Sherry Whitaker Budziak is a pioneering force in the association and nonprofit sectors, renowned for her leadership and expertise cultivated over three decades. Her journey began with impactful roles at the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, where she led transformative initiatives in web services, IT, and interactive communications. This foundation spurred her to establish .orgSource in 2005, a consultancy at the vanguard of digital transformation and customer service excellence within these communities. Through .orgSource, Sherry has steered over 250 organizations towards strategic, operational, and digital success.

Beyond her consultancy, Sherry co-founded .orgCommunity, an organization dedicated to the professional growth of leaders in her field, offering training, mentoring, and insights on emerging trends.

Her academic pursuits at Valparaiso University, where she earned two Bachelor’s Degrees in Communications and Political Science, laid the groundwork for her distinguished career, further highlighted by prestigious awards such as the WSAE Visionary Award and the Association Forum John C. Thiel Distinguished Service Award.

A testament to her thought leadership, Sherry has penned pivotal works like “Association 4.0—Positioning for Success in an Era of Disruption” and its sequel, guiding readers through the complexities of the digital age with an entrepreneurial spirit. She is currently writing her third book. As the host of the podcast “Association 4.0”, Sherry delves into the future of associations and innovative leadership strategies.

Sherry’s career is not just a record of professional achievements but a beacon of innovation, strategy, and leadership in navigating the future of associations and nonprofits.

Connect with Sherry
Email: sherry@orgsource.com
Instagram: @orgsherry
LinkedIn: at linkedin.com/in/sherryb 
Podcast: Association 4.0

Doug’s extensive experience lies in implementing software packages that effectively manage critical business processes across diverse industries. With a remarkable track record of overseeing successful full-scale Association Anywhere® and Certelligence™ implementations for some of ACGI’s largest clients, he possesses a unique talent for comprehending the distinct business drivers within each professional association and adeptly translating them into tailored software solutions.

Michele currently leads ACGI as Head of Operations & Strategy. She began her career in the association industry at Envision, an organization that managed multiple higher educational programs across several associations. During her time at Envision, Michele implemented ACGI’s Association Anywhere® software platform to better support the expansion of college applicants for one of the associations. Impressed with ACGI’s robust software, she accepted a project manager position at ACGI in 2004, and shortly thereafter lead their client support team as VP of Client Services & Relations. With over 30 years of software technology experience, including 25 years managing association and certification platforms, Michele is excited to lead ACGI’s team to the next level with a focus on simplifying the software by using the latest technology features so customers can provide a better experience for their constituents.

Marc started at ACGI 14 years ago as a Business Analyst working with clients to improve efficiency and processes. He has progressed his career over the years from Analyst, to Director, to VP of CSR. As VP, Marc is currently responsible for customer support, improving customer relationships, and managing and training CSR team members. He continues to lead strategy and initiatives geared toward increasing customer retention, and continues to support ACGI at the executive level.

Robert has over 24 years of experience in web design and web application development. He has been working in this space since the early days of the internet. 
Robert specializes in full-stack development with a strong focus on C# .NET and Web MVC frameworks. His expertise extends to front-end technologies such as VueJs, responsive design, and UX/UI, as well as back-end development, including database management and server-side logic.
Throughout his career, Robert has been a part of numerous successful projects, including the development of enterprise-level applications using Ektron and Epi-Server (now known as Optimizely) CMS platforms. Robert is passionate about mentoring his fellow developers at the NSCA. In his spare time, he enjoys motorcycling and of course PC gaming. 

Stephen is a solution-oriented software engineer with over 20 years of problem-solving experience. In addition to software development, Stephen has trained thousands of users on various platforms and is always willing to help people understand complicated technical concepts. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Wofford College. He was involved in the selection and implementation of the Association Anywhere platform while consulting for BMWCAA before joining ACGI, which afforded him years of hands-on experience as a user of the software he now supports. Stephen now manages a team of ACGI software engineers and is a key contributor to the direction of future base product enhancements.

As APPA’s director of member engagement and business development, Suzanne Healy directs APPA’s annual dues renewals and executes membership campaigns to grow the association and member satisfaction. Joining the APPA team in 1999, Suzanne was part of creating the association’s credentialing and certification program, directs corporate development opportunities, and serves as staff liaison to the RMA region of APPA. Suzanne holds a bachelor’s degree in history from George Mason University.

