Erin M. Fuller, FASAE, MPA, CAE
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Areas of Expertise:
- Growth-focused leadership of high-profile organizations
- Component relations strategies
- Board consensus building
- Thoughtful industry sector advocacy and representation
Erin Fuller joined Coulter as a Senior Associate in 2002, was named a Vice President in 2006 and Group President, Strategy & Innovation in 2009. Fuller also serves as the President for the Alliance for Women in Media, an organization which advances the impact of women in electronic media and allied fields. During her first six years at Coulter, Fuller focused on serving as the chief executive for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the most prominent and visible nonprofit organization in the United States representing female entrepreneurs via an 80 chapter network. Under Fuller's leadership, NAWBO experienced enormous growth in all sectors of its operations and emerged as the "go to" organization for women business owners. Highlights include successful advocacy efforts regarding women-owned businesses, a re-imagined brand and event strategy and increases in corporate investment by 400% during her tenure. She also served as the executive director for Tysons Tomorrow, an advocacy group seeking transit-oriented development for one of the fastest growing economic and job centers in the country.
Fuller is a noted expert on women’s issues and economic empowerment, and has appeared on programs including NBC Nightly News, MSNBC’s MarketWatch, ABC News, Fox News, NPR’s Marketplace, and BBC’s
Through her
Prior to joining Coulter, Fuller served as the executive director of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Research Foundation and as vice president of CAI's education department. Other previous employment includes positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), the American Medical Student Association/Foundation and American University. She has consulted for organizations including Dartmouth University's Koop Institute, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco and the Children's Defense Fund. She has facilitated a number of
Fuller received both her undergraduate and master of public administration degrees from American University in Washington, D.C. An active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Fuller was named an ASAE Fellow in 2011 – a distinction earned by less than one percent of its membership. She earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2002 and served as a faculty member for the CAE Immersion course, where she taught financial management, strategic planning and brand management. In addition, Fuller served as an associate professor at Northern Virginia Community College, teaching "Introduction to Nonprofit Management" from 2005-2010, and is a featured guest lecturer within American University’s School of Public Affairs. She currently serves as the President of the American University Alumni Association Board, and previously served on the board of directors of the ASAE Foundation from 2003-2006, as well as the editorial board of the Journal of Association Leadership. Fuller was named one of Association Trends Leading Young Association Executives in 2000, and received an award to study leadership at The Banff Centre in 2002 from the Canadian Bureau of Tourism.
Fuller and her family reside in
Now, here's the backstory on Erin:
- Now, here's the backstory on Erin…
- Hometown: Auburn, Massachusetts (central Massachusetts, 40 miles west of Boston – it explains why my sons were issued Red Sox hats at birth.)
- First car: 1978 Caprice Classic – it seated 20 comfortably.
- Superhero power I wish I had: I want the full Wonder Woman package – telepathy, lasso of truth, invisible jet (so handy in Washington traffic!) and of course, the bullet-resistant tiara and bracelets. Plus, she has a great theme song.
- Television show or movie most resembles my current life: Maybe a combination of Modern Family (for the chaos), Bridesmaids (for the strong female friendships I am so lucky to have) and The West Wing (because I work with smart, passionate and very witty colleagues.)
- App I can’t live without: Words with Friends on my iPhone. (I justify it as keeping my brain sharp but I mostly just like to beat my brother. Repeatedly.)
- Favorite guilty pleasure: Selecting a new television series I can watch all at once (I am not great with delayed gratification), settling in with some chocolate and getting through the whole thing within a week or two. Best selections in this manner include Arrested Development, The Wire, Coupling (British version), and Downton Abbey.
- Three publications I’d recommend for anyone who does what I do: Associations Now, Entertainment Weekly, and the ongoing stream from Mashable.com.
- What I do in my “free” time: A lot of reading (more balanced between non-fiction and fiction than I used to be), a endless quest to find fabulous, nutritious meals that both my kids and I enjoy that take no more than 25 minutes to prepare and don’t feel like culinary settling (ha!), and my position as president of the American University Alumni Association. (Go Eagles!)
- If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go…: I am currently obsessed with Portugal as well as river cruises in Western Europe, but my list changes very frequently.
- Advice I would give my “younger self”: Relax! Travel more! (And rethink that 2002 haircut – you don’t have the cheekbones for it.)
- How my life has changed since I joined Coulter: My near-decade at Coulter has been amazing – served as chief staff executive for three amazing associations, seen our company double in size, picked up a few kids and two different homes along the way…an incredible ride so far!
- At the end of the day…: no regrets, a little learning, a lot of laughter and a glass of wine sounds about right.
“To do the work you love and feel that it matters; how could anything be more fun?”
Katharine Graham