Our People

Our 200 person global team is a dynamic blend of talent, dedication, and innovation. Each member embodies the spirit and values that define Kellen, collectively shaping the essence of who we are and propelling us toward unparalleled success.
Who we are

Our Greatest Strength Lies in our People

At Kellen, our greatest strength lies in our people. We take pride in a team that not only possesses exceptional skills and expertise but, more importantly, shares a deep commitment to mission-based organizations and the success of those we serve. It’s the passion, care, and unwavering dedication of our professionals that set us apart. Whether it’s navigating challenges, strategizing for growth, or fostering meaningful connections, our people are the heart and soul of Kellen, shaping a future where every client partner thrives.

Meet the Faces Behind Kellen’s Leadership Team: A Fusion of Vision, Expertise, and Passion, Driving Excellence Forward.

North America

Craig Addington Professional Headshot

Craig Addington

Group Vice President

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Robin Applebaum Professional Headshot

Robin Applebaum

Senior Vice President

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Erin Berggren

Group Vice President

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Karen Bishop Professional Headshot

Karen Bishop

Vice President

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matthew-clark

Matthew Clark

Senior Vice President

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ACooke Professional Headshot

Allison Cooke

Senior Vice President

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lauren-costello

Lauren Costello

Vice President

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Berit Dockter

Vice President

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Erin Erickson

Group Vice President

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patricia-ferchland

Patricia Ferchland-Bingham

Vice President

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Abram Garcia Professional Headshot

Abram Garcia

Vice President

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Jack Fordi

Executive Vice President

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Karima Kendall

Karima Kendall

Vice President

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JerrieLynn Kind Professional Headshot

JerrieLynn Kind

Group Vice President

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chris-krueger

Chris Krueger

Executive Vice President

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CLevine Professional Headshot

Christy Levine

Senior Vice President

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Thayer Long

Thayer Long

Executive Vice President

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Amy Luckado Professional Headshot

Amy Luckado

Senior Vice President

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matt-manitone

Matt Mantione

Executive Vice President

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jeannie-milewski

Jeannie Milewski

Senior Vice President

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Michelle Miller Professional Headshot

Michelle Miller

Senior Vice President

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molly-mullins

Molly Alton Mullins

President

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Travis Rush

CEO

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Carla Professional Headshot

Carla Saunders

Group Vice President

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Sondalle Craig Professional Headshot

Craig Sondalle

Executive Vice President

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angela-stephens

Angela Stephens

Vice President

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Kari Stringfellow

Chief of Staff

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Betty Taylor

Vice President

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meredith-taylor

Meredith Taylor

Vice President

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ralph-vasami

Ralph Vasami, Esq.

Chief Strategy Officer

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tim-welsh

Tim Welsh

Vice President

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Bryan White Professional Headshot

Bryan White, CAE

Group Vice President

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Europe

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Tomas Babicky

Senior Association Manager

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Carole Bachmann Professional Headshot

Carole Bachmann

Associate Director

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marco-baldoli

Marco Baldoli

Associate Director

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Marian Brestovansky Professional Headshot

Marian Brestovansky

Associate Director

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nele-devolder

Nele Devolder

Senior Vice President

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Olga Henkele Professional Shot

Olga Karline Henkele

Senior Manager

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Pascale Lammineur Professional Headshot

Pascale Lammineur

Finance Director

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sofie-cabecairo

Sofie Cabeceiro Luiz

HR Director

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Lucie McMurty

Senior Manager

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gert

Gert Meylemans

Vice President

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nuria-moreno

Nuria Moreno

Associate Director

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chiara

Chiara Naddeo

Senior Manager

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adriana

Adriana Nosewicz

Director

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carl-eric

Carl-Eric Portaels

Senior Association Manager

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ana-rivas

Ana Rivas

Senior Manager

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Simona Romeo

Associate Director

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jakub

Jakub Rusek

Associate Director

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maria-scardigli

Maria Teresa Scardigli

Executive Vice President & Managing Director

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stefen-thomann

Stefan Thomann

Senior Association Manager

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alfons-westgeest

Alfons Westgeest

Board Member

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Asia

Jessica Jai Professional Headshot

Jessica Jai

Director

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Maria Wang Professional Headshot

Maria Wang

Account Manager

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jean-xu

Jean Xu

Vice President

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Craig Addington

Group Vice President

With over 20 years of experience in association management, Craig has built a robust career dedicated to supporting and advancing manufacturing associations. As an accomplished executive, he has served as Executive Director for five different associations, demonstrating a proven ability to lead organizations toward their strategic goals. Prior to joining Kellen, Craig was a principal at a prominent association management company, where he honed his skills in organizational development and member engagement. His extensive background in the field positions him as a respected leader and advocate for associations in the manufacturing sector.

