MASAE Officers and Directors

Trudie Bruner is the Founder of and a Consultant at True Association Management Consulting, LLC.

Trudie is passionate about the good work of associations and the importance of an effective business model to achieve their missions and sustain their efforts. The rapidly evolving economy is challenging the association community’s stronghold on their traditional activities and services, which in turn challenges AMCs and other organizations that serve the association community. While these hurdles have appropriately increased the emphasis on outward strategies, such as missions, membership, and services, this alone is not enough. To be relevant and resilient, AMCs, associations, and the organizations that serve them must also look inward and assess their models of operation.

With over two decades’ experience in Association Management, Trudie has served in several modes of management, most significantly the AMC model. Through this work, she has developed a keen understanding of both the operational and strategic business challenges facing AMCs, associations, and the industry as a whole. She founded True Association Management Consulting, LLC, as a platform to share her experience and insight to advance the profession and industry she loves.

Trudie holds degrees from Loyola University Maryland and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). She is an active member of several associations, including the American Society of Association Executives™ and the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives, and believes firmly you should not accept advice regarding your AMC or association from anyone who isn’t engaged with their associations. As a respected member of the AMC community, she frequently serves as a contributor, presenter, and facilitator, including co-organizing and facilitating “#MeToo, Now What? Preparing Our Companies and the Associations We Serve for the New Era of Inclusiveness and Accountability” at the 2018 AMCs Engaged! Conference.

Gabrielle Copperwheat serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Controlled Release Society (Association Headquarters). In this position she provides strategic leadership, governance, finance, brand and operations management to the society. CRS is the premier society worldwide for delivery science and technology. Its 1,500 members: delivery scientists, engineers, clinicians, and technical professionals are creating the future of delivery science and technology through fundamental delivery research, development, regulatory science, and clinical translation.

Gabrielle is also Executive of the REMS Industry Consortium, an organization that supports the development of best practices in reducing ambiguity with REMS requirements, advancing the science of safety and risk mitigation for patients; improving predictability and standardization of FDA interactions by bringing together the perspectives of organizations that sell, or anticipate selling, prescription drugs or biologics subject to Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS).

Her prior executive leadership experience combines association management company and four national and international non-profit organizations (Insurance Society of Philadelphia, Healthcare Manufacturing Management Council, Third Party Marketers Association, North American Association of Commencement Officers, Convention Sales Professionals International).

Gabrielle actively serves on MASAE committees: membership and Mid-Year Conference, prior to becoming Co-Chair of the MASAE Mid-Year Conference in 2020 for two consecutive years and Co-Chair of the 2023 MASAE Annual Conference.

Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Arts from DeSales University, and an IOM from the US Chamber of Commerce; continued education: business, finance, tech communications, HR, human languages from University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Lafayette College and the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. Internationalization & Globalization for business from LISA in Amsterdam, ND, Yokohama, JP, and Washington D.C., USA. She is pursuing a CAE awarded by the American Society of Association Executives.

With more than 20 years in association management, including roles in operations, membership, events, educational programs, and general administration, Donna-Jean brings a broad range of experience to her new role reshaping organizations to work more efficiently, reduce expenses, and finding processing efficiencies.

Currently serving as the Executive Director for New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), a premier female-based organization serving women in all fields of communications. Donna-Jean brings her strategic thinking to the associations she works with along with her financial experience, strong people management acumen and comprehensive experience in board relations and governance, organizational management, and strategic planning.

Donna-Jean previously served as the Executive Director of the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) – the largest regional trade association in the promotional products industry. Donna-Jean’s emphasis on educational programming, trade shows, and networking events, has led to increased engagement and participation throughout the association as well as providing increased value and retention to membership. Prior to SAAGNY, Donna-Jean served as the Manager of Events and Continuing Legal Education Programs, for the Federal Bar Council (FBC), a bar association serving the Federal Courts of the Second Circuit. Her role included planning and administering all events and programs of the Council including logistics, budgeting, marketing, program evaluation, and staff supervision.

