Dagny Engle, AMC Co-Founder, Dies at 87

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Association Management Center (AMC), a leading Chicago-based association management company, regretfully announces that co-founder and former president, Dagny Engle, died on January 2, 2023.

Engle was known for creating a professional, family-like culture at AMC that included people from diverse backgrounds with unique skills and talents. She was one of the first and most highly regarded women executives and business owners in the association management community. “I had the opportunity to know Dagny for many years and was always struck by her combination of grace, grit, hospitality, business acumen, and the way she cared about AMC, its clients, and staff—well beyond her retirement,” said Steve Smith, MS CAE FAAMSE, current CEO of AMC.

In 1974, Dagny and her husband Art co-founded AMC. Prior to then, Dagny worked as a nurse leader at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. She, along with her nursing colleague Susan Novak, recognized the need for a professional community to support the growing subspecialty of rehabilitation nursing. The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) formed in 1974 with support from Lutheran General Hospital, Novak, and Engle. Engle officially joined AMC in 1976, bringing ARN on as the company’s first client.

For 20 years, Engle served as the executive director of ARN as well as other nursing and healthcare associations managed by AMC. She also served as president of AMC and was able to develop and execute business strategies and build relationships to grow ARN into the thriving, industry-leading organization it is today.

Dagny was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Art Engle, who died on November 19, 2022.

Dagny is survived by her sons, Scott, Jeff, and Mark and their wives; as well as 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

About Association Management Center (AMC)

AMC is a trusted partner to 27 leading healthcare, scientific, and professional associations. We provide strategic guidance to boards and volunteers and oversee day-to-day operations, making it possible for our association partners to realize their missions and achieve their goals. We specialize in serving healthcare and science associations, establishing trusted, long-lasting relationships that help our association partners thrive and grow. To learn more about how AMC helps its clients achieve their missions, visit connect2amc.com.