The CASSS Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dave Bergeson, PhD, CAE has been chosen as the new Executive Director of CASSS. As the Interim Executive Director, Bergeson has been providing leadership to the organization, working with the board and staff to assess the organization's systems and capacity, and laying the groundwork for progress post-COVID-19. Bergeson previously served as the Vice President of Client Relations at Association Management Center (AMC) of Chicago. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience in association and society management. His unique combination of expertise, listening skills, and thoughtfulness was a key decision in bringing him on full-time as the Executive Director for CASSS.
Reflecting on his new role, Bergeson says, “Howard Schultz from Starbucks said it well: 'When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.’ The mission of CASSS is powerful and compelling, and the passionate commitment among CASSS volunteers and staff has been clear from day one. I’m thankful for the opportunity and excited about what we can and will do together.”
Julia Edwards, President, CASSS Board of Directors recently shared, “The CASSS Board of Directors are thrilled to have Dave Bergeson assume responsibilities as Executive Director. Bergeson brings to CASSS the highest level of experience and professionalism from his past work with industry associations and Boards of Directors. In addition to an impressive resume, Bergeson is an approachable leader characterized by casual intensity that is equally focused on the needs of people as well as the broader organization. The CASSS Board is confident that Bergeson will provide CASSS staff and members with both the stability and vision needed to navigate an increasingly complex future. Bergeson is an excellent listener, a pragmatic decision-maker, open to feedback, receptive to new ideas, and an all-around fun person to work with. We look forward to working with Bergeson and further serving the needs of all CASSS' members.”
As Vice President of Client Relations at AMC, Dave Bergeson provided strategic oversight and management of AMC’s corporate relationship with its association partners. Over the past 25 years, Dave has served as Executive Director of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON), several other professional associations, and provided governance consulting expertise to dozens of trade, healthcare, and non-profit organizations. Dave has a PhD in biological anthropology from Washington University and is a Certified Association Executive.
Accomplishments to note under Bergeson’s leadership, APHON received several Association Trends and ASAE awards for innovative and new publications, and a 2016 ASAE Power of A Gold Award. In 2016, Bergeson also served as Chair of Association Forum, the “association of associations” in Chicago, and served on this Board for seven years. Bergeson has also been a frequent speaker at association and society events, including recent presentations at the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
Bergeson will officially begin his role as Executive Director on August 7, 2023. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dave Bergeson at dbergeson@casss.org.