---
title: "How I Got Here: Vanessa LaClair"
id: "49879"
type: "post"
slug: "how-i-got-here-vanessa-laclair"
published_at: "2020-04-20T06:20:39+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:18:50+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/20/how-i-got-here-vanessa-laclair/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/20/how-i-got-here-vanessa-laclair.md"
excerpt: "Vanessa LaClair, CMP, CAE, the executive director of the Empire State Society of Association Executives, says her early career drove her into association management."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Membership"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "Membership"
  - "Networking"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

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 » How I Got Here: Vanessa LaClair

Vanessa LaClair, CMP, CAE, says that her early job choices led her to a career in association management because they all had to do with working with different clients, vendors, and staff. And that eventually evolved into closely working with members.

> Life is short, so remember to focus on the things that make you happy.

“For me, it has always been about the value of connections and keeping members engaged by remaining relevant to them and their ever-changing needs,” she says. Some notable stops on her career path:

### A Working History

**1998:** Ophthalmic Assistant at Eye Care for the Adirondacks

**1999 – 2000:** Administrative and Financial Assistant at New York State Builders Association

**2000 – 2016:** Director of Events and Operations at Independent Power Producers of New York

**2016 –:**Executive Director at Empire State Society of Association Executives

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/)
 [#Networking](https://associationsnow.com/tag/networking/)

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