Donna-Jean received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT. Donna-Jean earned her CAE in 2020.

Pete Pomilio, MBA, CAE, is the CEO of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE). With over 20 years of experience leading volunteer-driven healthcare associations, Pete has held leadership roles with the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) and the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA) through the association management firm Anthony J. Jannetti (AJJ). Prior to AJJ, he served as Executive Director for several medical associations, including the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN), where he led efforts in organizational growth and program development. Pete holds an MBA from Keller Graduate School and a BA in Psychology from Rutgers University. He is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives.

Felicia K. Taylor is an association executive with more than 20 years of experience working for professional associations. She is the Chief Executive Officer for the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Felicia currently serves on the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives Board of Directors. She is also part of the Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) (2017-2019 class), a national leadership program through the American Society of Association Executives.

She is a recipient of the New York Society of Association Executives 2018 Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Award. She also received the NAPNAP President’s Award in 2011 and the 2009 Standard of Excellence Award for best website development as project lead from the Web Marketing Association.

She holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and a M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. She earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, awarded by the American Society of Association Executives in 2018.

Kristin Dunn is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) who entered the association world as the single support staff of an international surgical association in South Florida. There, she gained practical experience in member acquisition and retention, financials, strategic planning, sponsor relations, program development, and event planning. Kristin organized scientific meetings and events, both domestic and global, keenly sensitive to the values and practices of different cultures. Dedicated to mission-based organizations and global member engagement, Kristin further expanded a diverse body of knowledge in association management through work with the American College of Physicians and the Project Management Institute.

Kristin is currently based in Philadelphia, serving as Executive Director for the Northeastern Society of Orthodontists, including management of state orthodontic associations in NY, CT and ME.

Karyn Lockshine is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN), a national specialty association dedicated to advancing nursing education, clinical practice, and research to improve outcomes for patients living with heart failure. Managed by Association Headquarters.

As CEO, Karyn provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization, overseeing financial management, governance and board development, membership growth, educational programming, continuing education, publications, and the planning and execution of the association’s annual conference. Her work focuses on building sustainable organizational infrastructure while expanding member value and engagement.

Before joining AAHFN, Karyn served as Executive Director of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), an international medical society representing physicians, scientists, and technologists advancing cardiovascular imaging through education, research, and standards development. She also served as Associate Executive Director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), supporting a global federation of professional associations.

Before transitioning into association management, Karyn spent more than 13 years in public broadcasting with PBS, working as a Producer, Director, and Associate Director on live and recorded programming, including political coverage, news programming, panel discussions, and fundraising broadcasts. This experience continues to inform her strengths in strategic communications, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement.

John J. Mulholland, Jr. serves as Executive Director of the New Jersey Association of Special Education Partner Schools, whose member schools educate over 10,000 students with significant disabilities. A neurodivergent leader and disability policy advocate, John brings both lived experience and years of public policy expertise to his work advancing educational equity.

He previously served as Director of the Office of Constituent Relations for the Governor of New Jersey and held several senior staff roles in the New Jersey Legislature. In these positions, he helped shape legislation benefiting individuals with disabilities, including making New Jersey the first state to extend residential parking access to home healthcare workers on a statewide basis.

John earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History, summa cum laude, from Temple University, and his Juris Doctor from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he was inducted into the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society. He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2024.

In addition to his professional work, John is passionate about building inclusive communities. He enjoys reading history, biographies, and science fiction; cheering on Philadelphia sports teams; and spending time with his wife, Sandy, their family, and close friends.

Andrea Taylor, QAS has over 20 years of association management experience. Andrea joined the Nonprofit Resources (NPR) team in 2025. Prior to NPR, she was as an Executive DIrector with several client partners at Talley Management Group for more than 18 years. She began her association career in 2004 as the Continuing Education Coordinator with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

She is a longtime member of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives (MASAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University.