The CASSS Board of Directors announced today that Executive Director Stephanie Flores, CAE will leave the organization at the end of June. The board warmly thanks Ms. Flores for her leadership over the last fifteen years.
Since joining CASSS in 2007, Ms. Flores has led the organization through significant growth and transformation. She helped build a strong identity and culture at CASSS as a community of professionals in the field of biopharmaceutical development and regulation. During her tenure, CASSS tripled in size, expanding operations in Europe, Japan, and Latin America. Ms. Flores led modernization of CASSS systems, operations, and communications, prior to and during the COVID pandemic, to ensure all members had access to the resources and services the organization offers.
Prior to launching a search for a successor, the CASSS Board has engaged Dave Bergeson, PhD CAE as interim executive director. He will provide transitional leadership, working with the board and staff to assess the organization's systems and capacity, and lay the groundwork for the recruitment of successor. Ms. Flores will advise through the process.
Currently the vice president of client relations for the Association Management Center of Chicago, Dr. Bergeson brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the association field. His unique combination of expertise, listening skills, and thoughtfulness will provide a smooth transition for CASSS, ensure the organization continues to grow and CASSS members are well-served.
Julia Edwards, President, CASSS Board of Directors
“Under Stephanie’s leadership, our organization advanced biopharmaceutical development by building a strong culture of identity among CASSS members. Stephanie performed her duties as Executive Director with integrity, purpose, and collaboration which translated into meeting excellence and a thriving membership despite challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephanie’s contributions to our CASSS’ transformation have helped pave the way for what is now a truly global conversation in alignment with our mission and vision of knowledge sharing, global access, and capacity building. This is what we were aiming for when we laid out our Vision 2030. This transition in 2023 will only expand our ability to serve our members and advance the field of biopharmaceutical development.”