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With this spring issue of AMG, Behind the Scenes, we are pleased to announce AMG’s move on June 30th from 8201 Greensboro Drive to 8400 Westpark Drive, Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia, 22102.
The entire AMG company, its association and nonprofit clients, and its related business units Meetings Management Group (MMG) and Communications Marketing Group (CMG) will relocate to the new headquarters building just down the street from our current location.
AMG’s new offices were selected after a thorough search of available office space in the metropolitan Washington DC area. In the end, AMG chose to remain in Tysons Corner, Virginia because of its renowned reputation for headquartering the area’s top professional consulting firms and for its central business location within metropolitan Washington DC.
Our office move brings numerous advantages to AMG’s clients including improved physical space and new productivity enhancements. AMG will occupy the entire second floor with an elevator lobby and reception area leading to two board rooms and a large conference room to accommodate your meetings. Board and conference space is always available for AMG client use and now we’ll have even more to offer.
Additionally, AMG is investing in DS3 high-speed Internet lines and a new telephone system featuring voice over internet protocol (VoIP) that uses the internet as a global telephone network. VoIP technology reduces the costs for long distance calling and allows phone calls without a phone over a PC or laptop, and desk top faxing, as well as the more traditional features voice mail, caller ID, and call forwarding.
To affect a seamless move for clients and staff, over the next few weeks, AMG will familiarize staff members with the new location and their new offices, as well as the storage and filing space available.
We believe communication is key when it comes to AMG’s upcoming move and although only our mailing address will change, (phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same) we intend to work with each client to ensure that printed materials and upcoming or ongoing events such as registrations, applications or renewals are considered in advance and a plan developed to assure a smooth transition.
We also intend to make some changes to our current Web site, www.amg-inc.com and invite you to visit our new offices and our revamped Web site after July 1st to experience the new headquarters facility.
Special thanks to Rich Lane of West, Lane and Schlager, Washington, DC and Mark Larson of Larson Commercial, Reston, Virginia who led the search.
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Vice President of Operations/HR
Association Management Group, Inc. and
Executive Director of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD)
Heidi has served in key, high-level management positions for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce in Utah for nine years, including Vice President of the Chamber. She was responsible for development issues for the Chamber, and for securing revenue through membership recruitment, retention and sponsorships. She directed the implementation of all of the Chamber’s professional development programs, projects, and events, to ensure high-quality and harmony with the Chamber’s mission statement and objectives. She has supervised the public relations and marketing efforts as well as the office, sales, and international staff. She also was responsible for volunteer activities groups and committees within the Chamber.
“My dual role at AMG allows me to use my skills in working with people to support the needs of AMG employees, while working with a fascinating society that is poised for tremendous growth,” Heidi says. “Exceeding expectations is one of my continued goals and I evaluate myself consistently to ensure I deliver over-the-top service to both my client and the employees of AMG. They deserve it and the culture at AMG embraces my personal philosophy. I knew it was the right place for me and I am glad to be part of the continued success of ISSTD and AMG.”
Heidi recently relocated to Alexandria, VA. She enjoys languages and speaks and writes fluently in Italian, is comfortable in Spanish and has studied French. She enjoys golf, travel, oil painting, mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, wakeboarding and outdoor activities in general.
About the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD): ISSTD is an international, nonprofit professional society organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to dissociation.
Graphic Designer
Association Management Group, Inc. (AMG)
Megan is a 2005 graduate of The University of Iowa with a BA in English and Communications. She has over three years of professional experience in graphic design, as well as writing and editing. Her previous employers and freelance clients have included the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, Johns Hopkins University, and Hilton Hotels.
Megan started at AMG in March as the graphic designer for Creative Design. She’s excited to work with such a diverse array of clients on so many different types of projects.
“This is a challenge I’m very excited about,” Megan said. “Everyone has been so great to work with, and I can’t wait to see what kinds of new and wonderful things we come up with together.”
Megan loves to spend her free time enrolling in continuing education courses to work on her spoken Italian and Spanish, running, and spending time with friends—all of which she’ll get back to after her June 28 wedding!
