Layla Masri Customer and Product Intelligence, AI Strategy and Adoption, Higher Logic Layla Masri leads Customer and Product Intelligence and AI Strategy and Adoption at Higher Logic. She previously founded and grew Being Creative, a web and app development firm that she sold in 2019 after 22 years. Much of her career has focused on…
Catherine Hackney Online Community Consultant Specialized in Association Member Communities Catherine Hackney, a professional with over 12 years of experience working with associations, shares her journey into the association space and her role as a consultant specializing in online communities. Based near Denver, Colorado, she discusses how she discovered her passion for nonprofit work, the…
Candice Graham Assistant Director of Membership, American Physical Society In this episode, host Cecilia Sepp speaks with Candice Graham, Assistant Director of Membership at the American Physical Society. Candice shares her journey from education and IT leadership into the association space, highlights her team’s award-winning work in member engagement and governance, and reflects on pivotal…
Reilly Moriarty Marketing and Events Manager, UST Education In this edition, host Cecilia Sepp speaks with Reilly Moriarty, Marketing and Events Manager at UST Education and an active AWTC member. Reilly shares her journey from fintech marketing into the association space, reflects on a memorable moment of professional recognition at an AWTC event, and offers…
Rheanna Smith Association Executive Director, Etherio In this edition of AWTC Presents HERstory, host Cecilia Sepp speaks with Rheanna Smith, Association Executive Director with Etherio. Rheanna shares her journey into association management, her recent success leading two technology platform implementations, and her people-first approach to change management. She reflects on key advice that shaped her…
Simone Bielsker Program Director of IT, American Staffing Association In this episode, host Cecilia Sepp speaks with Simone Bielsker, Program Director of IT at the American Staffing Association and a member of the AWTC Programming Committee. Simone shares her unexpected journey into the association world, her transition from membership to IT leadership, and her passion…
Wendy Sahli Director of Technology, Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) Wendy Sahli is the Director of Technology at the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society, with more than 30 years in tech-most of it in the nonprofit sector. In this episode, she shares how a career shift from the dot-com world led her to mission-driven association work,…
Carla Lochiatto Director, CSO Center for Leadership & Development Carla Lochiatto is the Director of the CSO Center for Leadership and Development at ASIS International, where she supports chief security officers worldwide through education and community. In this episode, she shares her journey from government and advocacy roles into association leadership, and how she’s helped…
Chantal Almonord Chief Information and Engagement Officer, ISPOR Chantal Almonord is the Chief Information and Engagement Officer at ISPOR and a current AWTC board member. In this episode, she shares how she unexpectedly began her career in associations right out of college and grew into a technology leader driving global impact in healthcare. Chantal reflects…
Vinnu Deshetty Founder, Event ROI Coach Vinnu Deshetty is the founder of Event ROI Coach, where she helps associations optimize their event tech stacks, strengthen data strategy, and design more impactful event experiences. With nearly 30 years in the meetings and events industry, Vinnu’s path into technology began as an “accidental techie,” discovering that listening,…