CSAE 2022 Conference Speakers

June 22-24, 2022, The Hythe Vail, Vail, CO

Join the conversation #CSAEVAIL21

Conference Speakers

TYRONE ADAMS, CAE, RCE; President/CEO, Colorado Association of REALTORS

Tyrone joined the Colorado Association of REALTORS in 1997 serving as the Director Communication.  Currently he is the President/CEO.  He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BS in Journalism and emphasis in advertising. Heis the 2021-22 President of the Colorado Society of Association Executives.

 

 

LOWELL APLEBAUM, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO & Strategy Catalyst
Vista Cova

A popular speaker on CSAE programs, Lowell has a BA in sociology from Columbia University and MA. in informal education, with a focus on experiential approaches. In over 15 years working inside non-profits, he has created strategy and drove exponential results working with leaders in all 50 states and across 6 continents. He is a passionate volunteer who can often be found giving time to the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE). He serves as the Chair of the CAE) and on the organizing committee for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Brewers Ball. More about Lowell . . .

 

GABRIEL ECKERT, FASAE, CAE, CEO
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Georgia and BOMA Georgia Foundation

Gabriel is a chief executive officer, author, consultant, and executive coach with experience serving 501 (c) 3, 5, 6, and 7 tax-exempt organizations, as well as for-profit corporations. Gabriel serves as CEO of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Georgia and BOMA Georgia Foundation. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives, a past chair of the Certified Association Executive Commission, and a past chair of the Georgia Society of Association Executives Foundation. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kansas State University, and an Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University, where he graduated with honors, and was named the top-student in his class. Gabriel has also earned a Management Certificate from Emory University and an Advanced Leadership Certificate from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Gabriel is co-author of two books published by Association Management Press:

From Insight to Action: Six New Ways to Think, Lead, and Achieve
Strategic Integration: Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Move Beyond Strategic Planning and Transform Your Organization

KIM GILL, MA, CAE, President And Chief Staff Executive
Civica

Kim Gill is president of Civica Management, an association management company for professional and trade associations. She is responsible for providing strong leadership and overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure the overall success of Civica. She leads strategic initiatives and works with the innovation team to expand new business and achieve company profitability and growth goals.

Civica’s culture is “freedom and responsibility” and Gill is dedicated to fostering a workplace where employees feel safe to be authentic, curious, and respected. In today’s remote work environment, she is passionate about keeping the team connected, inspired and happy in their jobs.

Gill has a nearly 25-year record of non-profit leadership spanning from New York to Colorado and including work for professional societies and trade associations serving lawyers, realtors, and contractors in various roles such as marketing, membership, and executive director. She also worked as marketing director for an innovative software company that launched in the US market in 2016. She holds an MA in marketing and advertising from Emerson College and a BA in communications from the State University of NY at Oswego. She also earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives in 2015.

Her personal passions include advocacy, animals, searching for great wine, cooking new cuisines, travel with friends, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her three favorite humans – her sons, Brady (21), Matt (16) and Sean (11).

BETTY KNECHT, CAE, Executive Director,
Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association

Betty Knecht has been an association management professional for the past 22 years, working in membership, events, programs and education.  She began her career with the Investment Management Consultants Association.  After 5 years, she moved to the Colorado Association of Realtors. Prior to becoming the Executive Director for the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association this past May, she spent 15 years as the Vice President of Events and Education for the Apartment Association of Metro Denver. She has served on multiple committees for the Rocky Mountain PCMA, as well as for the CSAE.  She earned her CAE in 2012.  She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Family Homestead, an organization that provides transitional housing for homeless families in the Denver metro area. She grew up in Ohio and has been a resident of Colorado since 1998.  She and her husband have 3 children, a daughter 26, and two sons, 13 and 15.

 

DON KNOX, Executive Chair and Chief Staff Executive
Civica

Don Knox has jumped from journalism to technology to nonprofits in his four-decade career. His biggest jump was from employee to entrepreneur. Don chairs Civica Associations, Conferences & Exhibitions, an Aurora association management company that has a mission of transforming non-profits with shared staff and resources. Don likens Civica to a pro sports team whose experienced and highly recruited members excel at their positions and elevate the play of those around them. If you are great at what you do, Don wants to hear from you. He will not hold it against you for not graduating from the University of Kansas, his alma mater.

