom

Vice President of Corporate and Human Resources

Celeste Rom, MSHR is Vice President of Corporate and Human Resources at EDI.

Celeste began her career with EDI in 2006 working in the human resources department where she has most recently served as the director of the department since 2012. Currently, she oversees several support services teams, including creative, information, human resources, technology and web services.

Celeste received her BBA in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and her MSHR from Marquette University. While in graduate school she was awarded the T.R. Martin Award for excellence in graduate education from Marquette University’s graduate school of management.


Meet the Client Executive Directors

Celeste Baldassare

Celeste Baldassare
Executive Director
WAO

Rebecca Brandt, CAE

Rebecca Brandt, CAE
Executive Director
AAAAI

Lindsay Bullock

Lindsay Bullock, CAE
Executive Director
SBM

Ginger Czajkowski, CAE

Ginger Czajkowski, CAE
Executive Director
ACDS

Mary Dean, JD, CAE

Mary Dean, JD, CAE
Executive Director
SITC

Kate Filipiak, CAE

Sabine Gifford, CAE
Executive Director
EUFAC

Madeleine Hanan, MSM

Madeleine Hanan, MSM, CAE
Executive Director
CIS and ISSVA

Kris Haskin

Kris Haskin, MA
Executive Director
PRiSM and WDS

Megan Hille, CAE, CMP

Megan Hille, CAE, CMP
Executive Director
ACMEGS and ACNS

Katie Komassa

Katie Komassa, CMP
Executive Director
CIA and IES

Robert Kopchinski

Robert Kopchinski
Executive Director
CSCTR and FNDS

Anne Krolikowski, CAE

Anne Krolikowski, CAE
Executive Director
HOPA

Jennifer Kowalski

Jennifer Kowalski
Executive Director
IPA

Cindy Lemek, MA, CAE

Cindy Lemek, MA, CAE
Executive Director
WOCNCB and CAOHC

Denise Lemke
Executive Director
CSRS

Marissa Lopez, CAE

Marissa Lopez, CAE
Executive Director
WGO and the WGO Foundation

Kristen McGuire, CMP

Kristen McGuire, CMP
Executive Director
AAEA

Leah Miller

Leah Miller
Executive Director
SRI

Brian Mondragón Jones, CAE

Brian Mondragón Jones, CAE
Executive Director
SCUF and VACC

Leslie Del Ponte

Leslie Del Ponte
Executive Director
CSRO

Ashtin Neuschaefer

Ashtin Neuschaefer, CAE
Executive Director
SRS

Nichole Nikolic

Nichole Nikolic
Executive Director
CAHON and IZFS

Jeanne Rhodes

Jeanne Rhodes
Executive Director
ABCP

Mary Riordan
Executive Director
ACMS, ASMH, and ITSCC

Colleen Pedersen

Samantha Walker, CAE
Executive Director
ISOQOL

Karla Schultz

Karla Schultz
Executive Director
SPP

Jennie Socha, CAE

Jennie Socha, CAE
Executive Director
MDS

Tamara Wagester

Tamara Wagester
Executive Director
AACPDM

Missy Zagroba

Missy Zagroba, CAE
Executive Director
AAEM

Kim Zaiss

Kim Zaiss
Executive Director
IFCN


Meet the Support Department Directors

Shawn Dimmer

Shawn Dimmer
Director
Web Services

Rachelle Henry, MBA

Rachelle Henry, MBA, SHRM-SCP
Director
Human Resources & Office Support

Laura Ludwig

Laura Ludwig
Director
Creative Services

Dan Nemec, MBA, CAE

Dan Nemec, MBA, CAE
Director
Accounting

Paul Rushizky

Paul Rushizky
Director
Information Services

David Hanson

David Hanson
Director
Technology Services

 

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