A former US Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, Walling studied business administration at University of Michigan and is pursuing an MBA at University of Illinois. At ALA, she’ll lead efforts to develop, implement, and measure strategic initiatives around membership and oversee a fast-paced customer service center. Walling answered our “11 Questions” to introduce herself to … Continue reading 11 Questions: Melissa Kay Walling
Reyes has previously held roles in the American Health Information Management Association in Chicago and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Park Ridge, Illinois. She studied health information management as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a dual master’s in public health and management information systems from Benedictine University. … Continue reading 11 Questions: Sheryl Reyes
She brings extensive experience in top roles at professional associations, including the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Academy of General Dentistry. She has graduate degrees in business and public health, and is a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives. Dillard-Steels answered our “11 … Continue reading 11 Questions: Tammy Dillard-Steels
She previously served as vice president of meeting services at Cygnus Corporation in Rockville, Maryland, and convention coordinator at SmithBucklin, an association management company in Chicago. Jones has been an assistant professor at Northern Virginia Community College since 2005, providing instruction in meeting planning, and was previously an adjunct faculty member at Kendall College in … Continue reading 11 Questions: Earla J. Jones
Hlywak previously served as national director of content marketing at the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Chicago. While there, she helped build the organization’s content marketing program, including developing strategies and evaluating metrics, workflows, and goals for social media, email marketing, and blog content. Prior to that, Hlywak was account supervisor at Kathy Schaeffer Consulting, an … Continue reading 11 Questions with Stephanie Hlywak
Mechler previously served as project manager and archivist at the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) at the University of Chicago Library. In that role, she designed, developed, managed, measured, and evaluated BMRC grant-funded programs and carried out its strategic plans and policies. She has an MSLIS, with rare books and manuscripts certification, from the University … Continue reading 11 Questions with Anita Mechler
As AED, Swader will provide leadership and management for the following ALA groups: Office for Accreditation Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment Office for Intellectual Freedom Library and Research Center Public Programs Office Membership Development Office Member and Customer Service She will also help coordinate and liaise … Continue reading 11 Questions with Lorelle Swader
Hughes answered our “11 Questions” to introduce herself to ALA members. Coffee, tea, other? To steal a line that’s often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin: “Caffeine is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” What’s the first website or app you check in the morning? I usually check Instagram to see if there … Continue reading 11 Questions with Jessica Hughes
Prior to joining ALA, Kromer was vice president of strategy and outreach for the ALS Association for 11 years, where she created and executed public policy and outreach strategy, expanded the association’s national grassroots program to nearly 20,000 advocates, and created a state advocacy program that helped raised awareness and generate more than $15 million for chapters. And yes, she took … Continue reading 11 Questions with Kathi Kromer
Before coming to ALA, Mackay worked for ProLiteracy’s publishing division, New Readers Press, where she served as associate executive director, marketing director, editorial director, project editor, and managing editor. Mackay has a postgraduate certificate in education and a certificate in teaching English as a second language from the University of York, England. She also holds … Continue reading 11 Questions with Mary Mackay
Murphy has nearly 30 years’ experience in editorial, production, and marketing positions at nonprofit organizations, most recently with the Association of International Educators (NAFSA), where he was senior director of publications and communications. He has a B.A. from Loyola University in Baltimore and a master’s from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Before packing his bags for Orlando, Murphy … Continue reading 11 Questions with Christopher Murphy
Prior to joining ALA, she was director of development at the Crossroads Fund, a Chicago-based organization that supports local groups working for racial, social, and economic justice. During her 10 years there, she helped raise $3 million for its first endowment, doubled its donor base, and increased contributions to its partner funds ninefold. O’Donnell has … Continue reading 11 Questions with Sheila O’Donnell
