CEO Arrivals

Ortiz de Zarate takes helm at appraisers group

The $5.7M-revenue American Society of Appraisers announced Guillermo Ortiz de Zarate has begun his tenure as CEO and executive vice president. He succeeds Johnnie White, who stepped down last March to lead the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology. 

“Guillermo’s extensive leadership experience and dedication to professional standards will make him an outstanding leader for our organization. His strategic skills and commitment to innovation will be invaluable in advancing our mission internationally and continuing ASA’s leadership in the valuation profession,” said ASA International President G. Adrian Gonzalez, Jr.

Since joining the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards as assistant director of information systems in 2007, Ortiz de Zarate has held the roles of director of information systems, chief innovation and information officer and, most recently, chief strategy officer. He also founded and was president of Lineup, a software-as-a-service company that serves as a for-profit subsidiary of NCARB.

Ortiz de Zarate holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology and a master’s degree in multi/interdisciplinary studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Association Strategies assisted in the search.

Thomas named inaugural leader of APEX Accelerators group

The $1.2M-revenue National APEX Accelerator Alliance announced Darryl Thomas has been appointed as the group’s first executive director. 

NAPEX, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, is a professional organization designed to help businesses obtain contracts with federal, state and local governments.

Thomas joins NAPEX after 30 years working for the Illinois Department of Commerce. During his tenure, he served as program manager of the First Stop Business Information Center and program manager of the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Previously, he was a compliance auditor for the Illinois Commerce Commission, where he spent eight years.

Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in transportation and physical distribution from Western Illinois University.

Sterling Martin Associates assisted in the search.

Staff Departures

Consumer Data Industry Association—Jackie Gulley has left her role as vice president of communications and public affairs at $6.5M-revenue CDIA to join analytics company RELX as director of federal government affairs for the group’s risk, legal and exhibition market segments. Gulley previously was vice president of global ratings communications for capital market company S&P Global, where she spent six years.

Retail Industry Leaders Association—Deborah White will be stepping down as general counsel of $19M-revenue RILA and president of the Retail Litigation Center at year’s end. She has worked at both organizations since 2012. Earlier in her career, she spent 11 years at the Food Marketing Institute, most recently as senior vice president and chief legal officer. 

Staff Arrivals

Flex Association—Robert Jackson has been named director of outreach and external affairs at the Flex Association, a trade group formed in 2022 to represent workers of the “app-based economy.” Jackson previously spent four years at the National Automatic Merchandising Association, most recently as director of outreach and external affairs.

ISPOR – The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research—Kate Tarpey has been named chief financial officer of $18M-revenue ISPOR. She most recently was chief financial officer of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, where she spent over three years. She also spent nearly five years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, most recently as chief operating officer.

Motion Picture Association—Josh Rubin has been named $79M-revenue MPA’s senior vice president of global strategy and chief of staff, effective Feb. 28. He has served as director for Indo-Pacific Affairs for the National Security Council since July 2023. Previously, he spent nearly three years at the U.S. Department of State.

National Alliance for Caregiving—Adali Hernandez is now NAC’s senior director for corporate relations. He previously spent four years at suicide-prevention nonprofit The Trevor Project, where he most recently served as corporate partnerships manager. 

NCTA – The Internet & Television Association—Austin Walton has joined $65M-revenue NCTA as vice president of government relations. He spent the past two years as policy adviser to Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). Previously, he spent three years as policy adviser to Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.).

Zero Emission Transportation Association—Corey Cantor has joined ZETA as research director. He previously spent five years at research organization BloombergNEF, most recently as senior associate of electric vehicles.