Association Forum Announces the 2025 Class of Forty Under 40® 

Association Forum is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Forty Under 40^® Program, which is powered by Destination Vancouver, eShow, Naylor, Visit Anchorage, and VisitFlanders.

The recognized individuals represent the nation’s top 40 professionals from across the association and nonprofit industries. This year, Association Forum saw a large number of outstanding applicants, reflecting the growing energy and innovation within our field. After a rigorous review, the Awards and Scholarship Committee selected recipients who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, unwavering dedication to the profession, and a passion for advancing association management.

“As someone who started out young in this field, I understand how transformative early recognition can be. Congratulations to each of you — your energy, innovation, and leadership are exactly what our community needs. I’m thrilled to celebrate your achievements today and even more excited to see how you’ll shape the future of our profession,” said Michelle Mills Clement, FASAE, CAE, RCE, CEO of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and Chair of Association Forum’s Board of Directors.

Association Forum’s Forty Under 40 program is its twelfth year and recognizes individuals nationwide. The application weighs factors such as leadership, dedication to mission, and giving back to the nonprofit community.

“These trailblazers are redefining what leadership looks like in our industry,” said Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO of Association Forum. “Their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to progress are shaping the future of our community and inspiring others to reach new heights.”

The Forty Under 40 Program is an opportunity to honor and celebrate stellar individuals whose notable endeavors (before turning 40) have had an impact within the association management and nonprofit community. The Forty Under 40 recipients will be celebrated during the 2025 Holiday Showcase^® – Next Level on December 3-4, 2025, at McCormick Place Chicago. Furthermore, the recipients will be featured in the spring 2026 issue of FORUM Magazine.

You can also find the recipients listed on Association Forum’s website, here.

2025 Forty Under 40 Recipients

Stephanie Adams
Association Management Center

Lindsey Baris
Academy of General Dentistry

Terin Bates, MBA, CX-PRO
Inteleos

Julie Bedingfield
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Shaundra Branova
American Society for Microbiology

Rachael Callahan, CMP, DES
Project Management Institute

Robin Chan
Association Management Center

Ashley Cross, CAE
Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools

Cody Czmyr
International Interior Design Association

Deidra Eberle, CMP, DES
American College of Surgeons

Sara El Saied
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses

Fatema Gharzai
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Beth Goins
American Academy of Pediatrics

Shane Hanlon
American Chemical Society

Katie James, MA
Association Management Center

Danielle Leber, MPS
American College of Chest Physicians

Sean Luechtefeld, Ph.D., CAE
ANCOR

Angel Martinez, MS, AAiP
Association Management Center

Katie Martino, MPH, CPH
Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Samantha Mazzola, MBA
MHI

Nicola Mohan, MSW
Society of Women Engineers

Kyle Mullen
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Ben Opp, PHR, SPHR
HR Source

Jordan Pearlstein
J. Noah Skills Academy

Briana Rabiola
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Juana Rabulinski
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Erik Rancatore
Institute for Portfolio Alternatives

Jacqueline Retzer
The Toy Association

Marlee Ribnick
American Bankers Association

Julie Rossberger
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Catie Russo, MPA
Academy of General Dentistry

Hediyeh Sadeghein, CPA, CAE
NAIOP

Nick Stepaniak
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

Gigi Sutton, MBA
ACES: The Society for Editing

Tuba Tariq
Association Management Center

Perrise Thomas
World Vision

Zach Timm
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Kara Vinson
Society of Critical Care Medicine

Margaret Wolfe, MS
DRI

Regina Zappi, AuD, CCC-A
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)