“ASAE hosted its first Annual Meeting & Exposition at the Curtis Hotel in Lenox, MA in October 1920. This year’s virtual annual meeting is a testament to the strength, resiliency, and relevancy of the association community as we prepare to host the same event almost exactly 100 years later,” said ASAE President and CEO, Susan Robertson, CAE. “The challenges of COVID-19 impacting every part of our daily lives, along with trying to understand how the association industry can effect changes in the fight against social injustice are complicated to assess, yet critical to act on. Now, more than ever, we must come together as a community to learn from each other, have those hard conversations, and define the work that needs to be done as we move into the next century.”

The 2020 opening keynote speaker is Leon Logothetis, Global adventurer, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and author/creator of book and Netflix show, The Kindness Diaries. Shiza Shahid, Co-Founder of Our Place, Founder of NowVentures; and Co-Founder & Founding CEO of the Malala Fund will kick-off day two. The final keynote from Duncan Wardle, former head of innovation for Disney, will address innovation during times of crisis.

In addition, five Game Changer sessions will allow attendees to hear inspiring speakers from a variety of professional backgrounds who include: Risha Grant, Founder and CEO, Risha Grant LLC, will present key factors for effectively engaging diverse groups and tips to communicate to and attract new markets. Steve Lerch, President of Story Arc Consulting will share how to embrace an innovative culture with stories from his time at Google. #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?, star of the MTV show The Buried Life, and co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Ben Nemtin, will share his message of service, gratitude and endless potential. Afshin Molavi, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Co-Director, emerge85 Lab, will share trends on key global issues. The final Game Changer, Priya Parker, author of the The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters, will explore how we can be together apart.

To learn more about all of the education opportunities, registration, and events, visit the ASAE Virtual Annual Meeting website.

NOTE: Members of the press receive complimentary registration to attend the event. Please contact the ASAE Public Relations department to request your complimentary pass.

ASAE thanks the following Alliance Partners for their continued support of the association community:

Strategic Partners
Atlanta CVB
Destination Canada Business Events
Choose Chicago
Experience Columbus
Community Brands
Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
Naylor Association Solutions
Discover Puerto Rico

Corporate Partners
Visit Austin
Caesars Entertainment
Destination Cleveland
Visit Dallas
DelCor Technology Solutions
Fonteva
Louisville Tourism
Visit Omaha
Travel Portland
Visit Salt Lake
Visit San Jose

Event Partners
IMIS by Advanced Solutions International
The Broadmoor
CliftonLarsonAllen
Experient
Higher Logic
Manifest
MemberClicks
OpenWater
Discover the Palm Beaches

Global Partners
Dubai Association Center
Korea MICE Bureau
Singapore Tourism Board

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Precker, CAE, lprecker@asaecenter.org, 202-626-2735.

About ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
ASAE is celebrating 100 years of making society smarter, better and safer. The Centennial anniversary represents ASAE’s role as a leader and supporter of progress and innovation in the association industry. ASAE is a membership organization of more than 48,000 association executives and industry partners representing 7,400 organizations. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at asaecenter.org.