Samuel V. Calabrese, BSPharm, MBA, FASHP, CPEL

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The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Samuel V. Calabrese, BSPharm, MBA, FASHP, CPEL, as executive vice president and CEO, effective May 1, 2026. Calabrese will become ASHP’s fifth CEO in its 84-year history, succeeding longtime CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD (Hon), FASHP, who retired earlier this year.

ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing over 65,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies.

Calabrese brings decades of health-system pharmacy leadership, deep experience in pharmacy training accreditation, and a longstanding commitment to ASHP’s mission and the profession. He currently serves as vice president of the ASHP Office of Accreditation Services, overseeing the accreditation processes for more than 3,000 pharmacy residency programs and 250 technician training programs nationwide.

Babette Atkins, MPH

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Babette M. Atkins, MPH has been named the new Executive Director for the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc (NYSSA).

NYSSA, a professional medical society representing over 4,200 physician anesthesiologists, plays a pivotal role in shaping anesthesia standards and healthcare policy in New York. Their leadership in education, legislative affairs, and professional development helps ensure that patients receive the highest quality, physician-led anesthesia care across diverse clinical settings.

“I look forward to working alongside the Board, members, staff, and partners as we continue to strengthen advocacy, education, and the professional community for anesthesiologists.” said Atkins on her recent appointment.

Association Strategies, Inc. is proud to have led the search for NYSSA.

Mark Ames, AAiP

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The Forging Industry Association (FIA) is pleased to announce Mark Ames, AAiP, as its new President & Chief Executive Officer. Since 1913, FIA has been the trade association representing the North American forging industry, covering all processes: impression die, open die, rolled ring, custom, catalogue, and captive producers across ferrous and non-ferrous sectors. FIA members produce 75% of the value of custom forgings in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Supplier members provide equipment, materials, or services to the industry.

Ames will lead the association in advancing the interests of the North American forging industry, working closely with FIA’s Board of Directors, committees, and member companies to promote innovation, advocacy, and workforce development across the sector.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the FIA,” said Jeff Jones, FIA Board Chair and President of Forge Resources Group. “His proven leadership in government relations, workforce development, and organizational strategy makes him an ideal fit to guide the association through its next chapter of growth and impact.”

Association Strategies, Inc. is proud to have led the search for FIA.

Tanya K. Tolpegin, MBA, CAE

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The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) announces the appointment of Tanya K. Tolpegin, MBA, CAE as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The IAC is a nonprofit, nationally recognized accrediting organization. The IAC was founded by medical professionals to advance appropriate utilization, standardization, and quality of diagnostic imaging, and interventional and therapeutic procedures. Since its inception in 1991, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites.  

Tolpegin brings more than two decades of leadership experience with nonprofit medical organizations, including her role as the CEO of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, a sponsoring organization of the IAC. She is poised to guide the IAC into its next chapter of innovation and growth.

“Through the dedicated efforts of our search committee, we conducted an extensive selection process and are confident that Tanya will be instrumental in advancing IAC’s mission of improving health care through accreditation,” said Alexandra Page, MD, FAAOS, FAOA, Chair of the IAC Board of Directors. “Her extensive experience and commitment to excellence will be key as we continue to serve our multi-specialty stakeholders — the very foundation upon which IAC was originally established in 1991. Together, we look forward to a future of innovation and collaboration under Tanya’s leadership.”

Tolpegin was selected after an extensive, national search led by Association Strategies, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Tuft & Associates, Inc., Chicago.

Dan Wensley

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Dan Wensley has been named Chief Executive Officer of the newly transformed Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) following an extensive, multinational search.  GTIA is the only vendor-neutral, 501(c)(6) non-profit membership community connecting and representing the worldwide IT channel.

Wensley joins the GTIA as the first CEO of this newly transformed organization in the IT channel. Wensley served as a strategic advisor and former CEO to ScalePad. He has remained an active member of GTIA (previously the CompTIA Community), serving on the board from 2012-2015.

“I’m thrilled to see GTIA grow even stronger under Dan’s proven leadership—becoming more global, more relevant and more vocal in representing the extraordinary people, companies, and outcomes that shape the global technology ecosystem,” said Tracy Pound, managing director, Prizm Solutions Ltd., Maximity Limited, and outgoing GTIA board chair.

Association Strategies, Inc. is proud to have led the search for GTIA.

Pamela Melcher, MS, CAE

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Pam Melcher has been named the Executive Director for the highly respected American Thyroid Association. With a membership of more than 1700 physicians, surgeons, scientists and advanced practice providers from 43 countries worldwide, the ATA is dedicated to transforming thyroid care through clinical excellence, education, scientific discovery and advocacy in a collaborative and diverse community. Ms. Mechler joins the ATA after a 29-year tenure at the American College of Radiology (ACR), most recently as the Vice President, Strategy Management & Foresight.

