Looking Forward® (DEI): Perceptions, Challenges and Solutions for DEI in Associations

Dean A West, FASAE Related Seminars and Products

President

Association Laboratory

Dean West is the founder and President of Association Laboratory Inc. He leads client engagements and is a frequent speaker and facilitator for national and global association leadership meetings.

Mr. West is a former association executive with experience as executive director, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer for both national and international membership organizations. He has been a consultant to the association community since 1992, and has provided services to hundreds of state, national, and international organizations.

Dean West is a nationally recognized expert in association management. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives. Mr. West authored the chapter on Membership Research for the ASAE book, Membership Essentials and the chapter on Marketing Professional Development Programs in the ASAE book, Core Competencies in Professional Development.

Mr. West is an experienced volunteer leader familiar with the demands of volunteer leadership. He is Past Chairman of ASAE’s Professional Development Council and has served on the ASAE Membership Council and the Editorial Board for the ASAE & the Center for Association Leadership Journal of Association Leadership. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Association Forum of Chicagoland.

Nicolette Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE Related Seminars and Products

Association Laboratory

Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE is a Strategist for Association Laboratory. She is responsible for leading client engagements and conducting qualitative and quantitative research specific to client goals. Nikki been involved with associations for over 10 years and is a recognized leader in association management having received Association Forum’s Forty Under 40 Award. She has been active in membership and volunteer engagement for the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, and American Academy of Periodontology. She is a member of the ASAE Healthcare Community Advisory Committee and volunteers with FSAE. She speaks and produces content on association topics related to content strategy, leadership, membership, and events.

Ms. Haton received her MBA from Benedictine University and her BA in International Studies (Spanish & Latin American Studies) from Loyola University of Chicago. She obtained her CAE in 2016

Meg Whedbee, MPP Related Seminars and Products

Senior Analyst

Association Laboratory

Meg Whedbee is responsible for leading client engagements and conducting qualitative and quantitative research specific to client goals.

Prior to Association Laboratory, Ms. Whedbee worked with a variety of industries including global public health and labor market research. Her expertise includes content creation and quality assurance of technical, academic, and educational materials, focusing on public policy and the social sciences.

Recent experience includes collaboration on program sustainability analyses, international health systems assessments, and other research documents for submission to stakeholders including USAID, foreign health ministries, and HUD.

Ms. Whedbee holds a Master of Public Policy degree from American University and a BA in Economics from New College of Florida.

Nikki Golden, CAE Related Seminars and Products

Association Laboratory

Nikki Golden, CAE, is a strategist with Association Laboratory, which helps associations make strategic business decisions—on everything from membership to strategic planning to educational programming/certification—using state-of-the-art research. Previous to this position, she was the executive director of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.

Nikki has been recognized for her work in the association world, making the inaugural list of Association Forum of Chicagoland/USAE Forty Under 40 list. Nikki is an active member of Association Forum of Chicagoland, where she has served on the Editorial Working Group and Content Planning Committee, chaired the CAE Working Group and Membership SIG. She also frequently facilitates for the Association Forum’s CAE Study Course and its Association 101 program, has presented at Forum Forward and has been a contributor to FORUM magazine.

Nikki built her association career working in both marketing and membership, with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Roofing Contractors Association.

Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP Related Seminars and Products

Strategist

Association Laboratory

Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP has a diverse background in a variety of membership organizations. Prior to joining the Association Laboratory team, Miranda served as Vice President of Membership at The Community Company, which launches and manages professional communities for media brands. Miranda led a team responsible for the communications, publishing, member service, events, online communities and overall retention of 20+ organizations. Prior to that, Miranda held a number of positions at the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), for ten years. She also served as the Executive Director of the Women In Trucking Foundation, growing their scholarship program.

Miranda has spoken around the world on topics of entrepreneurship and community-building. She has extensive international experience, including launching new chapters of EO, expanding the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards to 55 countries and bringing groups of entrepreneurs on diplomatic mentoring missions to Africa, South America and the Middle East.