Amy E. Lestition, MA, CAE

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Areas of Expertise:

• Media relations
• Marketing events and programs
• Branding and communications
• Membership strategy
• Publications strategy, development and production

With nine years of nonprofit management expertise, Amy E. Lestition, MA, CAE, serves as executive director of Association Media & Publishing (AM&P) (formerly the Society of National Association Publications), the national trade association serving the needs of association publishers, communications professionals and the media they create. Lestition has led Association Media & Publishing's Board of Directors, volunteers and members on several initiatives, including name change and rebranding, membership re-structure, editorial strategy, program content and management, leadership succession and governance, corporate fundraising and member relations.

Lestition joined The Coulter Companies from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & The Center for Association Leadership (The Center). At ASAE & The Center, she served as chief manager of the organization's signature program, The Circle Club – the professional development, events, and knowledge resource for ASAE and its members. During her tenure at ASAE & The Center, Lestition was responsible for the overall development and success of this cornerstone program. In addition to helping build Circle Club benefits and deliverables, Lestition created and implemented marketing, promotion, and communications strategies that fueled Circle Club growth and acceptance by nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. In three years under her leadership, the program grew five-fold in total number of members and increased by 525 percent in overall program revenue.

Prior to managing The Circle Club, Lestition served as the manager of membership and customer relations for The Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE). There, she composed and ran the member recruitment and retention campaign. In addition, she was a regular contributing writer to GWSAE's acclaimed magazine, Executive Update, where she had the distinction of interviewing leaders such as Nobel Prize Laureates Lech Walesa and Betty Williams. Lestition also worked for the United Nations Development Programme, where she conducted developmental research, and she held several volunteer assignments with organizations such as Fight for Children and Knock Out Abuse Against Women.

Lestition is an honors graduate of The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C., where she earned her graduate degree in international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs. She is a recipient of GW's Presidential Academic Scholarship and its Leadership Scholarship. Lestition served as a staff member and then editor-in-chief of The Cherry Tree Yearbook of The George Washington University, which under her leadership tripled its ad revenue through an innovative marketing and communications strategy.

Most recently, Lestition was awarded the Association Trends "2010 Young and Aspiring Association Professional". Also, Lestition is a member of ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership and the Association Forum of Chicagoland.

Lestition and her boyfriend, Rusty Burke, reside in Centreville, Virginia.

Now, here's the backstory on Amy:

• Hometown: Williamsville, New York (just north of Buffalo)
• Favorite TV shows as a kid: Growing Pains, Golden Girls and Rags to Riches
• Spent my days as a youth: Classical piano, ice skating, skiing, swimming, lacrosse, playing various board games, arts and crafts, and so much more. The best part was having my little sister, Abby, by my side to enjoy and experience the activities!
• Thing I hate to admit, even to myself: Being a perfectionist.
• First "paycheck" job: I worked as an assistant for a law firm in high school and during college breaks.
• First car: My first and only car is a 1997 Plymouth Breeze—it was gift from my Great Aunt Mamie.
• First job after college: I worked full-time as the Customer Care Coordinator at the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives while I pursued a masters degree in international affairs full-time at The George Washington University.
• Thing you would most likely learn about me in the first five minutes of conversation: The importance of my family and friends.
• Personal quote: "Failure is never fatal; success is never final: It is courage that counts." -- Winston Churchill. Also, patience is a virtue.
• Perfect happiness is: Enjoying the company of my family.