--- title: "Comings and Goings: Career Moves in Associations" id: "54323" type: "post" slug: "comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-15" published_at: "2022-04-25T01:15:21+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T14:46:57+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/04/25/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-15/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/04/25/comings-and-goings-career-moves-in-associations-15.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: Christina McCoy, CAE, to head up the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "API Management" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Executives" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive 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 at the executive level, including Lynne Osmond becoming the first woman to head Choose Chicago, Lew Sherr moving to the top role at the U.S. Tennis Association, and Michelle Korsmo coming in to lead the National Restaurant Association. In other moves, Karla Kirk will serve as vice president of growth and revenue at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. In addition to these, here’s a look at promotions and other career changes in the association industry. ### Chief Staff Executives **Tammy Blount-Canavan** [was named (opens in a new tab)](https://visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/visit-seattle-names-hospitality-veteran-tammy-blount-canavan-its-next-president-and-ceo/) president and CEO of Visit Seattle. She will begin May 9. The Organic Trade Association [picked (opens in a new tab)](https://ota.com/news/press-releases/22196) **Tom Chapman** as its new CEO and executive director. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer [selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.iaslc.org/iaslc-news/press-release/karen-kelly-md-named-chief-executive-officer-international-association) **Karen Kelly, MD**, as its CEO. The National Restaurant Association [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/media/press-releases/korsmo-named-ceo-association-educational-foundation/) **Michelle L. Korsmo** as its president and CEO, as well as CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, effective May 1. **Christina McCoy, CAE**, [was selected (opens in a new tab)](https://manageassociations.com/news/blog/entry/christina-mccoy-named-president-ceo-of-wisconsin-society-of-association-executives) as president and CEO of the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives. The Association for Electronic Music [named (opens in a new tab)](https://associationforelectronicmusic.org/2022/04/14/afem-welcomes-new-ceo-silvia-montello/) **Silvia Montello** as its new CEO. The National Defense Industrial Association [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ndia.org/about/media/press-releases/2022/3/31/newceo) **David Norquist** president and CEO. He will begin in May. **Lynn Osmond** [was named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.choosechicago.com/press-media/press-releases/mayor-lightfoot-announces-first-female-president-ceo-of-choose-chicago/) the new CEO of Choose Chicago. The first woman to helm the organization, she will begin May 9. LeadingAge PA [selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leadingagepa.org/news/senior-services-news/news-item/2022/03/24/leadingage-pa-welcomes-garry-pezzano-as-president-and-ceo) **Garry Pezzano** as its new president and CEO. **Matt Rookard** [was chosen (opens in a new tab)](https://news.cuna.org/articles/120821-louisiana-credit-union-league-selects-matt-rookard-as-next-presidentceo) as the president and CEO of the Louisiana Credit Union League. He starts May 2. The American Institute for Conservation and its affiliate, the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/administration/public-relations/_2022-aic-faic-announce-new-executive-director.pdf?sfvrsn=83971620_16) [PDF] **Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe** as their new executive director. The United States Tennis Association [promoted (opens in a new tab)](https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/lew-sherr-named-usta-ceo-and-executive-director.html) **Lew Sherr** to CEO and executive director. Sherr, who currently serves as chief revenue officer, will begin his new role May 2. IDPro [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220330005197/en/IDPro%C2%AE-Appoints-Heather-Vescent-as-Executive-Director) **Heather Vescent** as executive director and president. The Canadian Propane Association [named (opens in a new tab)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/04/20/2425730/0/en/Canadian-Propane-Association-appoints-Shannon-Watt-as-President-and-CEO.html) **Shannon Watt** its new president and CEO. ### Other Moves Natasha Alexis Claudinne Cerveira Gases and Welding Distributors Association has made [two staffing moves (opens in a new tab)](https://www.gawda.org/promotion-new-hire-22) : **Natasha Alexis** was promoted to vice president of operations and administration, and **Claudinne Cerveira** was hired as the new director of meetings and events. Visit Seattle [welcomed (opens in a new tab)](https://visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/visit-seattle-hires-peter-andersen-as-senior-director-of-convention-strategy/) **Peter Andersen** as its senior director, convention strategy. Meet Chicago Northwest [selected (opens in a new tab)](https://www.chicagonorthwest.com/articles/post/meet-chicago-northwest-announces-staff-appointment-ph/) **Pamela Hailey** as its new director of sales. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors [named (opens in a new tab)](https://at.naifa.org/karla-kirk-named-naifa-vp-of-growth-and-revenue?hsLang=en) **Karla Kirk** its new vice president of growth and revenue. IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, [promoted (opens in a new tab)](https://www.iaapa.org/news/iaapa-press-room/iaapa-selects-michael-shelton-icae-north-america-regional-vice-president-and) **Michael Shelton** to vice president and executive director of the IAAPA North America region. Visit Tampa Bay [appointed (opens in a new tab)](https://www.visittampabay.com/media/news/post/visit-tampa-bay-welcomes-new-director-of-partner-development) **Aislinn Stone** as its director of partner development. Plumbing Manufacturers International [promoted (opens in a new tab)](https://www.safeplumbing.org/communications/pmi-news/article/plumbing-manufacturers-international-promotes-jodi-stuhrberg) **Jodi Stuhrberg** to the newly created role of director of programs and administration. Visit Greater Palm Springs [hired (opens in a new tab)](https://www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/press-releases/post/carolina-viazcan-joins-visit-greater-palm-springs-as-vice-president-of-sales/) **Carolina Viazcan** as vice president of sales. (HATICE GOCMEN/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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