“We are thrilled that Pam Mechler has agreed to join us and I look forward to working closely with our new Executive Director as we guide the next phase of the ATA’s progress in supporting its members, advancing its scientific and clinical goals, and driving forwards advancements for patient treatment and understanding,” said ATA Secretary/COO Chris McCabe.

Melcher was selected after an extensive, national search led by Association Strategies, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Tuft & Associates, Inc., Chicago.

Bradley Goettl, DNP, FNP-C, ENP-C, AGACNP-BC, CFRN, FAEN, FAANP, FAAN, FACHE

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The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has selected Bradley Goettl as their first Chief Clinical Officer. ENA is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. This newly created role will be responsible for expanding ENA’s clinical expertise, voice and impact, and identifying opportunities, partnerships, programs and other initiatives that advance and address needs in emergency nursing and emergency care.

“Bradley’s depth of knowledge and experience, as well as his mindset toward growth and innovation, make him an ideal fit for helping ENA grow its voice and impact,” ENA CEO Nancy MacRae said. “His two decades as an ENA member also give him a unique perspective that values the association’s support for emergency nurses, and I look forward to his leadership and partnership as we continue to advance excellence in emergency nursing globally.”

Goettl was selected after an extensive, national search led by Association Strategies, Alexandria, VA.

Johnnie White, MBA, CAE, CMP

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The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) has announced the appointment of Johnnie White, MBA, CAE, CMP, as Chief Executive Officer. AACE is a global, inclusive community of more than 5,700 endocrine-focused clinical members, affiliates, and partners from every walk of professional life. AACE educates physicians and other health care professionals on evidence-based, unbiased, high quality, and timely clinical and research endocrine content that would result in impactful change in their professional skills, performance, and strategies caring for patients and their caregivers.

Mr. White brings over 30 years of results-focused association leadership experience to his new role, including successful tenures at national healthcare societies and experience working with and advocating for endocrinologists and other endocrine care team professionals.

“We are extremely pleased to have Mr. White join AACE as our Chief Executive Officer,” said Susan L. Samson, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FACE, President-Elect of AACE and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “Mr. White brings deep leadership experience in professional associations and societies, as well as within the endocrinology specialty itself. He is absolutely the right person to continue to expand AACE’s presence worldwide and execute on our mission.”

This search was conducted by Association Strategies, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Tuft & Associates, Inc., Chicago.

Terrence D. Walton, MSW

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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, has appointed Terrence Walton, MSW as their next Executive Director. NAADAC, represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction counselors, educators and other addiction-focused health care professionals nationally and internationally. NAADAC’s members are addiction counselors, educators, and other addiction-focused health care professionals, who specialize in addiction prevention, treatment, recovery support and education.

With an impressive background in the addiction profession, Walton brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership skills. For the past decade, he has served as the chief operating officer for All Rise (founded as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals), where he led numerous national and international initiatives to develop the addiction treatment workforce and improve the effectiveness of substance use disorder treatment. “The Board of Directors and Executive Committee welcomes Mr. Walton as NAADAC’s new Executive Director,” said NAADAC President Angela Maxwell, PhD, CPS. “It was the goal of the search committee to identify a dynamic leader who is a visionary and possesses a unique combination of addiction experience, global perspective, strong fiscal management, and business acumen, as well as a palpable compassion for the stakeholders served by NAADAC. We are grateful that our extensive nationwide search connected us with Mr. Walton, and we are confident in Mr. Walton’s leadership to build upon NAADAC’s legacy of excellence. We look forward to supporting him as he establishes his leadership niche at NAADAC and propels the association into new successes as the premier strategic leader for the addiction profession.”

Walton was selected after an extensive, national search led by Association Strategies, Alexandria, VA.

Liana Watson, D.M., R.T.(R)(M)(S)(BS)(ARRT), RDMS, RVT, FASRT, PMP, CAE

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Dr. Liana Watson, has been named the Chief Executive Officer for the highly respected American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). ARRT is the world’s largest organization offering credentials in medical imaging, interventional procedures, and radiation therapy. They certify and register technologists in a range of disciplines by overseeing and administering education, ethics, and examination requirements. She succeeds Jerry Reid, PhD, who announced his intended retirement to the ARRT Board in 2020, after serving the organization for 44 years.

Dr. Wagner most currently served as American Board of Imaging Informatics (ABII) Coordinator and ARRT Senior Program Manager, Government Affairs. ABII is a joint effort of ARRT and the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM).

“Travis Prowant, M.S.H.S., R.R.A., R.T.(R)(CV)(CT)(ARRT), FASRT, President of the ARRT Board of Trustees, says the Board was pleased with the high caliber of candidates who interviewed for this role—and added that Watson’s qualifications stood out.” Dr. Watson will start in her new role January 1, 2023. This search was conducted by Association Strategies, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Tuft & Associates, Inc., Chicago.