By: PMA
The American Society of Association Executives has announced that Heather O’Steen, Director of Client Services for Professional Management Associates, LLC (PMA) and Executive Director of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association profession and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
To be designated as a CAE, an applicant must have a minimum of three years’ experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. Only approximately 4,000 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential.
“We’re very fortunate to have a successful leader like Heather involved in the client service operations of our firm,” said Joanne Cole, Managing Member of PMA. “In her 7 years with PMA, Heather has demonstrated her ability to navigate tough challenges and lead groundbreaking initiatives. We are proud that Heather has achieved the highest credential in the association industry and look forward to her continued commitment and passion as she uses her credential to provide the highest level of service to our clients.”
O’Steen joined PMA in 2008 and has since channeled her professional experience within the areas of association management, strategic direction, governance, organizational leadership, educational development, and implementation of the association’s policies. In addition to working directly with client Boards of Directors, Heather serves as spokesperson for the AAFP and is responsible for maintaining and developing relationships with allied associations, organizations, and industry, in addition to spearheading their marketing and communications programs. Heather has been instrumental in the outstanding growth of AAFP programs, including the addition of new programs and key veterinary industry initiatives.
For more information on PMA, visit: www.association-partners.com.
For more information on the AAFP, visit: www.catvets.com.
About Professional Management Associates, LLC
Founded in 1984, Professional Management Associates, LLC, is a full-service association management company serving national and state-level trade associations, professional societies, user groups, business networks, and membership organizations. PMA was one of only 24 dual-accredited association management companies in the world. For more information about PMA, visit: www.association-partners.com.