 

KATIE KOCH, Section Relationship Manager
American Water Works Association

Katie Koch is a Section Relationship Manager with American Water Works Association, headquartered in Denver, CO. She is responsible for working with Section (chapter) leaders on governance, programs, membership, and nonprofit best practices. Prior to AWWA, she was Director of Programs & Initiatives for the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, where she worked with chapter leaders, oversaw membership efforts, and led community-based programs. In addition to working for several nonprofits, Katie also has experience in the small-business sector. Katie graduated from American University in Washington, DC with a degree in Public Communication.

 

MICHELLE KROEGER, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration

Michelle has over 30 years of experience working in the field of accounting for non-profits.  She began her career as an auditor and then transitioned to working directly for non-profit organizations.  She is a Certified Public Accountant in both Colorado and Tucson.  She currently works for the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Explorations as their Chief Financial Officer.  Prior to SME she served as the CFO for Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging in Tucson and Beacon Group in Tucson.

Michelle moved to the Denver area in May of 2019 fulfilling a dream of hers for many years.

She has two adult children: Ashley is a certified teacher who also lives in Denver and Jordan who is a manager at Sprouts in Tucson. Michelle loves to ski, explore the outdoors, travel, and spend time with friends and family.

 

Christy Landwehr, CEO
Certified Horsemanship Association

Christy has been at the helm of the national/international association since 2007.  With an undergraduate degree in public relations and speech communication from California State University Fullerton and a graduate degree in mass communication and journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder, Christy has vast experience in marketing and business. She was the Sponsorship and Youth Programs Manager for the Arabian Horse Association, a trainer for Skill Path Seminars, and the Development Director for The Urban Farm that works with at-risk youth in Denver. She also founded, competed on and coached the University of Colorado at Boulder Intercollegiate Horse Show Association equestrian team.  Christy is also very active with the Denver Harmony Equine Center project and is on the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) board and the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Advisory Council.

 

CARA LAWRENCE, Esq.
Lawrence Tierney LLC

Cara Lawrence, Esq., is a partner in the Denver law firm of Tierney Lawrence LLC. Cara provides business and tax advice to public charities, private foundations, venture philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, political organizations, educational institutions, professional associations, and traditional for-profit businesses. She regularly assists clients with entity selection and formation, corporate governance issues, complex taxation issues. In addition, Cara advises clients on political, lobbying, and advocacy activities, including the creation and operation of affiliated charitable, social welfare, and 527 organizations.

 

AMY MCDERMOTT, Executive Director
Colorado Association of Realtors Foundation

Amy McDermott, Executive Director of the CAR foundation, has nearly 20 years of nonprofit communications, operations, and executive level fundraising roles. A Colorado native and Navy spouse, McDermott is passionate about serving Colorado communities and associations and believes strongly in the mission of not-for-profit organizations.

 

 

DOT MILLER, CAE, Founder & CEO
The Solution

Dot Miller has been progressively active in association, business, and operations management for over 20 years. She holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential and wrote a book called Executive Director 101: What Every Exec Needs to Know For Success. She is passionate about strategic planning and education. You will often find her speaking to association/chamber executives about financial management, effective sponsorship practices and time management. She loves to facilitate strategic plans and board orientations. Dot has received several awards and recognitions, including the Denver Post’s “20 Up and Coming Women – Tomorrow’s Most Influential Leaders”, Denver’s “Forty Under 40”, and the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry’s “CEO of the Year”.

 

ANNMARIE PRIEST, Organizational Strategy & Development Leader

AnnMarie has been an association professional for 15 years. Most recently, she served as the Chief Development Officer for the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2019-2021. Additionally, she was the Executive Director for the International Lung Cancer Foundation (2017-2021) and managed the SME Foundation from 2009-2017. She has expansive experience in building, leading, and engaging high-performing teams and inspiring innovation. Her unique blend of experience in association governance, business administration and small business ownership perspective makes her a hands-on collaborator and natural mentor with excellent relationship building skills. AnnMarie earned her CAE in 2021 and currently serves on the CSAE Education Program Committee.

