CEO Departures

Barton James out at air conditioning group

The $6.5 million-revenue Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced June 23 that Barton James was no longer CEO. James had led the Alexandria, Virginia-based group for more than seven years. 

ACCA said it would form a search committee of the board and begin a national search for James’s successor. The association named Martin Hoover, board chair in 2024-25, interim CEO.

The association did not give a reason for James’s departure other than saying in its statement, “[we believe] this is the right time to begin a new chapter of executive leadership focused on continued growth, expanded national membership, stronger performance measurement, and deeper engagement with industry partners and allied organizations.”

ACCA said that James had “served the association well and led important modernization efforts across the organization. Most notably, he helped guide ACCA’s transition to a fully virtual organizational structure and supported the structural improvements that strengthened the association’s overall financial stability.”

Before joining ACCA as senior vice president of government relations in 2016, James was executive director of the National Mitigation Banking Association. 

Staff Arrivals 

Chamber of Progress — Cate Domino has joined the Chamber as a senior campaigns director. She was most recently senior vice president at digital strategy firm Precision and is a former campaign aide to former Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)

The Aluminum Association — Kevin Washington has joined the $13 million-revenue group as vice president of government relations and international programs. He was most recently vice president of external relations at wood and wood treatment products company Koppers and earlier worked for Illinois Tool Works.

The Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) – William Fawcett has been named head of ReSources and the RAA Reinsurance Education Institute. Prior to joining the $11 million-revenue RAA, he served as Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at insurance company GEICO. Earlier in his career, he was associate commissioner for Property and Casualty Insurance at the Maryland Insurance Administration.

National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) — Pace McMullan has joined the $79 million-revenue NACS as vice president of government relations. He most recently was deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the Senate.

Satellite Industry Association — Georgia Reynolds was named director of policy at the $1 million-revenue association. She previously supported radio spectrum research as a fellow in the Office of the Pentagon’s chief information officer.

Consumer Technology Association (CTA) — Shannon Taylor has joined the $154 million-revenue CTA as vice president of government affairs. She was most recently senior managing director and head of tech and manufacturing policy advocacy at technology company Intel.