The Career Playbook Senior Leaders Don’t Tell You About
In this empowering and energizing panel presentation with senior leaders from ASNT and CFMA, attendees will explore how to take ownership of their personal and professional journey by thinking like a CEO—of themselves.
Walk away with a personal playbook for taking control of your career—not someday, but starting Monday morning. You'll gain:
- A clear framework for building your own personal board of directors, so you stop navigating big decisions alone
- Practical know-how to identify and recruit the mentors, sponsors, allies, and coaches who can actually move the needle on your growth
- Clarity on your leadership brand—what you stand for, what you're known for, and how to make sure the right people see it
- Tools to spot and break through the "broken rung" that's quietly holding you back from your next opportunity
- Renewed confidence to advocate for yourself in rooms where decisions about your career get made
- One concrete promise to yourself—and a strategy to actually keep it
Whether you're early in your career, eyeing your next move, or ready to lead at a higher level, you'll leave this session with the mindset and the tactics to run your career like the CEO you already are.
Speakers
Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR
ASNT
Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR, serves as Chief Financial & Administrative Officer for ASNT (The American Society for Nondestructive Testing) and Interim Executive Director of the ASNT Foundation. In her executive leadership role, she oversees finance, investments, human resources, legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, information technology, marketing and communications, and business operations across ASNT and its affiliated entities. She also serves as Treasurer for both the ASNT Board of Directors and the ASNT Foundation Board of Trustees.
A recognized leader in association management, Nealy has built a career focused on strengthening organizational sustainability, governance, and operational performance for mission-driven organizations. She has led enterprise-wide initiatives involving strategic planning, enterprise risk management, technology transformation, business development, and financial modernization. Her work has included launching innovative membership models, implementing data-driven financial reporting and KPI frameworks, and guiding organizations through periods of significant growth and transformation. Nealy is also an experienced national conference speaker on association management, financial best practices, innovation, and leadership, and is a certified Real Colors facilitator.
Nealy is actively engaged in the association community and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Finance, HR & Administration Special Interest Group for the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE). She also serves on the ASAE Finance & Business Operations Advisory Council. In her personal time, she currently serves The University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC) as Board Chair.
Nealy holds a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration from Kennesaw State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Management from University of West Georgia.
Lauren Nachstein
Construction Financial Management Association
Lauren Nachstein is a senior customer experience and operations executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning customer experience, financial operations, data analytics, and digital transformation. Currently serving as Vice President of Customer Experience at the Construction Financial Management Association, she leads enterprise-wide strategy across membership, certification, technology, customer service and analytics, driving measurable improvements in member satisfaction, operational performance, and organizational growth.
Known for combining analytical rigor with a people-first leadership style, Lauren has led large-scale transformation initiatives including the implementation of learning management systems, AI-powered member tools, and data-driven performance frameworks that support executive decision-making. She has a proven ability to translate complex operational and financial insights into actionable business strategies that improve both customer outcomes and organizational effectiveness.
Prior to CFMA, Lauren held several senior leadership roles at RICS Americas, where she oversaw global audience insights, financial performance, forecasting, and strategic analytics across multiple international markets. Her career began in finance and steadily evolved into executive leadership, including a decade at Bilotta Kitchen & Home, where she advanced from bookkeeper to Director of Finance.
In addition to her professional leadership, Lauren is deeply involved in community service and volunteer leadership. She serves as a Troop Leader with Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Inc., supporting youth leadership development and mentorship. She is also an active Committee Member and former Committee Chair for the Westchester Lung Force Walk with the American Lung Association. Driven by her family’s personal experience with lung cancer, Lauren has been involved with the American Lung Association since 2018. In honor of her late husband, she and her team have raised more than $100,000 to support lung cancer research, advocacy, and patient support programs.
Lauren holds an MBA in Finance from Mercy University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Fordham University. She is passionate about leveraging technology, AI, and customer insights to create exceptional experiences, strengthen organizational culture, and drive sustainable growth.
Terri Herrmann
Forj
Terri Herrmann is the CMO of Forj, the single solution for community and learning. Forj is purpose-built to modernize the member experience for associations and professional networks.
Terri believes that behind every great brand is an even better story. She knows that true success happens when you have the confidence to live your own personal brand and communicate the “story of you.”
Terri has partnered with sales teams to exceed revenue goals, and she’s led the launch of three major brands to the market. However, what really drives and inspires Terri is creating meaningful connections and making a difference. Whether that is through leading and growing teams, creating brand advocates, launching and promoting new products to the market, or building an opportunity pipeline - her best work is tied to a greater purpose.
Before joining Forj in 2023, Terri was co-founder and CEO of CharismaQ, a communications coaching company. Terri spent her entire career leading sales and marketing teams for global, mid-size and startup organizations.
Terri is a Wisconsin native and a UW Whitewater alum. She lives in Richfield with her husband, two children, and their 12-pound dog, Ellie “Ninja” Herrmann.