Chicago Association
Management
The CAM Team
Chicago Association Management has over 30 years of experience working with both major corporations and local associations with consistent success. We offer a team-based approach, assigning an Executive Director and an Association Management Specialist to your account. Our Senior Management Team will also be actively engaged throughout our business relationship to navigate the successful vision and end results you want to achieve.
Managing Director
Ed founded Chicago Association Management (CAM) in 2010 as a natural extension of Corporate Event Interactive (CEI) that he founded in 1987. Ed has been building business relationships, overseeing projects and providing strategic thinking and leadership ever since. Ed has helped expand both CEI and CAM to highly-respected firms within the meetings and events industry. Ed leads CAM’s association management business, which currently manages the day-to-day operations, conferences and events for over fourteen professional organizations. Connect with Ed on Linkedin.
Angela McLaughlin
Senior Association Manager
With 30 years’ experience in the non-profit and government sectors, Angela excels in the areas project management, strategic planning, and community development. Angela currently leads four of CAM’s association clients including the Advocates Society, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, ILAR and ANULAR, and Angela has the best Irish brogue in our office.
Association Manager, Membership Specialist
As a highly tenacious and results oriented business professional, Kim brings a deep understanding of business development, sales, marketing, management, talent acquisition, planning and execution to the team. With over 18 years as a business owner and independent consultant, Kim is armed with a broad skill set in operations, is big picture minded, and has the ability to function both strategically and tactically. She is driven to serve and excels at bringing people and resources together to achieve optimal results.
Dhru Bhatt
Association Manager, Marketing and Outreach Specialist
Working with professional societies to develop traditional and non‐traditional revenue streams beyond membership and sponsorships. Dhru’s career spans over 20 years focused on managing the knowledge and educational sections of medical, legal, engineering, environmental and other nonprofit associations. His professional experience covers marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SEM (Search Engine Marketing), SMO (Social Media Optimization), SMM (Social Media Marketing), mobile applications analysis and strategies to drive positive online traffic, society management, meetings and event planning, ensuring financial stability, brand positioning, product image and presentation, leadership and employee development, customer satisfaction and commitment, P & L management, budget planning, cross‐functional collaboration, project management, operations management, staff development, and strategic partnerships.
Over the course of his career he has utilized his years of experience and produced a proven record in increasing organizations sales and return on investment for the societies that he has worked with, through innovative and novel initiatives.
Association Manager
Tamra organizes and executes special events for both CAM and CEI clients. With more than 25 years’ of event planning experience and impeccable interpersonal, organizational and written skills, Tamra has managed more than 250 events, including luncheons, award ceremonies, receptions, team building activities, theatrical performances, fundraising and community initiatives and international and local education seminars. Prior to joining CAM in 2019, Tamra worked for 21 years at The Chicago Bar Association, including five years as Public Affairs Director, serving as media liaison and speechwriter. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Dana Pikowitz
Association Manager
With over ten years of management experience spanning several fields, Dana is equipped with an arsenal of skills. Her vast experience includes retail management, product and corporate training, human resources management and theatrical production. She is a creative and energetic collaborator, resulting in fresh ideas and artist results.
A Chicago native, Dana can be found at local events and street fests; quite often accompanied by her fur-baby, Puppy.
Abby Grott (she/her/hers)
Association Manager, Human Resource Specialist
A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, Abby is looking forward to starting her career with CAM in the hopes of creating opportunities for people to connect. With a degree in both Communication studies and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, she has an extensive background in customer service and understands how crucial communication skills are to the success of any organization or working relationship. Abby has worked as an event planner in the past, and enjoys using her multitasking and interpersonal skills to help organizations grow. She is an enthusiastic and hard working team member who always aims to look toward the positive. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and doing any DIY she can get her hands on. Follow Abby on Linkedin.
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Elmer Haneberg
Association Manager, Outreach Specialist
Empathetic yet a tenacious, results oriented professional, Elmer brings to the table more than three decades of motivational, managerial expertise primarily with the not-for-profit industry serving in every capacity from conception and initial organizational formation of several premier neighbourhood organizations to weed puller, green bean picking, pancake flipping volunteer in those same neighbourhood organizations. Chair of the Chicago National Scout. Jamboree Contingent and President. Director and/or Member of numerous Midwest-based volunteer organizations such as the local branch of the American Cancer Society, Lutheran Social Services, Northwest Side Group Homes, Triangle Lions, The Irving Park Community Food Pantry, local Church Parish, and many more. In 1997, Elmer was presented Chicago’s 35th Ward Volunteer of the Year Award and has not slowed down since.
With both a JD and M.Div degree, and now working towards a Masters of Education degree, Elmer can bring both an analytical and social justice awareness to the ins and outs of volunteer and association management, coaxing and acknowledging the very best efforts out of volunteers in both short-term daily operations and long-term strategic planning, while living the example of being a lifetime learner.
Association Manager
Rita has a passion for working with associations. With most of her professional career in the association world, she believes it is important to be a part of an organization with a meaningful cause. She has an extensive background in member services, customer relations and events. Rita is a very organized, detailed and service-oriented individual. She strives to always do what is best to help her organization succeed.
Susan Rapp
Association Coordinator
Susan has a gift for bringing order to association management. She enjoys collaborating with an organization’s leadership to develop and execute strategic plans, keeping members engaged and an association’s objectives moving forward. With a doctorate in higher education administration, Susan’s management style takes advantage of her 30+ years of teaching college level courses in organization and time management.
