NYSAE Synergy Awards Presented to Outstanding Members

NYSAE's Annual Synergy Awards Luncheon recognized outstanding service, leadership, websites, and special achievements. The April 17th program, at the New Yorker Hotel, was held in conjunction with the Technology Institute and Vendor Showcase. "This annual program," said Carter Keithley, NYSAE chair of the Board, "allows NYSAE to pay tribute to our colleagues who give so much of their time, talents, and energy to our association, and to their own." NYSAE gave awards to: Outstanding Association Executive; Outstanding Associate Member; Distinguished Service; Outstanding Committee Chairperson; Diplomat Award; and CyberSpace Website Awards.

2013 Awards Luncheon

Outstanding Association/Nonprofit Executive Award

David Teisler, CAE, director of communications, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), received NYSAE’s 2013 Outstanding Association/Nonprofit Executive Award. Joining him in the celebration are (from left to right): Mary Ellen Brown, director education and meeting services; Dean McKay, PhD, ABCT 2013 President-Elect; David; Mary Jane Eimer, CAE, executive director (and recipient of NYSAE’s 2013 Diplomat Award); Lisa Yarde, JD, membership services manager; Tonya Childers, administrative assistant/convention registrar; Keith Alger, administrative secretary; and Stephanie Schwartz, MSW, managing editor.

David Teisler, CAE, Receives Outstanding Association/Nonprofit Executive Award

NYSAE’s 2013 Outstanding Association/Nonprofit Executive Award was presented to David Teisler, CAE, director of communications, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). The award recognizes his exceptional qualities of leadership and service at ABCT, as well as in the volunteer and professional community as a whole. More than any of NYSAE's awards, this one is wide-ranging and externally oriented. While the other awards focus on contributions, service, and performance in relation to NYSAE, the Outstanding Association Executive Award considers more broad-based criteria, with the focus on overall excellence in the profession.

David notes that he had the benefit of an early association with Henry Ernsthall, CAE, a past chair of the Board of NYSAE, who not only introduced David to NYSAE but guided him in several principles, including telling him the committee he should join is the one whose content is most important and about which he knows the least, as well as saying he will always get more out of something he puts in, so try to put in lots.

At ABCT, David transformed the Communications Department and the way it does business. He changed the design and production process from paper and glue to electronic pagination and later moved from print to electronic distribution. Under his direction, ABCT has been a trendsetter, adding embedded video to electronic versions of its clinical journal allowing readers to see how the strategy was implemented.

ABCT was not particularly adept at marketing outside its membership, so to counter this David developed a partnership with publishers to produce a new book series; 18 years later, it has seven titles and other publishers looking to do more.

David has also substantially cut expenses without curtailing services resulting in increased surplus exceeding $350,000 in 2012.

David's service to community charitable and civic organizations is also commendable. He has been a coach at the Red Hook T-ball and Softball teams for three years, where he teaches children how to play, to cooperate, and to share. He has also volunteered at the local recycling center for four years. He serves as an acolyte and consecrated reader in the Easter Orthodox Church and occasionally helps the PTA by serving as a chaperone on class field trips.

His leadership in professional societies and other associations is extensive. A member of ASAE since 1987, he was the Dean of the Publishing Department for the School for Association Management from 1989-2001. At the Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society, he is editor of Seal News, its quarterly journal and serves on the Board of Governors.

Since joining NYSAE in 1987, David's contributions have been extensive and admirable. He has served on the Education Committee, Technology Committee, and the Awards Committee, chairing the latter for several years. He has written numerous articles in NYSAE publications and has been speaker at numerous NYSAE programs throughout the years.

Outstanding Associate Member Award

Carter Keithley (left), president, Toy Industry Association, and NYSAE chair of the Board, and Mimi Eckert, CAE (right), executive director, American Board of Spine Surgery, and chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee, present the 2013 Outstanding Associate Member Award to Amish Mehta, CPA, partner and director of not-for-profit services of Friedman LLP.

Amish Mehta Receives Outstanding Associate Member Award

NYSAE’s 2013 Outstanding Associate Member Award was presented to Amish Mehta, CPA, partner and director of not-for-profit services of Friedman LLP. The award was presented for contributions to his organization that have significantly improved, promoted and benefited his company; actively supporting and promoting NYSAE programs and services; and contributions to community, professional, civic, charitable and service organizations.

Amish has volunteered his services to NYSAE since 2009, when he became involved as a speaker at NYSAE's Finance & Management Institute. Among his many contributions to NYSAE are:

• Since becoming a member in 2010, he has taken a leading role in organizing the annual Finance & Management Institute as a member of the Education Committee;
• In 2010, he presented Nonprofit Transparency, a focus on executive compensation at the Finance & Management Institute;
• In 2011, he presented the New York Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (NYPMIFA) - Do You know You Fiduciary Responsibilities? at the Finance & Management Institute;
• For the 2012 NYSAE Finance & Management Institute, he secured guest speaker Kate Saracene, counsel with Nixon Peabody, who spoke on Health Care Reform: Are You Ready? Steps Employers Need to Take Now to Implement Health Care Reform.
• Amish is also very active in promoting NYSAE to his clients and contacts, encouraging them when the opportunity arises, to become members of NYSAE.

