Comings and Goings in the Association Industry: September/October 2013

The American Physical Therapy Association has announced that Bonnie Polvinale will serve as interim CEO for APTA. Polvinale’s previous post was as APTA’s vice president of member relations.

Stu Shea, founder, chairman, and CEO of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, announced his decision to step down as CEO. USGIF President Keith J. Masback will replace Shea.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists has named Manuel E. Bonilla as its new chief advocacy officer. Bonilla most recently served as ASA’s director of congressional and political affairs.

Barb Kachelski has been named executive director of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Previously, Kachelski was senior vice president and chief operations officer for the Credit Union Executive Society.

Michael W. Johnson has been named president and CEO of the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association. He most recently served as chief advocacy officer for the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

The Hydraulic Institute has hired Mark Sullivan as director of education and training. He most recently was chief marketing officer at Wittenberg University.

Julie Benson has been named director of membership for the Equipment Leasing and Financing Association. Benson previously worked as director of administration and operations for the Insured Retirement Institute.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC, has hired Ghazal Yazdanparast as director of diplomatic and government relations. Yazdanparast had been catering sales manager for Mandarin Oriental.

Brandi Hardy has been hired as senior sales manager for Visit Oakland. She previously served as a sales manager at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association has named Loran Sandman its convention sales business development manager. Most recently, he was a senior marketing consultant for LivingSocial.

Jaclyn Weinstein has been appointed to the new position of director of business development in North America for the Melbourne Convention Bureau.

From left: Michael W. Johnson, Ghazal Yazdanparast, Brandi Hardy.