LORI PACE, CEO
Changing Paces International, LLC

Lori Pace began speaking and educating in the real estate industry 5 years ago about the VALUE of the diversity of difference. Since then she has expanded to broad audiences in various industries. She analyzes organizations and coaches leaders and industry partners on how to expand their network and net worth through the lens of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).  Lori has received awards and is recognized in several publications for her efforts. She has servied on many boards in various capacities and roles over the last 25 years in entrepreneurship, architecture, urban planning, residential/commercial real estate, all culminating in Diversity Equity and Inclusion strategies for all industries.

KEITH RENNINSON
Renninson Enterprises

Keith is a Colorado native obtaining his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the College for Financial Planning in 1989.  His overall education was spread out over several decades because of two years in the Army with a tour in the Vietnam War.  His new award-winning book “Tenacity: You Don’t Have to Get Lost in Nepal to Find Yourself, But it Helps!” is based on the second trip when he traveled alone and got lost for a few days in the Himalayas. He developed his TRIP Technique System from his book and has been giving in-person, virtual & hybrid meetings to excited audiences since.

 
CSAE Podcast With Keith Rennison

Join the discussion with Keith Renninson with Renninson Enterprises on his upcoming keynote session at CSAE’s annual conference. He got lost in the Himalayas in the midst of mid-life mid-career crisis. Hear how he turned that from being a negative to creating the TRIP™ assessment so you can know which character traits to strengthen.

ROBERT D. SPANGLER, MPA, CSC Chief Operation Officer and Co-Owner
Leading Associations

Rob Spangler, MPA, CSC, is a leadership confidant who helps association executives and their board of directors to clarify strengths and areas of challenge so they can make informed choices, address areas of growth and proactively develop their organization. He is co-owner of Leading Associations, which provides training, consulting and management services to organizations, advising them on how to provide visionary leadership, establish an aspirational culture and produce remarkable results.

From training to group dynamic improvements, Rob is an experienced speaker and facilitator for both large and small organizations. By always “meeting you where you are”, Rob is skilled in clarifying issues and needs, as well as helping organization leadership to identify intermediate steps toward stronger organizations.

Rob earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver and two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Fort Lewis College. He has served on the Colorado Society of Association Executives Board of Directors and was Executive Director of the Colorado Human Resource Association, where he created their annual convention and, with a strong team, developed it to the largest HR convention in the central United States.

 

SHANNON STONE, Senior Relationship Manager,
AMG

Shannon Stone lives a passion filled life dedicated to helping others. She thrives in the value of understanding what it means to be fearlessly authentic. Shannon is a native of Denver Colorado and has been in banking and finance for 18 years. She currently serves as a Senior Relationship Manager with AMG National Trust in Denver where she works directly with associations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and professionals to better understand their path to financial freedom. Prior to that she was a lender and deposit specialist at Wells Fargo.

Shannon graduated from University of Denver with a master’s in international business and currently serves as a Board Member for GlobalMindED, mentors four young people in the GlobalMindED Mentoring Program and serves as Board Secretary for the Denver Rotary.  Shannon writes a positivity blog called The Healing Cup and is currently writing a book about authentic leadership and the story of prosperity in the awakened heart. Shannon just launched a leadership group called SOL as a gathering place for professionals to connect and share a deeper understanding of the energy that makes up the mental and emotional landscape of leadership and how to lead as the best version of yourself.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and 2 kids, Alexander (12) and Connor (23).

 

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The Fine Print

Cancellation Policy
All registration cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing by June 15, 2022. A refund of the registrant conference fee, minus a $75 administrative fee, will be given for cancellations received by that date. No refunds will be granted for requests emailed or postmarked on or after June 5, 2023.  Submit all requests to CSAE via email to shawk@csae.org. CSAE regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows. Substitutions are gladly accepted! Substitutions of registrations are permitted prior to the conference and onsite. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations (any balance due) associated with that substitution. Badge sharing, splitting, and reprints are strictly prohibited.Thanks for registering the the 2023 CSAE Annual Conference. You will receive an email confirmation.

Consent to Use of Photographic Images and Name
I understand that at this event or related activities, I may be photographed/videotaped. I agree to allow my photo or video to be used for any legitimate purpose by the sponsors, presenters or organizers. I give permission to CSAE to copyright, display, publish, distribute, use, modify, print and reprint such images in any manner whatsoever related to CSAE, including and without limitation, publications, advertisements, brochures, website images, or other electronic displays and transmissions.