Director of Special Projects
American Ambulance Association (AAA)
Jim has worked in the Emergency Medical Service industry for over 17 years and has held various leadership positions including Director of Operations, EMS Education Manager, and Quality Improvement Analyst. He is a past chair of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services Professional Development Committee, and participant on several boards and planning committees spanning clinical, operational, communications, and disaster preparedness missions. Jim has served on several disaster relief missions including the National Disaster Medical System response to Florida in 1992 following Hurricane Andrew, the 1994 BIOFORCE response to Goma, Zaire during the Rwandan refugee crisis, and the 2005 response to Hurriciane Katrina in Gulfport, Mississippi. As a committed life-long student, Jim has earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Biology, and is completing a BSB/F Degree from the University of Phoenix. When not at work, Jim enjoys traveling, and spending time outdoors with his wife Shana.
“Working for the American Ambulance Association has been wonderful," Jim says. "As the Director of Special Projects, my role is to bring industry expertise to the many exciting member-focused projects at the AAA. As the Institute of Medicine has aptly pointed out, the Emergency Medical Service is at a crossroads. Decisions at the industry level, in Congress, and among regulators will be influenced by the synergy between volunteer leaders and expert association management at the AAA. I could think of no better way to serve the ambulance industry than to join AMG. As the ambulance industry works to ensure equitable reimbursement for their services, essential homeland security grant coverage, and assurance that residents in rural communities have necessary ambulance service, it will be the government affairs expertise, and association governance excellence from AMG staff that will focus the efforts of our members into successful public policy. In the end, the ambulance industry is about caring for people. As a new AMG staffer I enjoy taking care of a membershp group that cares for all of us.”
About the American Ambulance Association (AAA): AAA represents ambulance services across the United States that participate in serving more than 95% of the urban U.S. population with emergency and nonemergency care and medical transportation services. Formed in 1979 in response to the need for improvements in medical transportation and emergency medical services, the Association serves as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services across the nation. The Association views pre-hospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public heath care system.
Membership Director
Retail Bakers of America (RBA)
Aleksandra joined AMG on March 31st as Membership Director for the Retail Bakers of America (RBA), and is responsible for the recruitment and retention activities of the association. In her new role, she also will serve as staff liaison to multiple executive committees and provide editorial oversight to the association’s newsletters.
Aleksandra comes to AMG from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), where she served in several different capacities in the last five years. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the areas of event planning, writing, mass communication, and database management, membership, sales and marketing. Her fall membership campaigns, implemented during a time of budget cuts and uncertainty about the status of the industry, resulted in a 17% growth in membership and a 2% increase in renewals.
“It’s during the difficult times,” she says, “that those involved in an industry need to be reminded of how and what their association can do for them. Association dues are typically the first to get cut because of the low cost, yet members are not always aware that it’s that small cost that will benefit them in the long run.”
Aleksandra is excited about working for the RBA. Her grandfather, who owned a Polish bakery, catering service and delicatessen in Arlington, was a member for over 20 years. She plans to cover his story in the next edition of the association’s newsletter, The Baker’s Rack.
About the Retail Bakers Association (RBA): RBA is a not-for-profit trade association that serves independent retail bakeries, that is anyone selling baked goods at retail. RBA is a resource center for the development of knowledge and skills for the retail bakery industry.
Project Coordinator
The Americas Association of Cooperative/Mutual Insurance Societies (AAC/MIS)
Adriana is a 2006 graduate of The George Washington University with a BA in International Affairs/Latin American Studies and Global Public Health. She has several years of professional and volunteer experience working for nonprofits focused on a range of issues such as advocacy, domestic violence, civil rights, education, public health and the environment.
Adriana started at AMG in March as the project coordinator of the Americas Association of Cooperative Mutual Insurance Societies, (ACC/MIS), with Ed Potter. Adriana was drawn to her position because of the mission of ACC/MIS and the opportunity to work with people from all over the Americas and the Caribbean.
“I feel really excited to get the opportunity to learn about the international cooperative/mutual insurance movement. Also it is really nice to have so many associations around at AMG because I get the chance to work with such a diverse and knowledgeable group.”
Adriana is Latina and speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. In her spare time, Adriana likes to exercise, cook and go out at night.
About the Americas Association of Cooperative/Mutual Insurance Societies (AAC/MIS): AAC/MIS is an inter-American association of insurance organizations that are collectively-owned and democratically governed by cooperatives or mutual group organizations. Representing cooperative and mutual insurers from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, it is part of a global network with the International Cooperative/Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF).
Executive Administrator & HR Generalist
Association Management Group, Inc. (AMG)
Catalina is a bilingual Executive Assistant with over 10 years of extensive experience working with high-level executives from various sectors. Her exceptional administration and management of executive department logistics earned her the important role of supporting AMG CEO Bruce Wardle.