Mark is a Certified Association Executive and proven leader in revenue growth, association best practices, membership growth, educational solutions, and technology innovation. As the Chief Revenue Officer for Blue Sky eLearn, an industry leader in learning innovation solutions, he is helping transform the way associations think about learning to turn education and training into their competitive advantage. Prior to joining Blue Sky, he spent over twenty years leading a strategic consulting firm guiding and implementing Association strategic initiatives while making a significant impact on these organizations to drive revenue growth and innovation, accelerate performance, enhance member satisfaction and engagement, increase adult education, uncover new sources of revenue, and provide a fresh perspective for growth.

A self-proclaimed data geek, Denny believes that there is always a story waiting to be uncovered in data, and these stories can unlock endless possibilities, answer this generation’s complex challenges, and transform businesses in more ways than one.

Denny has over 20 years of experience in data and has helped various associations and non-profits across various industries. He and his team believe in empowering organizations by helping them understand and utilize data effectively.

Using data, Denny and the IntelliData team continue to help associations grow and make significant social and economic impact on the lives of families, consumers, and communities.

Melissa has been working with different associations in finding clarity in their goals. Her simple but effective approach in solving organizational problems has been a proof of her over 15 years in experience in the association space.

Her 11-year extensive experience has enabled her to take on various hats and provide valuable solutions to any organization she handles. Not to mention, Melissa graduated summa cum laude in Business focusing in Information Systems. Her stellar educational background proved to be very useful in strategies that will make solutions more efficient.

Sean Miriashtiani is a dedicated professional with a strong background in nonprofit arts management, focusing on youth orchestras and arts education. His career began at Young Audiences of Virginia, where his passion for arts education earned him the prestigious Sunburst Award. He later served as Director of Operations for Bay Youth Orchestras, Youth Orchestras of Prince William, and American Youth Philharmonic, where he played a key role in overseeing operations and ensuring top-tier educational experiences for young musicians.

Sean is also actively involved in the broader music education community, having served on the Virginia American String Teachers Association (VASTA) board, and a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). His contributions to these organizations have helped shape the future of music education, making him a respected figure in his field.

Sean’s work continues in DC Metro area with Prince William County Arts Council, the Sphinx Organization, representing and supporting minorities in classical music; and Didlake, promoting opportunities for people living with disabilities. 

Angela Oler is a passionate leader with senior level experience in program management, ISO program compliance, and team development. As Executive Director of both the AIHA Registry Programs and Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs, she leverages her expertise to oversee operations and drive continuous improvement.

Brian is a Software Engineer and Partner at Catalyst Fire with over twelve years of experience with various AMS systems. Brian’s focus is on integrating systems like Association Anywhere® with modern web solutions in order to deliver the best user experience.

Greg Pollack is a seasoned professional who has worked for and with associations for over 15 years. He started his career working for a not-for-profit, learning all about membership, recruiting and training volunteers, running fundraising campaigns, and the overall structure of the industry. From there, he moved to an association selling exhibit space, magazine advertisements, and sponsorships. Wanting to use his technical skills, Greg moved to a technology provider, working as an implementation project manager supporting associations, then as a lead product manager before moving into direct sales and ultimately sales management. Greg moved on to the next challenge of working for a small (at the time) start-up company, Higher Logic, where he again started as an individual contributor, but quickly moved into sales management and ultimately went on to build out the sales enablement and sales engineering teams. After some time away as VP of Sales at Association Analytics, Greg has since returned to Higher Logic as VP, Sales Enablement & Engineering Onboarding.

Athena started at ACGI 9 years ago as an Engineering Intern. She is result-driven and self-motivated with a passion for problem solving. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics & Statistics from Stony Brook University as well as a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland. Athena has progressed her career from Engineer to Product Manager to VP of Product & Engineering accepting new challenges every step of the way. She is currently responsible for product strategy and planning and continues to improve the product with the Product and Engineering teams.

Lance Simon, CVEP, is a Senior Director of Business Development at Blue Sky eLearn. Based in the Washington D.C. area, Lance has nearly 40 years of experience in the technology industry and has focused on associations since 2003.

Lance is an expert in all things eLearning and is passionate about helping clients start their journey with learning management systems and virtual events.

Aimee Thomas is a distinguished membership and technology professional with 23 years’ experience in the non-profit association sector. She has dedicated her career to enhancing member engagement, driving organizational growth, and leveraging technology to optimize operations. Aimee has been instrumental in integrating innovative solutions to streamline processes and enhance member experiences.