2023 Conference Speakers
 Michelle Mason, CAE, FASAE
Michelle Mason serves as the President & CEO of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She is passionate about the advancement of the professional practice of association management. Prior to ASAE, Michelle served as the President and CEO of Association Forum for seven years; as Managing Director of Strategy and Innovation at the American Society for Quality (ASQ); and Vice President of Strategic and Future Focused Research Programs at ASAE. Michelle currently serves on Destinations International Foundation, and Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM). Michelle is a Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence Honoree 2019, Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Honoree 2019, and the CEO Update Professional Society CEO of the Year 2020. Michelle is a certified association executive (CAE), Fellow of the American Society for Association Executives (FASAE) and a Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA).
 Bob Harris, CAE
There are more than 150,000 associations and 7,000 chambers in the USA.
Bob Harris, CAE (certified association executive), works with thousands of organizations to improve performance and outcomes.
Outside the USA he works with business associations in
Jordan, Japan, Egypt, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Belarus, Republic of Georgia,
Albania, and Cambodia.
He believes nonprofit organizations should be as efficient and effective as any commercial business or
franchise. He’s been called the “Martha Stewart of association management” for providing tips and templates to make
governance and management efficient. The tools are free at www.nonprofitcenter.com. Simultaneous to his association work, he has worked in hospitality for Hyatt Hotels in Florida for 35 years.
 Bill Fournet
Bill Fournet helps leaders and organizations turn disruption into opportunity, saving them up to millions of dollars by innovating how they work.
Fueled by his belief that to stay viable in today’s ever-changing world we need to approach work differently, Bill actively supports leaders as a management consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. As an in-demand speaker for leaders, Bill delivers thought-provoking, practical programs to help you Lead for Tomorrow by understanding workforce trends and staying ahead of the curve in times of great change. In all his work, Bill leverages more than 25 years of experience in leading successful teams–including overseeing large and mega projects in excess of $10 billion– to give leaders the tools and guidance they need to thrive in any situation.
In 2004, on the heels of years of experience in project management and leadership for companies that included AT&T, IBM, and MTV Networks, Bill founded the award-winning management consulting firm, The Persimmon Group. Believing that “corporate” life could be full of passionate and engaged people, he established a unique business philosophy and culture at Persimmon, which was honored as a two-time recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award for being one of the leading small businesses in America by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Persimmon has also been on the Inc. 500/5000 list for the U.S. Fastest Growing Companies and received many other business accolades, including Families and Work Institute’s Effective and Flexible Workplace Award. Bill has been a multi-time nominee for “Most Admired CEO” in his home state of Oklahoma.
 Courtney Ramsey, PHR
With over 20 years of experience in corporate Learning & Development / Human
Resources, Courtney Ramsey knows about helping others succeed! As a
speaker, author, and consultant, she’s known for creating and facilitating
leadership programs that empower and motivate.
She recently authored her first book: Share Your Genius: 35 Tips to Create
Training That Transforms.
Over the years, Courtney has trained over 20 thousand associates in leadership skills and effective communication, helping companies like JCPenney, Toyota, Bayer, Red Cross, and Methodist Health save millions ofdollars in engagement, turnover, and productivity.
She received her MBA and BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University and is a member of the adjunct faculty at the SMU Cox School of Business.
She holds her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development with the Association for Talent Development.
As a wife and mom of a third grader, her idea of a good time is a glass of wine and watching true crime on the couch in her PJs. (Dateline is her favorite!)
|