Catalina joined AMG in March to assist the AMG executives and provide support to the Human Resources Department and VP of Operations Heidi Ballif Walker. In addition to these duties, she will be assisting Denise Clark, Director of Finance, and Elinor Kinnier Vice President of Communications Marketing Group.
She is experienced in corporate law supporting the CEO and General Counsel for corporations and law firms. She offers a variety of experience in different areas such as Executive and Corporate Governance Administration, Asset Management and Operations, Finance for the CFO and COO. She has worked with the US Department of Agriculture, (USDA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission, (SEC) on government contracts. Currently she is a public notary in VA and an A+ Certified Computer Technician.
Catalina was born in Bogota, Colombia and is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is a mother of a 20-month old boy, Joshua Esteban Jaramillo and often has her hands full with her son and her two puppies. Her hobbies include volunteer work through church, cooking, reading, exercising and spending time with her family and dogs.
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The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT), the credentialing board for certification and recertification of sleep technologists and AMG client since 2003, had a record-breaking Spring with more than 1500 applicants for testing. The high volume will swell the number of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) to more than 12,000 – a 60% increase since 2005!
Sleep is one of the fastest growing medical specialties and demand for registered sleep techs is high. Following the success of the first-ever BRPT Symposium last year, BRPT will host its 2008 BRPT Symposium in LaJolla, California in early September. The theme of the event is “Embracing the Future of Polysomnography.”
Do you have trouble sleeping? BRPT can help. You can download a free copy of “Patient’s Guide to Sleep Evaluations,” in the consumer section of the BRPT web site at www.brpt.org. This useful guide is a joint project of BRPT and the National Sleep Foundation developed to educate the public about sleep problems– and provide information about what to expect when an overnight sleep evaluation is prescribed. What’s the most important advice? Be sure to seek out a Board-certified sleep physician, go to an accredited sleep facility – and insist that your evaluation is conducted by a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, of course!
AMG Veteran John Ganoe, CAE Selected to Lead BRPT as New Executive Director in January
A BRPT search committee and AMG’s President Bruce Wardle conducted a search for the new executive director, but they only had to look just down the hall to find John Ganoe, a five-year AMG veteran, who was primed for the position. John stepped into the leadership role on February 1.
John brings a breadth and depth of experience in all facets of non-profit management to BRPT. During his career he has served as chief staff officer for both trade and professional associations and as a vice president and corporate officer for a major entertainment trade group. He has also served as a national marketing officer for the educational division of USATODAY and as a consultant to a range of non-profit and for-profit organizations.
“This is an exciting time for the field of sleep technology,“ he says. “Sleep technology is one of the fastest-growing fields among the allied health professions. And, BRPT certification represents the gold standard in the field.”
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Team AMG is our volunteer in-house committee of employees dedicated to creating and promoting fun activities. Past and upcoming events include:
Holding a St. Patrick's Day Luncheon at AMG has always been a tradition and this year was no different than the rest. TeAMG put together a great event with tasty food, green decorations, and even a few contests for the "lucky" to win. The office resembled the "Emerald City" as everyone was encouraged to wear green. Those who didn't were greeted with harmless "pinches." Everyone enjoyed a great lunch followed by a baking contest. We had a tie for the winning entry between Erin O'Rourke's green chocolate chip cookies and Maureen Gribble's thin mint cupcakes. TeAMG also hosted a "Green Bean Counters" contest. Staff members were challenged to guess how many jelly beans were contained in a big glass jar. Gabi Mahn, a meeting planner with MMG was the big winner, with a guess that was simply 4 beans away from the exact number! It was a great event that left everyone energized and hopeful for a productive and "lucky" spring!
It’s a great date for an AMG party and a wonderful time to celebrate the Latino culture and experiences of those of Mexican ancestry. At AMG, this holiday is particularly important given the number of Hispanic-related associations at AMG – the Tortilla Industry Association (TIA), the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) and the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) – and the biculturalism that is embraced within the company. AMG’s Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by employees regardless of ethnic origin and is an opportunity to support the rich diversity within the company. Lunch is pot luck with employees bringing their favorite foods to share and of course traditional Mexican symbols such as the piñata and Tres leches cake will be part of the festivities. It’s always a special day at AMG.
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Megan Maher
Aleksandra Syska
Adriana Freiberger
BRPT NEWS