CEO Departures

Woods to step down from architects group

Lakisha Ann Woods will be stepping down from her role as executive vice president and CEO of the $36M-revenue American Institute of Architects in February 2025, three years after her tenure began. 

“AIA is losing an incredible talent in EVP/CEO Woods, but we were so fortunate to have benefited from her leadership for three years. In that short time, she has led with integrity, tenacity and ingenuity,” said 2024 AIA President Kimberly Dowdell. “She is a leader among leaders, and those who have had the opportunity to collaborate with her understand how much of a loss this is to our organization and the profession of architecture. Woods leaves AIA in a stronger financial position than when she started, and we appreciate her expertise and fortitude in achieving this goal.”

Woods is credited with increasing AIA’s membership and revenue during her tenure. She also faced allegations of misconduct earlier this year. An outside investigation by law firm Miller and Chevalier later cleared her of any wrongdoing. 

Prior to joining AIA in 2022, Woods was president and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences for over three years. Previously, she spent nearly 15 years at the National Association of Home Builders, most recently as chief marketing officer.

Stephen Ayers, former 11th Architect of the Capitol, who also served as a project executive on the AIA Headquarters renewal project, has been appointed interim executive vice president and CEO. The AIA Board of Directors will begin the search process for Woods’ successor next year, according to a press release.

CEO Arrivals

Lee named leader of radiology group

The $13M-revenue Society of Interventional Radiology announced Eve Lee will begin her tenure as CEO on Jan. 27, 2025. She will succeed Keith Hume, who left the organization in May to pursue other opportunities following three years at the helm.

“SIR’s leadership is confident (Eve’s) experience as a champion of patient access to care, evidence-based medicine and public health policy will help SIR reach new heights and make our next 50 years as transformative as the first,” said SIR President Robert J. Lewandowski. 

Lee will join SIR from the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, which she has led since 2018. Previously, she spent nearly six years at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, where she was executive director. She also spent over five years at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, most recently as senior director of membership.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Randolph-Macon College, and master’s degrees in advertising design from Syracuse University, business administration and management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and public health from The George Washington University.

Russell Reynolds Associates assisted in the search.

Gencer gets top role at payments group

Western Payments Alliance (Wespay) announced Menekse Gencer will take over as president and CEO of the $5.7M-revenue group, effective Jan. 1, 2025. She will succeed William J. Schoch, who is retiring in April after 17 years at the helm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Menekse Gencer as the next president and CEO of Wespay,” said Jennifer Denoo, CEO of Great Basin Federal Credit Union and chair of the Wespay board. "Her extensive experience in payments innovation, digital transformation and leadership with financial institutions and FinTech organizations will be invaluable as we continue to grow and adapt to the evolving payments landscape.”

Previously, she was the founder and CEO of mPay Connect, a financial consulting service, for seven years. She also was an advisor to C-level executives at mPay Advisory and a senior vice president of customer experience and employee experience at Wells Fargo, where she spent nearly five years.

She has a bachelor’s degree in macroeconomics from Harvard University and a master’s degree in strategic management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Sterling Martin Associates assisted in the search.

Staff Arrivals

Alliance for Automotive Innovation—Megan Ekstrom has been named $29M-revenue AAI’s vice president of federal affairs. Previously, she was director for public affairs for real estate marketplace Zillow and a senior manager at manufacturing company Procter & Gamble. 

Career Education Colleges and Universities—Andrew Rakaczki is joining $7.6M-revenue CECU as senior vice president of government relations. Previously, he was vice president of government relations for digital banking platform BankMobile (now called BM Technologies) for over four years.

Children’s Hospital Association—Matthew Snider has joined $46M-revenue CHA as director of state affairs. Previously, he was a senior director of health policy at health systems association 340B Health. Earlier in his career, he was a director of regulatory advocacy at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association—Kyle Alexandre has been named $11M-revenue ELFA’s next vice president of state government relations. She most recently was the Florida deputy political director for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Previously, she was vice president of public policy for the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association.

Independent Sector—$5.5M-revenue Independent Sector announced the appointment of three new vice presidents.

            Jennifer Mellen has been named vice president of institutional advancement. She was previously senior vice president of development at human rights nonprofit Human Rights First, where she spent five years.

            Rashid Mosley was appointed vice president of programs. He joins from think tank Urban Institute, where he was a senior policy program manager. He previously spent nearly eight years at The George Washington University as an adjunct professor.

            Andrea Risotto has joined the group as vice president of communications. She previously was chief communications officer at public policy nonprofit The Brooking Institution for five years.