Next Wave Conference (Washington)

Angela Richardson, CAE, Council Director, Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) 

Stop Selling Membership and Start Building Community

Angela Richardson, CAE, is a strategic engagement and governance leader who helps organizations move beyond transactional models to build communities that drive trust, retention, and long-term value.
With more than 20 years of experience, she has worked across associations, corporate, and nonprofit environments, leading executive engagement, supporting board-driven organizations, and facilitating high-trust conversations with senior leaders.
Angela is known for asking the questions others avoid and helping leaders turn insight into practical strategy and forward movement. Her work sits at the intersection of governance, member engagement, and emerging technology, where she brings a steady, grounded perspective to complex challenges.

 Angela Strecker, Event Producer, Owner, Blue Wings Events 

 Don't Plan Events, Plan Experiences - How to Design Events That Increase Engagement, Connection, and Member Value

Angela is a Corporate Event Strategist and the Founder of Blue Wings Events. She is the powerhouse behind Blue Wings Events—a women-owned event planning company known for transforming corporate gatherings into unforgettable experiences across Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia.
With over 30 years of experience wrangling timelines, managing VIPs, and keeping her cool no matter what curveballs come her way, Angela brings more than just event know-how—she brings heart, humor, and a sixth sense for what makes people tick. 
Angela’s worked alongside associations, government agencies, and corporate clients of all sizes, building trusted relationships and planning events that spark connection, boost morale, and elevate brands. Her clients love her for her honesty, calm confidence, and can-do attitude and because she makes the whole process feel like a breeze.
Fun fact: When she’s not planning events, Angela takes the stage to share her passion for connecting people, literally. She’s a speaker on The Art of In-Person Networking, a talk that helps professionals shake the nerves and master the power of real, face-to-face connection. Long before LinkedIn and social media, Angela was building networks the old-fashioned way—with a smile, a handshake, and genuine curiosity.

Bridgette Lehrer, M.A., Assistant Director, Marketing and Outreach, Berkeley International Study Program, UC Berkeley

Marketing Smarter, Not Louder: Leveraging AI, Video, and Volunteer Power to Maximize Mission Impact

Bridgette Lehrer is the Assistant Director for Marketing and Outreach with the Berkeley International Study Program, a study abroad option at UC Berkeley for highly motivated visiting students. Since 2009, she has cultivated expertise in engagement, strategic marketing and outreach management with particular emphasis on international student recruitment and alumni relations. Prior to Berkeley, Bridgette worked in diverse industries including nonprofit fundraising, corporate marketing, and technology customer service. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Art History (Arizona State University), an M.A. in Museum Studies (San Francisco State University) and Certificates from Cornell University (Digital Marketing) and UC Davis-Coursera (AI-Powered Content Creation for Social Media Success).

 Carrie McIntyre, Principal, Navigate

 Non-Dues Revenue Sales Workshop: Practical Tactics Without the Ick

Carrie McIntyre founded Navigate, a sales and customer experience consultancy that helps associations reach their revenue destinations. She’s known for helping association staff feel confident wearing their sales hat and turning association industry partners into enthusiastic advocates through exceptional customer experiences. With a 30-year career that began in association membership and marketing, Carrie transitioned to sales and customer success roles at several for-profit companies serving associations before starting Navigate in 2023. She’s an active member and content contributor for ASAE, TSAE, and PAR.

Christina Lewellen, MBA, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director and CEO, National Society of Professional Engineers

Slow Down to Speed Up: How Smart Associations Build Capacity Before They Burn Out

Christina Lewellen, MBA, FASAE, CAE, is Executive Director and CEO of the National Society of Professional Engineers. A seasoned association executive known for her data-driven approach to strategy and organizational leadership, she holds an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives.

Lewellen speaks nationally on leadership, ethics, and the future of professional communities and associations. She also serves as a trustee for Harmony, Incorporated and is an active volunteer within the association management profession. In 2025, she was named an ASAE Fellow, an honor held by fewer than one percent of ASAE members.

John Hooley, President, Steward Website Development

AI-Powered Strategic Planning: A Working Session on What Works (and What Doesn't) 

John Hooley is the president of Steward, an agency that provides web development for associations. He's a graduate of 10,000 Small Businesses, a certified Customer Acquisition Specialist, and a Zend Certified Engineer. He speaks and writes on connecting digital strategy to association goals. Outside of work he's an avid traveler, climber, diver, and a burgeoning sailor. He's also a USMC veteran and volunteers with Rotary and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Madeleine Bergeron-Edasi, CPA, CIA, Senior Manager, A&A, Clark Nuber PS

The GAAP Playbook for Associations: From Trial Balance to Financial Statements and the Form 990

Madeleine is a senior manager at Clark Nuber. She has a passion for serving not-for-profit clients in a variety of niches including associations, and works on many of the Firm’s largest association clients.

Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, CPP, CAE, Pricing Expert & Consultant, Pricing for Associations

Why Now is the Time to Change Your Pricing Strategy (and How To Do It)

With over 20 years of service in the association and nonprofit world, Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti’s career came to a crossroads. Working his way up to Vice President, he wasn’t initially aware of the impact he would have as a pricing expert—but his peers were.
The more people sought him out, the clearer it became: pricing was a massive blind spot in the association world, and no one was addressing it. This led him to become the first consultant to hold the CAE and CPP credentials—positioning him as the top choice in pricing for associations, hence the name.
For Dr. Michael, pricing isn’t about the numbers—it’s about achieving financial sustainability. He believes when associations have the right tools to price effectively, they can confidently plan for the future.
When he’s not gathering data, collaborating with clients, or speaking on stage, he can be found spending quality time with his five children. A theatre enthusiast, he performs in The Nutcracker every year alongside other tap, ballet, and jazz ensembles. He appreciates that most of his team lives abroad, giving him an excuse to travel more.

Mitch Hansen, Shareholder, A&A, Clark Nuber PS

The GAAP Playbook for Associations: From Trial Balance to Financial Statements and the Form 990

Mitch is a Shareholder at Clark Nuber. He works primarily with not-for-profit and governmental organizations assisting them with accounting and tax issues, internal control consulting, and improving operations with best practices. He has been a member and frequent speaker for WSAE for over 25 years, and heads up the Firm’s association practice.g him an excuse to travel more.

 Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP,  Principal, Dennison & Associates

 AI-Powered Strategic Planning: A Working Session on What Works (and What Doesn't) 

Vanessa Dennison, owner of Dennison & Associates, is a Certified Association  Executive and Certified Business Analyst Professional. She has more than 20 years’ experience working with dozens of trade and professional associations and unions, both as a staff member and an industry vendor. She applies proven expertise, industry best practices, and a deep commitment to each client to deliver superior results. Vanessa leads a growing team of leading association consultants with a variety of skills.  Together, we share a singular focus on serving our clients and delivering value no matter your size, budget, or needs.

 Jim Anderson, CAE, President & CEO, Associations West 

 Association Leaders Situation Room: Solving Today’s Real-World Challenges

 Jim supports the Board and its committees in   developing and implementing the strategic plan,   organizational policies, and programs. He also directly staffs the Board of Directors as well as the DEI, Legislative, Audit, and Nominating committees. He is responsible for daily operations, including financial management & reporting, and staff supervision. Jim previously worked for the United Way California Capital Region for 16 years, and was its Executive Vice President when he left to join Associations West.