CEO Departures

Ski association CEO to depart

Mike Reitzell will step down as the president and CEO of the $7 million-revenue, Lakewood, Colorado-based National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), effective Nov. 10. He has served in this role for two years. 

Previously, Reitzell was president of Ski California, another trade association. He has also practiced law. 

“Together, (at NSAA) we’ve strengthened relationships across the industry, advanced important initiatives, challenged the status quo, and built meaningful momentum for the future,” Reitzell said. 

The NSAA board will soon begin searching for their next leader.

CEO Arrivals 

AIHA names Randy Fiser CEO

The $18 million-revenue, Falls Church, Virginia-based American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has appointed Randy W. Fiser its next CEO. 

Fiser has served in multiple executive roles, including founder and CEO of Advisor 360, LLC, from 2023 to 2026; interim president & CEO of the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc., from 2024 to 2025; CEO of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), from 2020 to 2023; and CEO & president of the American Society of Interior Designers, from 2012 to 2020. 

“(Randy) has a proven track record of strategic leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the work of our association. We are confident that he will grow the association and expand our impact on worker health and safety,” said Nancy McClellan, AIHA President.

Executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions assisted in the search.

Dan Hartnett takes permanent AMWA CEO role

The $4 million-revenue, Washington, D.C.-based Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has announced that Dan Hartnett, who has been serving as the association’s interim chief executive officer since July, has been selected to serve as its CEO on a permanent basis effective Nov. 1. 

Hartnett joined AMWA in 2007 and has taken several leadership roles since that time, including manager of legislative affairs, director of legislative affairs, chief advocacy officer and chief policy officer. Before joining AMWA, he worked on Capitol Hill as a staffer to former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.).

“Since assuming the role of interim CEO in July, Dan has provided thoughtful leadership, maintained strong momentum across the association’s programs and priorities, and demonstrated a deep commitment to serving our members and subscribers,” said AMWA CEO Calvin Farr, Jr. 

Executive recruitment firm Sterling Martin assisted with the search. 

Quinonez to lead contractors’ group

The $5.5 million-revenue, Falls Church, Virginia-based Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) tapped Dan Quinonez as CEO, effective Nov. 1. He previously was COO and executive director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. Quinonez succeeds Cindy Sheridan, who is retiring at year end.

“Dan has the integrity, industry knowledge and leadership experience to guide PHCC into its next chapter,” board President Jason Pritchard said in a statement. “Over the past three years, he has built strong relationships and earned the trust of members, chapters and industry partners.” 

Quinonez brings more than 20 years of experience as an association leader and national spokesperson, with a background spanning food manufacturing, roofing and the skilled trades. Before joining PHCC in 2023, he was executive director of both the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League.

Interpreters group chooses Harden

The $2 million-revenue, Fort Collins, Colorado-based National Association for Interpretation (NAI) has named Karon Moody Harden CEO, effective Nov. 2.

NAI is a professional association serving interpretation professionals across around the world. The organization provides professional training, certification, conferences, and other resources to a diverse membership spanning parks, museums, zoos, aquariums, historic sites, and related institutions.

Harden brings more than two decades of leadership experience across nonprofit organizations and professional associations.

Her most recent leadership positions include chief program officer at the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and vice president of programs at the Council on Foundations. 

Executive recruitment firm Cooper Coleman assisted in the search.

Staff Departures

American Diabetes Association (ADA) — The $152 million-revenue, Arlington, Virginia-based ADA announced Oct. 20 that Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Dr. Rita Kalyani had left, effective immediately. 

ADA offered no explanation. But demands for Kalyani’s resignation had come in the form of an open letter signed by 200 ADA members in July, after five diabetes experts were expelled from the annual Scientific Sessions meeting in June. These experts were handing out an editorial from ADA’s journal critical of Trump administration research cuts. 

Dr. Joshua Neumiller, the ADA’s senior vice president of medical affairs, has been asked to expand his responsibilities while the organization conducts a comprehensive search for Kalyani’s successor. 

“The researchers and healthcare professionals who make up our science and medicine community are the foundation of everything the ADA does. We remain committed to serving this community and advancing our shared mission through science and medicine,” ADA CEO Charles “Chuck” Henderson said in a statement.

"We thank Dr. Kalyani for her dedication to the ADA's mission over the years and for her profound contributions to advancing diabetes research, care, and education," Henderson said. 

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) — Laura Wooster is joining Healthsperien as senior vice president. Wooster spent nine years as chief advocacy officer at ACEP.

Staff Arrivals

National Glass Association (NGA) — Trey Lawrence has joined the $15 million-revenue, Vienna, Virginia-based NGA as vice president of finance. Lawrence most recently served as vice president of finance and administration at the International Foodservice Distributors Association.

America’s Credit Unions — Trey Hawkins has been promoted to vice president of political engagement at America’s Credit Unions. He was previously head of political affairs at ACU.

The ESOP Association — The $11 million-revenue, Washington, D.C.-based ESOP Association has named Chief Operating Officer Kristie Mark the first executive director of its Employee Ownership Foundation. Mark will retain her role as COO.

The appointment follows a seven-year shift from an organization primarily funding employee stock ownership plan research to a multimillion-dollar operation running its own programs in the United States and abroad, the group said in a statement.

Mark joined The ESOP Association as COO in 2019. Previously, she was chief administrative officer in the Executive Office of the President during the Obama administration from 2014 to 2017. 

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) — Melissa Marsal is now senior executive vice president of strategic alignment and execution for the $49 million-revenue, Washington, D.C.-based ICBA. She was previously head of commercial banking operations at Capital Bank.

Business Software Alliance — Dana Steele has joined the Business Software Alliance as general counsel. She spent nearly two decades at technology company Autodesk.

PayrollOrg (PAYO) — Sean Murphy has joined PAYO as chief operating officer. Prior to joining PayrollOrg, Murphy was CEO and executive vice president of the Harris County Medical Society, the largest county medical society in the United States. 

Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) — Maritel Dasco has joined the $28 million-revenue, Washington, D.C.-based HDA as vice president of finance and accounting, and Peter Kelbel has joined as director of federal government affairs. Dasco previously spent more than 10 years with the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine, most recently as CFO. Kelbel was director of federal government affairs at the Association for Accessible Medicines.