His service to the community charitable and civic organizations is also commendable. He's a member of the Professional Advisory Committees of the Long Island Community Foundation and the Children's Support Foundation, a member of the Executive Committee of Vaishav Temple of New York, and a former adjunct professor in not-for-profit accounting at the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Outstanding Committee Chairperson Award

Carter Keithley (left), president, Toy Industry Association, and NYSAE chair of the Board, and Mimi Eckert, CAE (right), executive director, American Board of Spine Surgery, and chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee, present the 2013 Outstanding Committee Chairperson Award to Jennifer Ian, MBA, director member services and chapter relations, American Thoracic Society, and chair of the Membership Committee.

Outstanding Committee Chairperson Award Goes to Jennifer Ian

NYSAE’s 2013 Outstanding Committee Chairperson Award was presented to Jennifer Ian, MBA, director member services and chapter relations, American Thoracic Society, and chair of the Membership Committee. This award is based on the achievements of the chairperson and work of her committee in developing and/or executing programs and projects that promote the purposes of NYSAE and that benefit members.

Since 2004, Jennifer Ian has been extremely active in NYSAE. As chair of this year’s Membership Committee, she led the committee into producing four successful membership campaigns. Under Jennifer’s leadership, the Membership Committee appealed to the spectrum of NYSAE prospects and is presently conducting the Get 3 Months FREE Campaign.

Website Excellence Award

Distinguished Service Award

Carter Keithley (left), president, Toy Industry Association, and NYSAE chair of the Board, and Mimi Eckert, CAE (right), executive director, American Board of Spine Surgery, and chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee, present the 2013 Distinguished Service Award to Robert O. Lehrman, JD, special counsel of the Hundred Year Association.

Distinguished Service Award Presented to Robert O. Lehrman

NYSAE’s 2013 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Robert O. Lehrman, JD, special counsel of the Hundred Year Association. This award recognizes extraordinary contributions to NYSAE by his skillful performance in aiding and assisting in areas, such as special projects, new programs and on ad hoc functions.

In his 26 years as an NYSAE member, Bob served a three-year term on the NYSAE Board of Directors, followed by his election as vice chair of the Board in 1993, chair-elect in 1994, and chair of the Board in 1995. He was the founding co-chair of the Nonprofit CEO Forum and over the years has served on numerous NYSAE Committees and is currently the chair of the Public Affairs Committee.

In early 1990, Bob helped develop the initial top city contacts and was instrumental in the establishment of the Association Center Building at 120 Wall Street. Recently helped arrange the industry’s response to the Attorney General 2012-13 NFP Reform Legislation and the response to Governor Cuomo's Executive Compensation Cap (Executive Order 38).

Bob is also the recipient of NYSAE's 1997 Outstanding Association/NonProfit Executive Award, 1991 Outstanding Committee Chair Award, and 2011 Diplomat Award.

New Star Award

Mimi Eckert, CAE (left), executive director, American Board of Spine Surgery, and chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee, and Carter Keithley (right), president, Toy Industry Association, and NYSAE chair of the Board, present the 2013 New Star Award to Patricia Ahaesy (second from left), president, P&V Enterprises, and Meredith Taylor, associate, The Kellen Company and membership coordinator for New York Women in Communications.

New Star Award Presented to Patricia Ahaesy and Meredith Taylor

The 2013 New Star Award was presented to Patricia Ahaesy, president, P&V Enterprises, and Meredith Taylor, associate, The Kellen Company and membership coordinator for New York Women in Communications. The award recognizes the significant contribution of a new NYSAE member (regular or associate) with less than three years of service made to NYSAE in the areas of committee work, special projects, and new programs.

When Patricia Ahaesy became a member of NYSAE last year, she jumped right in. Her company exhibited at the Technology Institute in 2012 and again this year. Pat is also a member of the Technology Committee and moderated one of the panels at the 2013 Technology Institute.

Meredith Taylor became a member in 2012 and is an active member of the Membership Committee. She was a panelist at NYSAE's Membership Institute in January, speaking on “Engaging Young Members” and has assisted in planning and promotion of NYSAE's Marketing Shared Interest Group.

Diplomat Award

Mary Jane Eimer, CAE (right), executive director of the Association For Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, receives the 2013 Diplomat Award from Mimi Eckert, CAE, executive director, American Board of Spine Surgery, and chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee.

Diplomat Award Presented To Mary Jane Eimer, CAE

Mary Jane Eimer, CAE, executive director of the Association For Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), was presented with the 2013 Diplomat Award. The award recognizes the significant contribution of an NYSAE member with 15 or more years of service to NYSAE. Winners are recognized for their proven track record of innovative work to support NYSAE programs and activities; active participation on NYSAE committees; service as a leader and mentor to the association community; and serving as a role model for NYSAE members.

Mary Jane (MJ) has been a contributing member to NYSAE serving in various capacities for the past 24 years. She is a past chair of the Education Committee, was a member of the NYSAE Board of Directors from 1993–1996, and this year serves on the Public Affairs Committee. In fact, not a year has passed since she joined the association without NYSAE having the talent of MJ on one committee or another. She was recently invited to serve on the Steering Committee of the Shared Interest Group (SIG) for nonprofits and associations called Executive Women in Nonprofits Network.

Under her leadership, ABCT has a long history of hosting NYSAE meetings in its conference room. With ABCT for the past 30 years, MJ was the recipient of NYSAE’s 2002 Outstanding Association/Non Profit Executive Award. MJ is a dynamic networker who continuously shares her enthusiasm for NYSAE with her staff and with potential members.