Association Forum Appoints Interim President and CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sarah Murphy | 312.924.7030 | murphy@associationforum.org

CHICAGO (August 2, 2021) —Association Forum is pleased to announce that it has retained Suzanne Berry, MBA, CAE, to serve as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Suzanne will succeed Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, who will serve as the next President and CEO of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to express our enthusiastic support for Suzanne as our Interim President and CEO,” says Association Forum Board Chair Paul Pomerantz, FASAE, CAE, and CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. “She has a deep understanding of association management and has specialized expertise in interim leadership. We look forward to working with her during this transition period.” Pomerantz adds, “On behalf of the Board, I also want to extend my appreciation to Michelle Mason for her incredible leadership for seven years. Michelle has been the catalyst for many proactive programs and successfully navigated Association Forum through the pandemic.”

“Leading a membership organization that is “the association of associations” in the midwest region has been an incredible experience. I am pleased that Association Forum boosts of more than 4,000 members and produces some of the industry’s most successful events,” says Mason. “I look forward to collaborating with Association Forum in my new role as President and CEO of ASAE”.

Berry, a seasoned executive, brings nonprofit leadership experience with expertise focused on governance and infrastructure review, finance, fundraising and development, marketing, and strategic planning. Berry has been working with organizations in interim C-Suite positions since 2013. She has worked with the American Diabetes Association, American Society for Interior Designers, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the International Association for the Study of Pain, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, PA Society of Association Excellence, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. Berry is a Strategic Advisor with BlochReed Association Advisors serving the AMC and association communities.

“I am honored to serve as Association Forum’s Interim President and CEO,” said Suzanne Berry, MBA, CAE. “I am excited to be working with Michelle in this transition and advancing the mission and goals of the association.”

###

About Association Forum
The mission of Association Forum is to advance the professional practice of association management. Founded in 1916, Association Forum serves 4,000 association professionals whose efforts serve more than 37 million members and generate $22 billion in global annual expenditures. Visit www.associationforum.org for more information.

About Suzanne Berry, MBA, CAE
Berry comes to Association Forum with over 30 years in the nonprofit sector. She has been serving in Interim C-Suite roles since 2013. Berry’s association clients have included: Society of Environmental Journalists; PA Society of Association Excellence; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses; International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP); Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board); American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); and American Diabetes Association.

Berry founded Association Resources in 1983 along with Peter J. Berry, CAE. Prior to selling AR in 2007, she developed and led a broad portfolio of health care clients. She served as Executive Director of the American Epilepsy Society (AES), the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT), and the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD). She was a strategic advisor to many of AR’s clients, including the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), and consulted with organizations to develop and design certification programs. She has facilitated strategic planning sessions for many nonprofit organizations. She has also worked with associations to develop governance and board training programs.

Berry is current a Strategic Advisor with BlochReed Association Advisors. BR collaborates with leaders to navigate change and strengthen their organizations. In addition to leadership development and matching associations with management company partners, BR has developed a robust interim executive practice.

Berry holds a master’s in business administration from Northeastern University, Boston, MA. She is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), is a Certified Association Executive, and serves on the ASAE CAE Ethics Committee, ASAE Women’s Leadership Forum, and is a member of ASAE’s Key Association Professionals Committee (KPAC). She is a Governance Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).