About the Group
The best advice for tackling your toughest problems often comes from peers who can offer fresh perspective, or who have overcome the same issue themselves. In the spirit of supporting these valuable connections, CEO Update created this platform for senior executives.
The COO Forum is a peer group for senior association executives that is designed to create an environment in which association executives can learn from one another, share information and best practices and acquire position-specific professional development to achieve their organization’s mission and goals. COO Forum members meet quarterly via Zoom.Â
The COO Forum is designed to be small networking group in order to foster meaningful exchange of ideas and solid, productive bonds among members. To that end, membership will be capped at 50 members.
50 members max
July 2022

MEMBER BENEFITS
- Quarterly virtual peer group meetings
- Print subscription and online access to CEO Update
- Access to Association IntelÂ
- Registration to all CEO Update LIVE eventsÂ
 Annual membership fee: $1,200*
*Current members of CEO Update can apply their existing membership toward the membership fee
MEMBERSHIP PREREQUISITES
Invitations are extended to COOs and those with similar responsibilities at large associations.
COO FORUM MEETINGS
Meetings include member-driven discussions on a number of position-specific topics, including staff management/talent development, coalition building, project management and nondues revenue development as well as best practices in communications, advocacy strategies, membership and key administrative functions (finance, HR, IT, etc.).
CEO Update will convene subject matter expertise to lead discussions, such as executive recruiters and authorities in IT, association management and human resources.
Content and discussions will continue to evolve and expand to address new issues and challenges facing members of this peer group.
COO FORUM SPONSOR
A Steering Committee guides this group and content at the biannual meetings. Steering Committee members are:
- Elisabeth A. Barna, COO and EVP, Industry Affairs, American Trucking Association
- Jeff Glenzer, COO, Association for Financial Professionals
- Terry Jorde, Sr. EVP/Chief of Staff, Independent Community Bankers of America
- Elizabeth Stewart, COO, CFP Board
- Lori Traweek, COO, American Gas Association
To ensure a meaningful exchange of ideas and productive bonds among members, the COO Forum membership is limited to 50.Â
- Jennifer Ahearn, COO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Donald Auerbach, COO, Investment Company Institute
- Maureen Beddis, Executive Vice President, Membership and Strategic Initiatives, The Vision Council
- Eric C. Braendel, CFO, American Bus Association
- Jennifer Brearey, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, AdvaMed
- Kevin Carey, EVP and COO, American Hotel and Lodging Association
- Jennifer Colfelt, VP, Finance and Operations, American Bakers Association
- Jeffrey Connor, COO and Chief of Staff to the CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Andrew Darmohraj, EVP and COO, American Pet Products Association
- Laura L. Favinger, Chief Administrative Officer, Insurance Information Institute
- Jeffrey Flom, COO, American Massage Therapy Association
- Kathryn Gleason, COO, National Pharmaceutical Council
- Jeff Glenzer, COO, Association for Financial Professionals
- Abigail Gorman, Chief of Staff, American Institute of Architects
- Robin Harris, COO, National Fenestration Rating Council
- Matt Hickman, COO, Association for Corporate Growth
- June T. Holmes, COO, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
- Suzy Jacobs, COO, Finseca
- Matthew Jeanneret, COO, American Road and Transportation Builders Association
- Terry J. Jorde, SR. EVP/Chief of Staff, Independent Community Bankers of America
- Brian Kimmel, EVP & COO, NACS,Â
- Janice R. Lachance, EVP, Strategic and Operational Excellence, American Geophysical Union
- Kyle Longton, COO, American Foreign Service Protective Association
- Glenda MacMullin, COO/CFO, Consumer Technology Association
- Kevin M. Madden, COO, National Apartment Association
- Brian McCarthy, COO, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
- Anna McDermott-Vitak, SVP, Corporate Development & Administration, Association for Accessible Medicines
- Judith Mulcahy, VP of Operations, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
- Colin Newman, Chief of Staff, International Dairy Foods Association
- Terri O’Brien, CFO & SVP Administration, Information Technology Industry Council
- Mitzi D. Osterhout, CFO/COO, American Traffic Safety Services Association
- Brian Reilly, COO, American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Jeff Shoaf, COO, Associated General Contractors of AmericaÂ
- Nick Smith, COO, National Safety Council
- Elizabeth Stewart, COO, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
- Paul A. Stilp, CFO/COO, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
- Sarah Tancredi, Managing Director, Administration, American Academy of Dermatology
- Kasey Thompson, COO/ SVP, Office of Policy, Planning and Communications, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
- Lori Traweek, COO, American Gas Association
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- September 2022
- November 2022