MICHAEL BUTERA

Expertise: Board Relations | Governance

Michael is the founder of Association ActiVision, LLC a bouquet consultancy focusing on governance and program restructuring, and strategic develop. He is a former Association CEO at the state and national levels. Butera has made frequent presentations around the country. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Howard County, Maryland NAACP and is the co-chair of the Maryland State Conference NAACP Technology Committee. He is active as a facilitator for BoomerWorks.org. An organization dedicated to helping older citizens transition from traditional W-2 work to 1099 freelancing.LinkedIn URL:

Michael’s LinkedIn profile.

ELISA PRATT, MA, CAE

Expertise: Member Experience | Strategy & Tactics

Elisa, an expert in association management and the membership experience, is a leader in innovative engagement solutions, tactical member development and operational effectiveness strategies. As founder and owner of Brewer Pratt Solutions LLC, Elisa brings her nearly 20 years of experience as an impactful senior staff member for trade and individual membership organizations, both domestic and international. Elisa is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and holds a MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University. With her unique background in advocacy and activism, membership and stakeholder relations, as well as association management and operations, Elisa’s diverse expertise makes her a valuable partner and advisor to both nonprofit and corporate clients.

Elisa’s LinkedIn profile.

DAVID PHILLIPS

Expertise: Fundraising

David G. Phillips, founder and president and chief executive officer of Custom Development Solutions, Inc. (CDS), has 35 years of high-level nonprofit management and fundraising experience in organizations throughout the United States and Canada. He founded CDS which is in its 25th year of service. CDS has planned and managed successful campaigns in 42 US States and throughout Canada. The firm and its leaders have provided counsel to hundreds of non-profit organizations and led hundreds of successful capital campaigns. Mr. Phillips has personally directed a dozen capital campaigns raising more than $750 million dollars, and supervised hundreds more which have yielded over $2.5 billion dollars. His area of expertise is nonprofit management, major gifts fundraising and the strategic planning and tactical execution of capital campaigns.

David’s LinkedIn profile.

BRUCE ROSENTHAL

Expertise: Corporate Partnerships

Bruce is a strategic advisor and consultant to associations and not-for-profit organizations. He creates successful corporate partnership programs that increase revenue and add member/constituent value. He has experience creating the framework and process; managing; and growing corporate partnership programs. He has worked with corporate partners, corporate partner prospects, and association leadership/staff/board. Bruce has held senior-level association staff positions with responsibilities for corporate partnerships, conference management, marketing, quality improvement programs, and coalition building. Drawing from these experiences, Bruce understands the “ins and outs” of association structures, governance, member services, advocacy, education, revenue streams, and conferences. He is Convener of the Partnership Professionals Network.

Bruce’s LinkedIn profile.

GERRY FRANK

Expertise: Creative Development | Design | Branding

Gerry expresses visually what you want to say in words to make your content and communications impactful, intriguing and engaging. He has led the development and implementation of creative campaigns and product launches, named and branded startup organizations and helped turn around tired brands that no longer reflect the market. As CEO and Chief Creative Officer of his own agency for 20+ years, he has led creative teams and collaborated with associations to grow events, reach new members, evolve with the market and position foundations for greater success. A resident of Howard County, Maryland, Gerry serves as the Marketing Chair of the Howard County Police Foundation.

Gerry created the Rogue Tulips Logo.

Gerry’s LinkedIn profile.

ANNE DARCONTE, CAE

Expertise: Government Relations | Advocacy

Anne DarConte, CAE is the Founder and Principal of Beyond K Street, LLC, a boutique public affairs and government relations firm. She has more than 30 years of federal, state, and local government relations experience and advises clients on strategic initiatives including advocacy messaging, grassroots and grass tops advocacy, Hill Days, advocate training, and community outreach. She is a Certified Association Executive, with experience in many areas of association management. Successful projects include: management of a 50-state coalition in the accounting profession including state legislative and regulatory matters, outreach priorities, stakeholder relationships with national and state-based organizations, and support for ad hoc state government relations initiatives. As the Director of Outreach for a 500-member energy trade association, she created that association’s grassroots and grass tops program. She has also served as Director of Grassroots for a $125MM trade association, responsible for the organization’s grassroots initiatives and Get Out The Vote program.

Anne’s LinkedIn profile.