Alison E. Heron, MBA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer

Alison E. Heron, MBA, CAE serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with 27 years of diverse association sector experience and 21 years in leadership roles. Alison holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Strayer University. She is data-driven and a high-achieving visionary leader committed to advancing an organization’s strategic goals through diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, transformational leadership, trend/data analysis, and commitment to high-level customer service interaction.  

Before joining ACLP, she served as the Senior Director of Membership and Customer Relations at the Water Environment Federation. Prior to WEF, she served as the Senior Director of Membership and Units at the Council for Exceptional Children. Alison is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and a 2008-2009 ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Scholar.  

She is the proud mother of two thriving sons in college and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling by planes, trains and automobiles and considers herself a life-long learner.

Angela Flanigan, Chief Operating Officer

Angela Flanigan, CMP, is a seasoned association management professional with more than 17 years of progressive experience. Angela most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians where she was employed for fourteen years and was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the company, guiding the organization’s workflow strategy, management of the organization’s financials, and interacting with the Board of Directors to implement the strategic plan. 

Angela is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and serves as a member of their Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP).  In 2015-2016, she served as a member of ASAE’s Healthcare Committee and was appointed Vice Chair of the Georgia Society of Associate Executives’ (GSAE) Professional Development Committee in 2017.

Angela is an alumna of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and is currently pursuing her MBA from Kennesaw State University.

Mary Buday, Director of Certification

As Director of Certification, Mary Catherine Buday manages the Child Life Professional Certification Program. Mary joined the team in 2024 and has worked with certification programs in the healthcare and education professions spanning 30 years. She has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in public service from Albion College. She earned a Credentialing Specialist Certificate from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and has written and presented extensively on the role of certification in quality assurance. Mary was an adjunct professor for the University of Detroit-Mercy and Nova Southeastern University teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses to education students. When she’s not working, Mary enjoys volunteering in her community helping local youth music, performing arts, and sports programs. She’s a mom to two young adult children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing the cello, working in her garden, traveling, and taking long walks with her dog, Kevin.

Alexandra Campbell, Director of Education

Alexandra Campbell is a resourceful leader in education with over 15 years of experience in learning. She started her career in the classroom after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State University and then moved to working within education in nonprofits including museums and associations. Her previous work in healthcare professional's associations focused on meeting the needs of members to further their professional development and careers. Alexandra enjoys the evolving and always changing nature of education, organization’s strategic goals, and members’ needs and interests. 

Shanita Smith, Director of Membership and Engagement

Shanita has over 10 years of non-profit experience, most recently serving as Director of Membership and Member Services at the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. She brings experience and skills in database management, meeting and event planning, membership management, donation management, and graphic design. Shanita earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Tourism Management from Old Dominion University and enjoys horse riding with her daughter, DIY projects, and trying new things.

Keri O'Keefe, Director of Communications and Publications

Keri O'Keefe is a strategic leader with over 15 years working with nonprofits and associations. As Director of Communications and Publications, Keri leads in developing ACLP's communication, marketing, and publications strategy and plans. Keri earned her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University and also holds the Certified Digital Marketing Professional certificate.

Barb James, Manager of Certification and Program Support

As Manager of Membership and Program Support, Barb handles membership questions and database duties.  Barb has worked in the professional association field for more than eight years, and she worked for AER (The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired) for almost 8 years before she moved to ACLP. Barb is also a proud Navy wife who has lived all over the country and the world. Barb has three adult children ages 26, 24 and 23 and a precious grandson. She likes to scrapbook, go wine tasting at local wineries, and spend time with her grandson. 

Mary Bean, Manager of Governance and Executive Office

Mary is an accomplished professional serving as the Manager of Governance and Executive Office. With experience in organizational governance and executive support, Mary is adept at managing board activities, facilitating effective communication, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. She is committed to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability while supporting the strategic goals of the organization. Known for their attention to detail and strong leadership skills, Mary plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the executive office. Mary is the proud mom of two adult children. She loves the beach, reading, and attempting to be crafty.

Rebecca Reynolds, MA, Senior Marketing Specialist

Rebecca's previous experience as a Digital Innovation Leader in the education sector demonstrates her ability to lead transformative projects and implement innovative technologies.Rebecca is an accomplished Digital Marketing Specialist with expertise in digital strategy, communication, and social media, she excels at driving brand awareness and engagement. She enjoys watching her fiance's rugby team and spending time with her two dogs, bringing balance and joy to her life outside of work.

Stephanie Schultz, Senior Manager of Meetings & Conferences

As Sr. Manager of Meetings and Conferences Stephanie leverages multiple years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry to plan and execute our Annual Child Life Conference and other events.  She has her B.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and has been a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) for 20 years.    In past jobs she has planned meetings and special events for a variety of groups including the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.  She is a longtime member of Meeting Planners International (MPI) and a founding member of her local International Live Events Association (ILEA) chapter.  Stephanie lives in Nashville and has three amazing sons including an USMC Special Forces Sargent. She loves travel, cooking, pub trivia, visiting museums and collecting folk art.  

Sylvie Messavussu, Manager of Education

Alex Rodriguez, Coordinator of Certification

Alex serves as ACLP’s certification/recertification coordinator, helping to manage the administrative tasks of the certification and recertification process. His previous work experience is in the non-profit arena, and he has worked for many associations in a variety of capacities. Alex’s experience includes certification and recertification administration, meeting planning, database management, and report development. Before joining ACLP, he worked for associations including North American Technician Excellence (NATE), National Contract Management Association (NCMA),and Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). Alex’s favorite sports are soccer and football, and he is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Aubree Bailey, MA, Communications Specialist

As Communications Specialist, Aubree plays an active role in the implementation of ACLP’s communications strategy and vision, collaborating with other staff members and contributing to the association’s presence online and on social media. Prior to joining ACLP, she earned a B.A. in Creative Writing from Angelo State University and her M.A. in English from The University of Alabama, and she brings experience in marketing, social media management, and news media. While in college, Aubree taught dance classes for children ages 3-14 and is excited to take on a role combining her skills in writing and communication with a passion for supporting healthy childhood development. She also enjoys painting, pottery and being a dog mom to the 3 best rescues ever: Poppy, Knox, and Mate. 

Jasmine Rowe, Member Services Specialist

Jasmine takes pride in her role as the Member Services Specialist in her day-to-day responsibilities and efforts to implement membership recruitment, onboarding, engagement, and supporting the overall growth and success of ACLP. With a background in membership and engagement, Jasmine has played a key role in developing and implementing member/customer experience initiatives, membership recruitment and retention, member engagement, and cultivating relationships with community partners. Outside of supporting our members, Jasmine enjoys traveling, self-care, spending time with family and friends, and giving back to her community through community service. Jasmine believes in giving back to the underserved and underprivileged to positively impact and support those who need it the most. Jasmine earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Bennett College, and is a proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member.