ASMI Staff

ASMI staff has more than 200 years of experience in the management and development of associations.  More than 80 percent of the account executive staff has the CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation.  Staff hold more than 25 university degrees from universities around the world. 

All staff are available to respond to any ASMI client's needs, according to specialty.
(Year following name denotes date of employment at ASMI.)

 

Elizabeth B. Armstrong, MAM, CAE, President, ASMI Professional Organizations Division (1987). She is chief staff executive for the International Association of Emergency Managers, National Association of State EMS Officials, and National Association of Government Communicators. Her education includes a B.B.A. in Marketing from The College of William and Mary, and a Master of Association Management from George Washington University. She is believed to be the youngest professional to receive the Certified Association Executive designation from ASAE. Specialties include federal grants procurement and management, certification program development and non-profit governance issues.  She has helped many ASMI clients establish and maintain an Internet presence, and facilitates association leaders' understanding of technology available to non-profit organizations.

 

Harry W. Buzzerd, Jr., CAE, Chairman, CEO, COO, Founder and Owner (1983). Chief executive and operating office and owner, "Buzz" oversees total ASMI company operations and is ultimately responsible for programs and financial management of client associations. He has facilitated strategic plans for clients. He is management counsel for the American Textile Machinery Association, the Process Equipment Manufacturers Association and the Capital Equipment Export Council. He began his association management career in 1964 and holds a CAE  (Certified Association Executive), conferred upon less than 3,000 of the more than a million association employees in the United States.  He holds a B.A. from Gettysburg College, along with extensive graduate and professional education.  When he is not working, he plays golf and boats, preferably with some or all of his nine grandchildren, and most often, in his favorite recreation locale, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Judith O. Buzzerd, Meetings and Travel Director (1983). Responsible for all functions of conventions and meetings management, she also participates in special client projects. She serves several clients by providing member services and trade show support. She holds a B.A. from Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa., and meeting planning certificates from the American Society of Association Executives and other professional organizations.

 

Laura A. DeGrafft, Administrative Services Manager (2005). Laura is responsible for the daily operations of the ASMI office, including:  facility management, mailing and printing services, and telecommunications.  She is a graduate of Denison University with a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish.  Her past experience includes positions with the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives and the Palm Springs Deserts Resorts Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 

Susan Denston, President, ASMI Corporate Services (1983). Sue coordinates the application of ASMI's human and capital resources, internal and external, for client advancement.  She also serves as executive vice president and secretary for the American Textile Machinery Association, executive director and secretary for the Process Equipment Manufacturers' Association, meetings and exhibit manager for National Association of State EMS Officials, meetings manager of IAEM, and vice president of the Capital Equipment Export Council.  Her background suits a variety of complex tasks, including meetings management, print production management and quality control, and membership and meetings promotion. She is also skilled in scheduling and follow-up and serving the administrative needs of Boards and committees. She is a graduate of George Mason University with a B.B.A. in marketing. Her past experience includes positions with associations, advertising and law firms, and consulting companies.

 

Stephen Hise, Program Advisor (2001). Steve is the staff specialist assigned to the National Association of State EMS Officials' Partnership in Communication grant, the NHTSA EMS Infrastructure grant, and the CDC EMS and Injury Prevention grant. He works with members in the construction of survey instruments, analysis of survey information, development of policy platform and strategic planning documents, and represents the association in numerous meetings with partner organizations and agencies. Steve has been involved in EMS since the age of seventeen, working first as an ambulance attendant and driver, then completing EMT and Paramedic training. He was licensed as a paramedic for 15 years, and held numerous credentials. He began working for the Missouri Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in 1982 as Central Region Training Officer, and was promoted to Chief of Training, Trauma Systems manager, and eventually to Bureau Director in 1995. He left Missouri for Arizona in 1998 to become one of the very few people in the history of EMS to serve as a State EMS Director in two different states.

  Sharon L. Kelly, Executive Assistant, Meeting Registrar, Database Manager (1986). Sharon is the ASMI meetings registrar and database manager, and the membership director for the International Association of Emergency Managers. She manages data information systems and computer records, print media production, and inquiry response. She is responsible for statistics compilation and analysis for all clients, and maintains membership and dues records for various clients.
  Hui-Ling Liang, Finance Manager (1986). She offers a depth of experience in automated financial procedures, having served as accounting manager and senior accountant in private industry positions. She holds the associate degree from George Mason University's graduate program in MIS, has completed course work in computer science from USDA Graduate School in computer science, and holds the Bachelor of Commerce degree from FengChia University of Engineering & Business, Taiwan. In 2001 she successfully completed the advanced technology certified courses in Oracle Developer and Project Life Cycle at the Information Technology Advanced Training Corporation. She speaks and writes fluent Chinese.
 

Kevin McGinnis, Program Advisor (2000). Program advisor for the National Association of State EMS Officials, he assists NASEMSO officers and staff to plan, coordinate and fulfill the organization's project contracts program, to improve ongoing coordination with other national EMS agencies and organizations, and to assure that NASEMSO is effectively represented. He served as the state EMS director in Maine from 1986 through 1996, receiving the Maine EMS Board Governor's Award from Governor Angus King in 1997. Since leaving state government, he has served as a consultant for government, hospital and EMS provider clients, specializing in service evaluation and creative system building.

