VSAE members gathered in Lynchburg for the 2026 Meeting Planner Summit, bringing together 50 meeting planners and industry partners for two days of practical learning, open conversation, and meaningful connection.
VSAE Members Gather in Richmond for Workshop and Luncheon on Relationships and what AI Can’t Do
A Message from James River Audio Visual Services:
Dear Valued Customers,
We’re pleased to announce that James River Audio Visual Services (JRAVS) has new ownership. We extend our heartfelt thanks to John Triska and Randy Cummins for their years of dedication and service as they enter retirement.
More than 35 CEOs, senior staff members, and industry partners convened in Charlottesville for this year’s VSAE CEO & Senior Staff Retreat—an intimate, high-engagement program designed to give leaders space to think strategically, share openly, and learn from one another. Held at The Draftsman, Autograph Collection, the retreat brought together association executives from a wide range of sectors including construction, finance, regulatory affairs, banking, architecture, and more, underscoring the breadth and strength of Virginia’s association community.
Get to Know David Walsh, Executive Director of VSAE
Q: How long have you been in the association industry?
Terry Monroe has announced his decision to step down as VSAE Executive Director and President of Association Management at Eisenman & Associates at the end of September. He has served as VSAE’s Executive Director since August 2020.
by Sue Fern, CEO and founder of Fern Management Services
During my professional journey, I have held senior positions at major global companies and associations, plus served a diverse clientele, including large corporations, governments, and nonprofits.
Get To Know Your New President – Shannon McCabe, CAE
What drew you to the association industry? As I was finishing grad school, an association for which my advisor served on the board was hiring a programs coordinator. He knew I'd be interested in the position because it had forestry education components which was the focus of my Master's research and continues to be a passion of mine. Over time, my focus shifted from programs to comprehensive association management, which allowed me to grow in that position and prepare for my current role.
What drew you to the association industry?
My father had started our Richmond based medical association management company in the 70s. For my first 10 years out of college (1982-1992), I worked in a few different Washington DC area hotels. I was fairly well-groomed by the time I left the DC hotels to start as Director of Meetings at my father’s AMC and it seemed like the logical next step.
What goals do you have during your presidency of VSAE?
Like most presidents I’m going to say it’s all about membership. I would love to see continued progress in gaining new members outside of Richmond. I’m also a big believer in engagement. We need to give jobs to as many members as possible. I know when I wrote my first VSAE newsletter article years ago, I was hooked on remaining active in the society.
There’s a familiar line in the business world that says culture is “the way we do things around here.” Reading a couple of recent studies around leadership in the pandemic era, I think that line ought to be more specific: Culture is be the way we communicate how we do things around here.
When you are growing a business, it is inevitable that you will face the need to hire people to help you handle the increased demands of your day-to-day operations. The availability of information has made it possible for people to hone their skills and grow their knowledge base. For a business owner, this means that you have a large pool of talent from which to find the best people to add to your team. It means that you’re more than likely to find someone you can rely on and build a relationship that can be long-term and fulfilling.
What have you done for YOU lately? Consider taking the next step in your career by obtaining the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. We asked four VSAE members who recently earned the CAE credential about preparing for the exam and how investing in this professional designation has advanced their careers. The members are Kelly Ann Gull, CAE, Senior Manager, Governance & Executive Office for the National Society of Professional Engineeers; Sarah Mattes Marshall, CAE, Executive Director for the VA College of Emergency Physicians; Michelle Runge, CAE, Director of Chapter Relations–Mid-Atlantic Region for the American Inns of Court; and Steven Williams, CAE, Partner with Hardiman-Williams, LLC.
Meet Laiya Rollins, a VSAE member, young professional, and Membership & Workforce Development Coordinator for LeadingAge Virginia.
Meet Tigre Hammond, a VSAE member, young professional, and Member Relations Specialist for the Virginia Asphalt Association.
What drew you to the association industry?
A $5 per hour paid internship at the VSCPA!
We asked three new association CEOs the following questions to learn about their career paths and insights on issues facing the industry. The three interviewed were Christina Lewellen, MBA, CAE (CL), Executive Director, Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools; Sarah Mattes Marshall, CAE (SM), Executive Director, VA College of Emergency Physicians; and Abby Tammen (AT), CEO, Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS.
VSAE is partnering with SAEs across the country on a compensation benchmarking platform designed exclusively for executives of professional, trade, and service-centric associations/nonprofits. Our goal is to provide valuable data to help you in maximizing your budget when making hiring and personnel decisions while keeping your organization competitive. The platform’s value increases as more organizations participate (i.e. more data = better results!).
In addition to compensation and salary information, this platform also gathers data on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, such as gender and racial identity of employees; hiring practices; DE&I policies; and more. All organizations inputting data by March 31 will receive a DE&I Industry Snapshot Report at no cost.
While an annual subscription is required to generate benchmarking reports, data entry is free and all information will remain anonymous.
On January 7, my social media channels were filled with a meme that read “I’d like to cancel my subscription to 2021. I’ve experienced the 7-day trial and I’m not interested.” The world had hoped the hypothetical turning of the calendar would bring an end to the dramatic changes we were experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political issues. Almost two months into the new year, we can say for certain change is inevitable and that creativity and flexibility continue to be the necessary tools of the trade.
Vaccines approved for emergency use by the FDA are now providing a welcome doorway out of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, they are unlocking a range of legal issues for associations concerning vaccine mandates. May an association require employees to be vaccinated before they return to the office? And, more broadly, may it require vaccination for attendees at its meetings and conferences?
Here are some of the key issues that any association should consider before implementing a vaccine policy.
VSAE thanks Memberclicks by Personify for its support.