Robin Applebaum

Senior Vice President

Robin Applebaum is a seasoned communications executive with extensive agency experience in New York and Atlanta. As Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Robin has a proven track record of providing clients strategic communications programs that help grow their brand and positively influence their target audiences using custom integrated marketing, public relations, and online/social media plans.

Robin is responsible for the communications programs for clients across Kellen’s food, healthcare and building and materials verticals, and has previously led PR efforts for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s childhood obesity program, the 93rd PGA Championship, Chanel, and Sony Pictures, as well as numerous B2B and B2C marketing programs and campaigns.

As a former TV producer, Robin has a strong, proven track record working with many national media outlets including TODAY, CNBC, Bloomberg, New York Times, Associated Press, and USA Today, to name just a few.

Erin Berggren

Group Vice President

Erin has more than 25 years of experience serving professional and trade associations in both stand-alone and AMC environments. A Certified Association Executive (CAE) since 2006, he has spent the past 15 years as an Executive Director or Chief Staff Executive for organizations spanning surgical, fundraising, science-based, and expert witness communities.

Most recently, Erin served as Vice President in the Association Solutions division at MCI USA. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Molly, and their children, Parker and Sam.

Karen Bishop

Vice President

Karen has extensive technical and managerial experience in the commercial openings industry. Karen previously served as a senior engineer for product certification, development and testing at the Allegion Hollow Metal Group.

She also served as a senior engineer for new product development at Steelcraft. Karen has held leadership roles at several associations, including Steel Door Institute and National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers, among others.

Matthew Clark

Senior Vice President

Matt Clark has more than 25 years of success driving large-scale strategic planning and implementations, profitable change initiatives, and brand optimization in diverse environments from fast-paced tech startups to multinational non-profit healthcare organizations.

Matt is a seasoned executive leader and corporate communications strategist who leverages outcome-driven innovation and audience-focused methodologies to ensure revenue growth and increased engagement organization-wide.

As Chief Officer of Innovation & Engagement, at the American Occupational Therapy Association, Matt led a newly developed division of 40 staff responsible for growth, membership, events, publishing, sales, and marketing generating $15M in revenue. He drove strategic communication and engagement initiatives, delivering innovative products and services aligned with value expectations.

As VP of Brand Management and VP of Publishing and Content Strategy at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, Matt led digital transformation, rebranding, and communication strategies that consistently grew YoY revenue. Through directing content-sharing partnerships and international marketing initiatives, he implemented data-driven processes that doubled overall reach and delivered valuable and relevant content to global audiences. He also led organization-wide strategic planning to build an annual and long-term healthy, sustainable innovation pipeline.

Matt takes pride in his customer-focused approach to identifying, anticipating, and executing on opportunities for market reach, revenue growth, and member engagement for large-scale organizations. Through the audience-centered, outcome-driven lens, Matt designs and implements change strategies and operational alignments that ensure success for internal and external stakeholders.

Matt holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of South Carolina and a BA in Psychology from Syracuse University. Residing just outside of Washington, DC, Matt is an outdoor enthusiast and avid kayaker. When his schedule allows, he can be found at the Dome, cheering on the Syracuse Orange.

Allison Cooke

Senior Vice President

Allison Cooke is a regulatory policy leader with over 10 years of experience working in trade associations specializing in the food and ingredient industry. In her position, she oversees and executes on regulatory priorities for Kellen’s food and nutrition trade associations.

Allison returns to Kellen following several years serving as the Vice President of Food Policy with the Corn Refiners Association (CRA). Allison previously served as an Account Executive at Kellen, where she held various roles focused on regulatory, nutrition, and scientific affairs for several trade associations in the food and nutrition space.  

Allison has a Master’s degree in Public Health specializing in Maternal and Child Health Leadership and Policy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University in South Carolina. 

