--- title: "Comings and Goings: Career Moves in Associations" id: "52198" type: "post" slug: "comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-3" published_at: "2021-04-09T21:54:50+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T12:35:00+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/04/09/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-3/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/04/09/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-3.md" excerpt: "Association professionals are always on the move. Here’s our monthly roundup of new hires, career changes, and retirements across the association industry. Of note: Donte P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE, is heading up the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "careers" - "Executives" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Comings and Goings: Career Moves in Associations Career moves are common in the association industry. This month, there are several changes at the executive level, including Rachel Dreskin heading up the Plant Based Foods Association and Charles H. Jeffers II beginning a role at the Bermuda Tourism Authority that’s been vacant for more than a year. Here’s a look at those moves and other career changes. ### Chief Staff Executives **Lakey Boyd**[was hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.columbiaassociation.org/blog/ca-announces-new-president-ceo-lakey-boyd/) as the new president and CEO of the Columbia Association. She is scheduled to begin May 3. The Pharmacy Quality Alliance[selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.pqaalliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412:micah-cost-named-ceo&catid=29:newsroom) **Micah Cost, PharmD, MS**, as its new CEO. The Oklahoma Pork Council has filled two key positions.**Kylee Deniz**(pictured) [was hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.okpork.org/blog/kyleedeniz) as the new executive director, and **Nikki Snider**, a 17-year veteran of the group, will move to the position of associate director. **Rachel Dreskin** [joined (opens in a new tab)](https://www.plantbasedfoods.org/the-plant-based-foods-association-welcomes-rachel-dreskin-as-its-chief-executive-officer/) the Plant Based Foods Association as its new CEO. **Saima K. Hedrick** [was named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.srcd.org/news/srcd-announces-new-executive-director) the new executive director of Society for Research in Child Development. The Bermuda Tourism Authority [hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.gotobermuda.com/bta/press-release/bermuda-tourism-authority-names-charles-h-jeffers-ii-to-the-ceo) **Charles H. Jeffers II** as its new CEO. He replaces Kevin Dallas, who left in February 2020. AMPED Association Management [announced (opens in a new tab)](http://www.manageassociations.com/index.php/news/blog/entry/donte-shannon-to-serve-as-wmia-president-and-ceo) that **Donté P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE**, will take on a new role as president and CEO of the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association. ### Other Moves **Kim Bach** [joined (opens in a new tab)](https://destinationsinternational.org/destinations-international-announces-kim-bach-association%E2%80%99s-sales-and-services-manager) Destinations International as its sales and services manager. [Three staff changes were (opens in a new tab)](https://nbaa.org/press-releases/industry-leader-andrew-broom-joins-nbaa-damato-carr-elevated-to-svp-positions/) announced at the National Business Aviation Association. **Andrew Broom** joined the organization as its new senior vice president for strategy, marketing, and innovation. NBBA promoted **Jo Damato, CAM**, to senior vice president, education, training, and workforce development. **Doug Carr** was elevated to senior vice president, safety, security, sustainability, and international affairs. Visit Salt Lake [recently created (opens in a new tab)](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/articles/post/visit-salt-lake-appoints-chappell-to-director-of-research-analytics-role%20/) a director of research and analytics position and promoted long-time employee, **Allison Chappell**, to the post. **LeLan Dains** [was chosen (opens in a new tab)](https://visitemporia.com/lelan-dains-named-as-director-of-convention-visitors-bureau/) as the director of the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers [announced (opens in a new tab)](https://www.alaskapollock.org/about-us/news/gapp-adds-marketing-consultant-to-team-roster) that **Christine Durkin** joined team Wild Alaska Pollock as a marketing consultant helping manage GAPP’s partnership program. The National Restaurant Association [hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/leadership/national-restaurant-association-hires-emily-knight-foster-unity) **Emily Knight** as chief collaboration officer and executive vice president of industry relations, a newly created job intended to strengthen the association’s voice in speaking for the industry. Knight was previously CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. The American Clean Power Association recently made [two additions to its C-suite (opens in a new tab)](https://cleanpower.org/news/american-clean-power-association-announces-senior-hires-2/) . **Rod O’Connor** joined ACP as chief commercialization and engagement officer, while **Jason Clark** joined ACP as chief strategy officer. **Veronica Purvis, MSM, CAE**, [joined (opens in a new tab)](https://skinofcolorsociety.org/meet-skin-color-societys-new-associate-executive-director-veronica-t-holmes-purvis-msm-cae/) TREX to manage the Skin of Color Society as associate executive director. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture [hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nasda.org/news/nasda-hires-joe-reardon-to-lead-food-safety-activities-and-partnerships-with-fda) **Joe Reardon** as director of food safety programs. **Bill Rowan** [joined (opens in a new tab)](https://www.asphaltpavement.org/about/our-people/bill-rowan) the National Asphalt Pavement Association as its director of communications. Tally Management Group made [four staff moves (opens in a new tab)](https://www.talley.com/talley-management-group-grows-advances-team-members-to-manage-companys-expansion/) , promoting three staff who serve as executive directors of the associations they manage and one staffer on the meetings team. **Leslie Teris, JD, CAE**, is now associate director, business and professional; **Brent Schwartz** is now associate director, healthcare and scientific; and **Nim Lalvani** is now associate director, philanthropic and charitable. Tally also promoted **Wendy Stevens** to associate director, meetings. The Law School Admission Council[hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.lsac.org/about/news/lsac-welcomes-new-chief-diversity-officer) **Angela Winfield** as its chief diversity officer. Winfield, who is legally blind, is due to start her position in May. ### Retirements **Barb Glenn, Ph.D.**, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, [announced that she plans to retire (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nasda.org/news/nasda-ceo-announces-retirement) this fall. She has been CEO since 2014. National Auto Auction Association CEO **Frank Hackett** [plans to retire (opens in a new tab)](https://www.naaa.com/News/Member_News/CEO_retires.pdf) [PDF] this summer, after 17 years leading the trade organization. His retirement date will be finalized once a successor has been hired. After nearly four decades at the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, **Richard G. Johnstone Jr.**, [has retired (opens in a new tab)](https://vmdaec.com/pr/richard-johnstone-retires-as-ceo-of-electric-cooperative-association/) . (tolgart/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. 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