Heather (Van Dyck) Davern
Association Coordinator
Heather comes to CAM with an extensive background and experience in TV reporting, she thrives in a creative and developing media centric environment. She lives her life as if every day is a new opportunity for a story to be told. She knows what a reporter wants in a good story and how to get it to them, as every story deserves to be heard. Getting that story to print or on air is her primary focus. She can create and manage projects including video production, media relations, social media, and events to further overall goals. With a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and History from Indiana University in Bloomington, Heather brings these talents in meeting the needs and expectations of clients.
Kaitlin Cadagin
Association Coordinator
Kaitlin is a hard-working and self-motivated professional with vast experience in high-volume and deadline-driven work environments. Her past experience includes retail and food service management, as well as teaching 3rd grade! She’s been recognized by her professional peers for her attention to detail and proactive nature. She would describe herself as flexible and accommodating with a results-oriented mindset and highly values open communication and transparency. These values drive collaborative teamwork and creative solutions. Ultimately, she is an energetic and eager learner who is excited to be working at CAM!
Connect with Kaitlin on LinkedIn – www.LinkedIn.com/in/Kaitlin-Cadagin.
Barbara Wahler, LCSW, ObISB
Association Coordinator
Barbara spent over 30 years as a school counselor/social worker at institutions such as Notre Dame High School for Girls; the Chicago Waldorf School; Howard Area Community Center; and Acero Charter School Network. In addition, she has been in private practice as a psychotherapist at Re-Visioning Your Life. Most recently she has been a Managing Director at You Are A Star.
“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou
Association Coordinator
Communication connects people. Jon uses his talent for listening and conveying information in engaging, exciting ways to reach a wide variety of audiences. Passionate and energetic, he brings people together through association management, event management, strategic marketing, writing and project management. Jon is particularly adept at fulfilling the needs of clients and customers beyond their expectations, bringing them to new levels of success.
Asher Robeson (they/them)
Operations Specialist
Asher comes to CAM with a background in project management and non-profit work. Prior to working with CAM, they were a Project Manager with Grenzebach Glier and Associates, a world-premiere philanthropic management consulting firm, serving clients including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the City of Hope Cancer Centers, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Before white-collar life, they were a theatre performer, trained in London and Moscow with performance credits across the US, and serving on the Board of a regional theatre company. They’ve translated their facility for communication and attention to detail into a suite of skills that bring our clients both the service they deserve, and the efficiency they need. Connect with Asher on Linkedin.
“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.” – Siddartha Gautama
Executive Producer, Team Building
Linda has designed and executed thousands of interactive events for over 20 years, making innovation and customization integral to Corporate Event Interactive’s (CEI) business model. This, in combination with her leadership and producing acumen, make each event a new experience. An active contributor to the meetings and events industry, Linda is Past President and Board Member of ILEA-Chicago Chapter and plays a key role in several MPI committees. She has guided CEI as President since 2000, earning multiple awards, including: Best Team Building Company, Best Vendor and numerous NICE Awards. Connect with Linda on Linkedin.
Marketing Director
Shelbi brings an extensive marketing background with experience in both traditional and web platforms. She has over 25 years experience in marketing and over 10 years experience working specifically with associations. Her experience as a business owner provides a vast range of talents that enable Shelbi to create customized solutions for associations. She is an innovative and versatile thinker with excellent communication skills and a proven ability to deliver results. Shelbi thrives on a challenge and welcomes opportunities to grow in new areas. Connect with Shelbi on Linkedin.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Katie has spent her professional career in the public relations and marketing arena. With a degree in multimedia journalism and mass communications, her passion for social media implementation and film has always been at center stage. Katie has implemented social media strategies and consulted associations on best social posting practices to drive engagement, growth and impressions. Her experience in journalism, photography and film go hand-in-hand with her push for original content creation across all social platforms.
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
As a 2022 graduate of Michigan State University, Saylor has parlayed her studies in Organizational Communication to the work she is doing for CAM as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Saylor enjoys the opportunity to work and learn from her team. She has proven to be learning agile as she applies her knowledge of technology, social media and creativity to serving our clients. Connect with Saylor on Linkedin.
Megan Evans
Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist
Megan has an extensive professional background in graphic design, social media and digital marketing. She has a Psychology degree with a Communications minor. Megan also attended an advertising portfolio school in Atlanta, Georgia, where she specialized in Graphic Design and Art Direction. She truly enjoys utilizing her creative skills to help cultivate cohesive branding for our clients, and pairing designs with strong marketing strategies.
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Video Production Specialist
Ryan brings media production and storytelling experience to the CAM team. As a videographer, Ryan’s mission is to work with CAM’s clients to bring their marketing goals to life through the power of media. With a history in the association management field, Ryan understands the needs of your organization and utilizes his skills to elevate its identity. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys tinkering with electronics, practicing fast punk beats on the drums, and spending time with his wife and their dog, Hallie.
Bookkeeper
Lori has over 35 years of experience as a bookkeeper working with a wide variety of different companies and associations. She works to tailor her services to the needs of the client while working to assure the financial information is recorded accurately and in accordance with accepted accounting principles. Lori is detail-oriented and deadline focused as she works.
CAM provides a wide range of professional association management services to organizations nationwide.
a Division of Corporate Event
Enterprises, Inc.
400 East Randolph St.
Suite 2305
Chicago, IL 60601