Lauren Costello

Vice President

Lauren Costello has over a dozen years of experience managing international trade associations encompassing Board relations, government affairs and advocacy, marketing and communications, events, financials, membership recruitment and engagement, thought leadership and content creation, sales, and strategic planning and execution. She serves as the Executive Director for the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and the International Flight Services Association (IFSA). In these roles, she manages the team in Atlanta, Chicago, London, Washington, D.C., Beijing, and Brussels. She previously served as the Operations Director of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) and Executive Director for the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA).  

Lauren is based on Long Island in New York and is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, earning an MBA in Management and a BA in Business Administration / International Business. 

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Berit Dockter MPP, RD, LD

Vice President

Berit Dockter MPP, RD, LD is a Vice President in the food and nutrition vertical and has been with Kellen in the Washington D.C. office since 2018. Her area of focus is leading associations in regulatory and legislative initiatives. In this role, Berit monitors state and federal legislation, recommends client strategy, and leads communication efforts with state legislators and members of Congress. Her regulatory engagement includes meetings with U.S. agency and administration officials and responding to comment opportunities nationally and internationally on behalf of the trade associations. She has been recognized for supporting member company interests at Codex Alimentarius where she leads the delegation for a Codex observer organization. Her other responsibilities include strategic planning, budget oversight, membership engagement and recruitment, event planning, managing a student scholarship foundation, participating in coalitions, and co-leading the Kellen Global Food Business Group with a colleague from the Kellen Brussels office. One of her Kellen highlights includes working in the Kellen Brussels office where she learned more about the European Union and participated in European Parliament events. Berit has been invited to present at various speaking engagements.  

Prior to Kellen, Berit has experience as a clinical dietitian and working in industry and for state government. Berit is a registered dietitian and active in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics where she has held Board positions at the state and national level. She received her BA in food, nutrition, dietetics and exercise science from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and her Masters Public Policy in health policy from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Erin Erickson

Group Vice President

Erin joined Kellen in 2014 and has over ten years of association management experience. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals. Erin is responsible for developing and driving strategic growth and providing oversight of membership program and services. 

Erin graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and is a current member of the Colorado Society of Association Executives. 

Patricia Ferchland-Bingham

Vice President

Patricia joined Kellen in 2017 and has over 12 years of association management & education experience. She is an association professional with a demonstrated history of working with both medical and trade associations to create or enhance their continuing education and program management.   

She is dedicated to improving client, customer, and learner experiences through the development ‎and delivery of accredited continuing education. She is an advocate for the continuous professional development of ‎physicians and trade workers alike. In addition, she provides oversight on compliance and Accreditation for all Kellen clients.   

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Abram Garcia

Vice President

Abram Garcia is the Vice President of Membership, Marketing, and Sales at Kellen. With a keen focus on devising and executing strategies, he leads the Membership, Marketing, and Sales team. Abram’s expertise lies in crafting comprehensive marketing, membership, and sales strategies across diverse channels, with the aim of captivating and engaging target audiences effectively. With over 9 years of association experience spanning various fields and organizational sizes, Abram brings a diverse portfolio to the table. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in aiding numerous associations in expanding their membership numbers, increasing revenue, and enhancing member engagement.

Abram holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lake Forest College. Currently based in Washington, DC, he enjoys traveling during his leisure time and passionately supports both Chicago and Washington, DC sports teams. Additionally, he is an active member of the ASAE (American Society of Association Executives).

Jack Fordi

Executive Vice President

Jack joins Kellen with over 20 years of experience in Association services, digital media, events, consulting and revenue oversight.

Jack was previously Chief Revenue Officer at Naylor Association Solutions where his teams grew association partnerships and delivered media/communication solutions, association services, premium content, conferences/trade shows, recruitment solutions and data services to 1500+ partners.  Prior to Naylor he was Chief Revenue Officer at Observer Media, a diversified B2B and B2C media, events and data company.  He was Senior Vice President for Questex, a global business information company where he chaired the revenue committee. He also spent 6 years as Vice President of Sales and Operations for SmartBrief, a digital news and association services company providing media solutions and services to more than 250 association partners where he grew association partnerships and revenue 6x.  He was a Vice President at Intralinks, a SaaS platform serving investment banks, private equity and the fortune 1000, and also held leadership roles with Gannett, Hanley Wood and The Chronicle.

