--- title: "Comings and Goings: Career Moves in Associations" id: "54189" type: "post" slug: "comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-14" published_at: "2022-03-25T20:04:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T14:41:23+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/25/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-14/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/25/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-14.md" excerpt: "Association professionals are always on the move. Here’s our monthly roundup of new hires, career changes, and retirements across the industry. Of Note: Cathey Wise, CAE, is the new executive director of the Emergency Department Practice Management Association." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "API Management" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Executives" - "Leadership" - "test" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "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, including Kevin Russ taking on the newly created role of director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Brenda “Bree” Villarreal, CAE, taking on two new roles at AMPED Association Management. In addition, after 12 years with DC Events, President and CEO Gregory O’Dell is leaving for a new role at OVG360, and longtime Springfield, Missouri, Convention and Visitors Bureau President Tracy Kimberlin is retiring after 35 years. Here’s a look at promotions and other career changes in the association industry. ### Chief Staff Executives The New York Society of Association Executives [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NYSAENET/49329076-0a9c-4e31-b7a7-18a7387df90b/UploadedImages/New_NYSAE_Executive_Director.pdf) [PDF] **James Brannigan** as its new executive director. **Matt Brusch, CAE**, [was named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.niri.org/about-niri/news-media/press-releases/niri-announces-matt-brusch) interim president and CEO of NIRI: The Association for Investor Relations, effective April 1. The Suzuki Association of the Americas [chose (opens in a new tab)](https://suzukiassociation.org/news/suzuki-association-americas-appoints-angelica/) **Angelica Cortez** as its executive director. **Monica Dickinson** [was selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/tourism-kamloops-board-announces-organization-s-new-leader-841207022.html) as CEO of Tourism Kamloops. The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau [named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.littlerock.com/media/press-releases/little-rock-press-release/2022/02/24/the-little-rock-advertising-promotion-commission-names-gina-gemberling-president-ceo-for-little-rock-convention-visitors-bureau) **Gina Gemberling** its new president and CEO. **Zachary Riley** [was selected (opens in a new tab)](https://coloradolivestock.org/colorado-livestock-association-selects-new-chief-executive-officer/) as the Colorado Livestock Association’s new CEO. The California Primary Care Association [selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/49683/CMA-legal-counsel-to-lead-primary-care-association-as-new-president-and-CEO) **Francisco J. Silva, Esq.**, as its new president and CEO. **Cathey Wise, CAE,**[was named (opens in a new tab)](https://edpma.org/the-emergency-department-practice-management-association-announces-cathey-wise-as-new-executive-director) executive director of the Emergency Department Practice Management Association. ### Other Moves The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis [announced (opens in a new tab)](https://www.isth.org/news/597172/) **Robin Boettcher** as its director of industry relations and business development. **Dan Cook** [was selected (opens in a new tab)](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/annapolis/Dan_Cook_Press_Release_9064e7f0-e060-48d4-840c-4ee09d761a94.pdf) [PDF] as director of marketing and communications for Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. The International Code Council [named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.iccsafe.org/about/periodicals-and-newsroom/the-international-code-council-welcomes-aaron-davis/) **Aaron Davis** as its vice president of federal relations. **Gretchen Hall** [is joining (opens in a new tab)](https://destinationsinternational.org/destinations-international-announces-gretchen-hall-cdme-organization%E2%80%99s-chief-operating-officer) Destinations International as its chief operating officer on April 1. VisitPITTSBURGH [named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/media/news-releases/visitpittsburgh-names-susan-klein-new-chief-marketing-officer/) **Susan Klein** chief marketing officer. Elizabeth Prutch Gerry Rasel The Colorado Nonprofit Association made [two staffing moves (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colorado-nonprofit-association-announces-hire-of-new-chief-impact-officer-and-returning-director-of-membership-services-301488396.html) : **Elizabeth Prutch** is its new chief impact officer, and **Gerry Rasel** is returning to the organization as director of membership services. **Kevin Russ** [joined (opens in a new tab)](https://www.asme.org/about-asme/media-inquiries/press-releases/kevin-russ-joins-asme-as-director-of-diversity,-equity,-and-inclusion) the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as its director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Brenda “Bree” Villarreal, CAE Alex Joers AMPED Association Management announced two personnel moves.**Brenda “Bree” Villarreal, CAE,** [was appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://manageassociations.com/news/blog/entry/bree-villarreal-cae-joins-amped) associate director and program manager for both Leadership California and the Society for Research on Adolescence. **Alex Joers** [was named (opens in a new tab)](https://manageassociations.com/news/blog/entry/welcome-alex-joers) associate director and program manager for both the Society for Research on Adolescence and APTA Geriatrics. ### Retirements & Departures After 35 years at the helm of the Springfield, Missouri, Convention and Visitors Bureau, **Tracy Kimberlin** [announced (opens in a new tab)](https://www.springfieldmo.org/press-releases/post/cvb-board-announces-executive-retirement-plan-070822/) he is retiring at the end of 2022. **Gregory A. O’Dell** [is leaving his position (opens in a new tab)](https://eventsdc.com/news/ovg360-appoints-gregory-odell-president-venue-management) as CEO of Events DC to join OVG360, a venue development firm, as president of venue management. (BorisRabtsevich/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#API Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/api-management/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Executives](https://associationsnow.com/tag/executives/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#test](https://associationsnow.com/tag/test/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/) - [VideoInt. 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