November is the anniversary month of the start of my association management career. 33 years ago I was happily working for a large advertising agency when a classified ad in the New York Times caught my eye. It mentioned “people business,” “meeting planning” and “project management.” I sent my resume to a PO Box under the alphanumeric ARMA. I investigated possible companies it could be and thought, if I’m right about what ARMA stands for, why would I want a job with the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association? How could that position possibly make me happier than where I am now, an agency with exciting corporate clients like Procter & Gamble, Texaco (Bob Hope!) and Burger King?

Long story short, I accepted a junior position with Sumner Rider & Associates (SR&A), a mid-sized public relations and communications firm established in 1945. SR&A specialized in national trade associations in the home, building & construction sectors. I was hired to support 3 member-based associations – ARMA, the Wallcovering Manufacturers Association (WMA) and the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA). Within a few short months I learned how to plan a golf outing in Florida, contribute to an innovative wallcoverings fashion show and book Terry Meeuwsen, 1973 Miss America, on various TV and Radio shows. I was fascinated how a Miss America could convince consumers to raise their roof for National Roofing Month. Every day since has been different and I’ve never looked back. 

It was the summer of 1990 when I first discovered NYSAE. I joined, I volunteered and the contacts I made through NYSAE made me realize that I had found my permanent home in association management. For the past 33 years, I served dozens of large and small trade associations and professional societies. Each one with its own unique mission such as the Comics Magazine Association, the Society of Healthcare Foodservice and the Plastic Bag Association. Through multiple mergers and acquisitions, my employer Sumner Rider eventually became Kellen, which is now the world’s largest association management company. To this day I’m not too sure my family and friends understand exactly what I do for a living, but that’s okay because what I love about NYSAE is being surrounded by people who get it. Thank you, NYSAE for being my professional family for 30 years, and now, a Kellen client.

Holly Koenig
NYSAE CEO and Executive Director
Senior VP, Kellen