He is a co-founder and partner with Chute Partners, a private and secure social media platform for teens and young adults with special needs.

Jack has a B.S. in Business and Economics from Elon University, where he is a member of the alumni board.

He lives in Chevy Chase, DC with his wife and two children.

Karima A. Kendall

Vice President

Karima A. Kendall, PhD, RDN, LDN serves as Vice President, Scientific and Technical Affairs, Association Management. Within the Food & Nutrition vertical, Dr. Kendall provides strategic scientific and nutrition advice and issues management to several U.S. and E.U. based clients. This includes conducting scientific monitoring, response and outreach activities, managing critical scientific and technical projects, stewarding relationships with contractors and external parties, advising on strategic responses to issues affecting clients and developing appropriate messaging on key topics.

With over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry, prior to joining the Kellen Company in 2018, Dr. Kendall worked in the area of global scientific and regulatory affairs for a major beverage company, and has extensive experience in clinical nutrition, clinical guideline development and scientific merit review. She holds a B.S. degree (Biological Sciences) from Hampton University, and a PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences) from Howard University. Post-doctorate, she obtained a second B.S. degree in Human Nutrition and ‎Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University and is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, licensed ‎in Maryland. ‎

JerrieLynn Kind

Group Vice President

JerrieLynn Kind has brought success to professional societies and trade associations for more than 30 years and has been serving Kellen’s clients for over 20 years, providing executive oversight to Kellen’s Healthcare Portfolio. In addition, she also serves as executive director for the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the National Association of EMS Physicians, and the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society. 

She has a broad background with membership associations, financial planning, and executive management. Prior to joining Kellen, JerrieLynn worked as membership director and career development manager to national associations in the golf industry. 

JerrieLynn is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Kansas City Society of Association Executives and has been active in committees and educational activities. JerrieLynn is also an approved facilitator of ASAE’s Certificate Program in Association Management. 

Chris Krueger

Executive Vice President

Chris Krueger is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Kellen Company. Chris uses his public affairs expertise to lead a division advancing client interests in the federal, state, and regulatory arenas. Chris utilizes his 20 years of experience to coordinate political engagement and public affairs, maintaining relationships with decision makers and external stakeholders on behalf of clients.  

Prior to joining Kellen, Chris held government affairs, advocacy outreach and external affairs positions with multiple trade associations and political issue management firms in Washington, D.C. His background includes focus on energy, financial services, small business, healthcare, and education efforts.  

Originally from Northeastern Ohio, he launched his career working on political campaigns, having served on presidential, federal, state, and local level efforts. Chris currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two daughters. 

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Christy Levine

Senior Vice President

Christy Levine is a long-standing association management professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in the management of medical associations. Her career journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to advancing the missions of various healthcare-focused organizations.

Throughout her career, Christy has demonstrated a passion for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and achieving measurable results within the healthcare landscape. Her years of experience, coupled with her dedication to serving the needs of the members, makes her a respected leader in the field of association management.

A graduate of Florida State University, Christy can be found rooting on the Seminoles, hosting obscurely themed parties or watching her kids in various sports.

Thayer Long

Executive Vice President

Thayer Long has over 25 years as a successful non-profit executive and has led trade associations in both standalone and AMC structures for over 15 years as CEO.

Prior to joining Kellen, Thayer was the Vice-President of Client Experience at the Innovatis Group. He has served in multiple leadership roles including as the Executive Director/CEO of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) association, President of the Association for Print Technologies, (APTech), and President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI).

Thayer began his career at the American Chemical Society (ACS) and then went on to serve multiple roles for the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), including chapter management and relations, and state and local political operations.

Thayer is a graduate of Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. He is originally from outside of Philadelphia, PA and currently resides in Arlington, VA with his wife and son.

Amy Luckado

Senior Vice President

Amy Luckado serves as Senior Vice President in Kellen’s Association Services division where she oversees a robust client portfolio in the trades association division. Prior to joining Kellen, Amy was Chief Operating Officer at SEVEN12 Management, where she managed direct client relationships, human resources, membership development, programmatic initiatives, and day-to-day operations for the full-service association management company. 