 

Kathy Robinson, R.N., Program Advisor (2006). Kathy has more than 25 years experience in emergency nursing and EMS as a clinician, government administrator, patient advocate, and health care policy consultant.  Her extensive experience as a licensed registered nurse and certified paramedic includes various clinical and administrative roles at a rural but large tertiary care medical center in central Pennsylvania.  As the EMS planning and clinical systems manager for the PA Department of Health, she served as the state's trauma and EMS-C coordinators.  In addition, Kathy managed multiple grants, supervised EMS training programs, coordinated the clinical research program, and was responsible for the development and implementation of EMS clinical policies, protocols, and procedures.  Kathy has worked side-by-side with legislators and staff to implement critical policy initiatives at the state and federal level.  She understands the unique perspectives and needs of volunteer membership associations, having served in appointed and elected leadership and Board positions at the local, state and national levels.  She has authored numerous publications and has lectured extensively both in the United States and abroad.

 

Dawn M. Shiley-Danzeisen, Marketing & Communications Director, Account Executive (2001). Dawn is responsible for most client newsletter writing, editing and production.  In addition, she is the Webmaster for ASMI and IAGSA and helps oversee all other client Web sites.  She authors articles and press releases for clients and prepares marketing materials and posters for events.  Since coming to the organization, Dawn has moved most former print publications to electronic, including the creation of the IAEM Membership Director CD-ROM, saving clients money from printing and postage that is better used in their programs and other projects.  Additionally, she is the executive director for the American Council for Regulatory Compliance (ACRC).  She has more than 20 years experience in association management. Prior to coming to ASMI, Dawn was with the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), for 15 years, where she held numerous positions, including director of public affairs, which included managing international trade issues and communications for SOCMA and several affiliated associations. While at SOCMA, she has also managed OSHA, chemical weapons, and congressional issues, and led the team that created SOCMA's first web site. Prior to SOCMA, Dawn worked for the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI). She earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University and M.A. from The George Washington University School for Public and International Affairs. She is an election official in Fauquier County, Va.

 

Amy S. Starchville, MSW, Account Executive (2000).  She has a B.A. in Social and Rehabilitation Services from Assumption College and a M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Her specialties include project management, coalition-building, team building, and crisis management.  She joined ASMI from the National Coalition for Adult Immunization, where she was project officer.  She has expertise producing publications such as the Model Programs Initiative Guide and the National Adult Immunization Awareness Week campaign kit, both for the National Coalition for Adult Immunization.  She was co-author of the Resource Guide for Adult and Adolescent Immunization, Building Safe Communities, and Biblio Alert:  Focus on Alcohol and Injury.

 

Michelle Toborowski, Executive Assistant (2006).  She graduated from Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affirs with a B.S. in Public Affairs.  Michelle assists ASMI's client associations in various tasks including membership, meeting and event support, scholarship administration, and other administrative needs.  She has proficiency in all Microsoft Office Programs.  Her previous work experience includes an internship at the Illinois Department of Labor in Chicago, and an internship with the Council of State Governments in Washington, D.C.

 

Melissa M. Trumbull, Program Manager (2006).  She is the program manager for the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Association of State EMS Officials, and the National Association of Government Communicators.  She also serves as the contracts manager for the CDC-TIIDE and the FEMA-CEM projects.  Her education includes a B.S. in Physical Education, Teacher Certification and a minor in Sports Management from the State University of New York College at Brockport.  Her past experiences include teaching, developing and managing a children's business, program management of an accreditation program for a non-profit association, and an analyst on a Department of Defense U.S. Navy contract.  Specialties include program and project management, business development, meeting and event planning, and government contract management.

 

Barbara B. Tyeryar, Meeting Planner and Comptroller (1991).  She is responsible for client meetings preparation and onsite servicing; membership services, including maintaining dues records for various clients; personnel oversight; and financial controls. She has traveled extensively and assists in production and participation for client trade shows worldwide. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Gettysburg College.

  Clay D. Tyeryar, MAM, CAE, President, Trade Associations Division (1986). His areas of expertise include international trade, lobbying, government relations, fundraising, international exhibition management and production, trade missions and financial controls.  He serves as the president of the American Textile Machinery Association, executive director of CPTC, and staff executive of the International Association of Emergency Managers, and is responsible for day-to-day operations, delivery of programs and services, budget and liaison with respective boards of directors.  Clay is the show manager for EMEX, IAEM's trade show which has grown from 24 to more than 250 exhibitors and attendees of more than 1,000.  He was in one of the first graduating classes of George Washington University's Master of Association Management Program, and is a graduate of Gettysburg College, with a B.A. in Business Administration.  He is a registered lobbyist and has served on the Industry Sector Advisory Committee (ISAC), which advises trade policy makers at the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and develops specific industry positions on U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives.  He has lead delegations to the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Austria, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, most of Europe, Russia, India, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Canada.  He is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, and enjoys golf, coaching and family activities.
 

Debbie Vincent, Executive Assistant to the Chairman (1999).  She serves primarily as ATMA's membership services coordinator.  Areas of specialty for several clients include survey compilation and graphic presentation of data, and advanced proficiency with PowerPoint and all other Microsoft computer applications.  Debbie also serves as primary in-house AV technician.  Prior to joining ASMI, she worked as an executive assistant, office manager, and in finance office capacities for a metro-Washington consultant/companies.  She completed two years at Northern Virginia Community College, majoring in business administration.


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