CEO Arrivals

Demosthenes tapped to lead conservation group

The $20M-revenue Land Trust Alliance announced Ashley Demosthenes will join the group as CEO, effective March 17. She will succeed Andrew Bowman, who now leads the Defenders of Wildlife after over eight years leading LTA.

“Ashley’s deep well of experience in the land trust community has armed her with the qualities we need to take the Alliance forward, including the understanding that lasting conservation is founded on cultivating relationships between people,” said Blair Calvert Fitzsimons, governance chair of the Land Trust Alliance board of directors, co-chair of its CEO search committee and the founding CEO of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

Demosthenes has spent the past 12 years at Lowcountry Land Trust in Charleston, S.C., where she has led since 2015. Previously, she spent 15 years at The Nature Conservancy.

She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Vermont.

Harlow named interim leader of ABFAS

The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery announced Thomas Harlow has been appointed interim CEO following the retirement of Kathy Kreiter, who led $8M-revenue ABFAS for 11 years.

“We are excited to welcome Tom as interim CEO. His association experience, including in a medical society with a solid operational and finance background, will be helpful during the transition. Tom has previously served as an interim CEO and is looking forward to working with the Board and staff during this leadership change journey,” said ABFAS President Michelle Butterworth.

Harlow previously was interim CEO of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys from 2023 to 2024. He also spent 12 years at the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and nearly nine years at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Longwood University.

Vetted Solutions assisted in the search. 

Hart appointed interim leader of construction group

Velma Hart has been named interim executive director of the $2M-revenue National Association of Women in Construction. Former executive director Crissy Ingram left the organization after 13 years in January and now serves as the executive director of the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

“NAWIC welcomes Velma to her interim executive director role to lead the work of our association during this time of transition. We are also pleased that our national executive search for our next great leader is underway,” said NAWIC Board Chair Kelly Aust.

Hart most recently was chief operating officer of the Construction Specifications Institute, where she sent nearly six years. She is also president and CEO of consulting firm Velma Hart & Associates and previously was chief financial officer of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Vetted Solutions assisted in the search.

Staff Departures

Consumer Bankers Association—Kristen Fallon has left her position as vice president for congressional affairs and strategy at $17M-revenue CBA. She has since joined financial service company Citi as director of federal government affairs.

School Nutrition Association—$13M-revenue SNA’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Media Relations Cathy Schuchart has announced she will be leaving the organization after 19 years, effective Feb. 28. 

Vetted Solutions will be assisted in the search for Schuchart’s successor.

Staff Arrivals

Chamber of Progress—Jack Miller has been named the $8.7M-revenue Chamber of Progress’ senior director of communications. He joins the group from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where he was most recently director of the Office of Communications.

National Association of Manufacturers—Jess Wysocky has joined $62M-revenue NAM as director of health care policy. She most recently was legislative director for Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.).

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association—Stephen Bell has been promoted from vice president of advocacy, press and member communications to senior vice president of communications at $213M-revenue NRECA. 

Out of Home Advertising Association of America—Patrick Dolan has been named chief operating officer of $7.7M-revenue OAAA. He most recently was chief operating officer and co-founder of financial services company FxM. He previously spent 14 years at the Interactive Advertising Bureau, where he was president and chief operating officer.