Amy brings more than 20 years of experience to Kellen, working to ensure that all client members take advantage of exceptional programs and services that help their businesses thrive. Many in her current client portfolio focus on industrial manufacturing, and include IDA – the International Door Association, ISD – Independent Sealing Distributors Association, RCMA – Roof Coating Manufacturers Association, and SHDA – Security Hardware Distributors Association. 

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Matt Mantione

Executive Vice President

Matt Mantione joined Kellen in 2020 and sits on the senior leadership team as a Group Vice President, overseeing the strategic direction of our 501(c)(6) Trade association partners. Prior to joining Kellen, he served in various senior level association positions with success in growing membership, bolstering member value, and optimizing governance through fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic foresight. In the last two decades, Matt has provided value-added support and guidance to Boards, members and key stakeholders in over 100 countries. 

Matt is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM). He is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Matt served on various ASAE National Councils and is a published author on topics ranging from member development to employee relations. Matt, a native of Syracuse, NY, holds a Corporate Communications degree from Radford University, and was selected team captain as a member of the Division-I baseball team. Additionally, he completed post-graduate work in association management and strategic leadership.

Jeannie Milewski

Senior Vice President

Jeannie Milewski is the president of the Association for Dressings and Sauces, a 160-member international trade association.  She is also president for the Juice Products Association, a 60-member international trade association, as well as The Vinegar Institute, a 30-member international trade association.  She focuses on strategic direction, executive committee and board support, organizational leadership, priorities management, quality assurance and directing the general operations of the association. Additionally, Jeannie has oversight for the Horseradish Information Council for the Association for Dressings and Sauces and the Concord Grape Section for the Juice Products Association. 

She has more than 20 years of association management experience and has worked for several Kellen clients in the food and beverage industries. Prior to joining Kellen in 1995, Jeannie was involved in the foodservice sector with responsibilities including research and development, specifications and training. 

Jeannie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science and a Master’s in Food Science (with an English minor) from the University of Tennessee. 

Michelle Miller

Senior Vice President

With over 30 years of association management experience, Michelle is a solution-oriented professional that provides strategic oversight and guidance to various client organizations.  She specializes in relationship building, common sense solutions and developing key partnerships that results in successful strategic alignment and growth opportunities.  Michelle has worked with a variety of client organizations over the years and has developed innovative programs to increase member value and embrace the next generation of professionals.  She has been a mentor to many and always works towards building consensus to ensure a win-win outcome.  Michelle earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Marketing at Northwood University in Midland Michigan.  Michelle enjoys cooking, board games and spending time with her two children.

Molly Alton Mullins

President

Molly Alton Mullins serves as Kellen’s president, where she focuses on ensuring superior service to retain and grow clients, expand business offerings, and create opportunities for the team to learn, grow, and thrive. At Kellen, Molly believes very strongly in partnering with client boards and leadership to ensure the programs and services they receive far exceed every expectation, while also providing sound business solutions to help their respective companies thrive in today’s marketplace.

Molly is the former CEO of SEVEN12 Management, a full-service association management company, where she oversaw client and company management, focusing primarily on strategic planning, board management, fiscal oversight, and business development. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Molly brings more than 25 years of experience to Kellen, having worked for numerous associations, corporate communications firms, and also on Capitol Hill. When not working (which isn’t very often), Molly can be found spending time with family and friends as well as watching her beloved Washington Capitals.

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Travis Rush

CEO

Under Travis’ leadership, Kellen has evolved the association business model, unlocking significant value for national and international trade organizations and professional societies. Through the combination of a diverse team of the world’s strongest association professionals, the industry’s leading technology stack and carefully integrated business processes, he has guided the transformation of programming and initiatives for more ‎than eight dozen client organizations. ‎ 

Before Kellen, he worked in real estate, film production, consulting, and sales. 

An avid traveler, he has visited forty-five states, thirty-three countries, and six continents. A native of New York City, he graduated from The George Washington University in Washington D.C., where he was an infielder on the varsity baseball team and disc jockey at WRGW, the college radio station. He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife, daughter and chocolate labrador. He is a diehard fan of the New York Mets, Bruce Springsteen, Milan Kundera and Bill Burr.

Carla Saunders

Group Vice President

Carla Saunders joined Kellen in 2024 as Group Vice President, Association Management leading the Food & Nutrition vertical. She brings a diverse background with over 20+ years across multiple industries as a general manager and skilled marketing leader. Throughout her career, she has focused on building brands and leading teams for major multinational companies across multiple industries and categories.

At Kellen, Carla draws on her broad experience with food and food ingredient industries to further strategic objectives for our clients. As part of her role, she serves as the Executive Director for Calorie Control Council (CCC) and International Food Additives Council (IFAC). She has five years of association experience as an active member of both the Calorie Control Council (CCC) and International Stevia Council (ISC).

Carla earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Mary, Bismarck and her MBA from Carlson School of Management at the University of MN. As a native Minnesotan, she roots for the Vikings and enjoys the outdoors even in the coldest conditions. Carla resides outside of Minneapolis with her husband, son and two pets. 

Craig Sondalle

Executive Vice President

Craig Sondalle is an accomplished association executive with 30+ years of experience leading nonprofit and professional organizations, primarily in the healthcare sector. He is known for building high-performing teams, strengthening governance, and guiding mission-driven organizations toward strategic growth, financial stability, and operational excellence. 

Throughout his career, Craig has led and advised more than 50 associations. He began at SmithBucklin, founded and led Sentergroup, Inc., an award-winning association management firm later acquired by MCI Group, and served as Executive Vice President of MCI USA, leading the Chicago office with a focus on client and team performance, strategy and execution. 

Most recently, Craig served as the Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), where he advances organizational impact through strategic leadership, sound financial stewardship, and a strong focus on people and culture. 

A Wisconsin native, passionate outdoorsman and University of Wisconsin alumnus, Craig lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Anne, and their sons, Graham and Patrick. 

Angela Stephens

Vice President

Angela Moore Stephens is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, a professional membership and educational organization consisting of over 2,000 mental health professionals. She also is the Secretary-Treasurer to both the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health and the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. 

Angela has over 40 years of association management experience. She is a results-oriented executive, with a proven ability to develop and implement new programs and projects utilizing a strategic planning approach. Experienced in charitable foundations, membership associations, and certification organizations with significant expertise in the following areas: public relations, writing/editorial/communication, strategic planning, fundraising, and volunteer and staff management. Angela is devoted to eliminating barriers to participation and creating diversity, equity, and inclusive environments within the organizations and workspace. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology and is a Certified Association Executive. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) as well as the local chapter, the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE). 

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Kari Stringfellow

Senior Vice President

With more than 20 years of experience as a strategy consultant and association leader, Kari is dedicated to managing the intersection of association management and member engagement. Her experience includes Fortune 500 companies, higher education institutions, and non-profits, like Estee Lauder Companies, George Mason University, and the National Automobile Dealers Association. She is most passionate about developing relevant, forward-thinking, and innovative organizations that not only meet the needs of their industry today, but where they need to go tomorrow. 

Kari also serves on various boards and committees, and is a founding member of CHIEF – Washington, DC. 

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Betty Taylor

Vice President

Betty Taylor is the Vice President of Meetings & Expositions at Kellen Company, where she leads the Meetings & Expositions department, overseeing its activities, staff, and strategic direction. In this role, she ensures the successful planning and execution of meetings, conferences, and trade shows for both internal and external clients, with a focus on delivering seamless, engaging, and profitable events.

With over 25 years of experience in event management, Betty specializes in logistics, operations, and revenue growth through innovative exhibit and sponsorship programs. She is known for cultivating strong relationships with hotels, vendors, and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in the Washington, DC market and across the U.S., leveraging these partnerships to enhance client experiences and event success.

Throughout her career, Betty has been recognized for her leadership, problem-solving skills, and ability to streamline processes, ensuring efficiency and long-term sustainability. She is passionate about creating high-value events that support her clients’ missions and industry growth.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new destinations, spending quality time at the beach, and visiting her grandson as often as possible.

Meredith Taylor

Vice President

Meredith Taylor, CAE is an association management professional with a focus in the media and communications fields. She has managed the transition process for new clients into Kellen, worked on the operations team, and supported Kellen’s internal Leadership Summit event. She has served as executive director of clients including Council of Science Editors, College Media Association, Interior Design Educators Council, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and New York Women in Communications.  

She was honored with the New Star Award from New York Society of Association Executive and the Young and Aspiring Association Professional Award from Association TRENDS and was an ASAE’s NextGen Summit participant. She is a certified association executive through ASAE.  

Meredith graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with majors in linguistics and public relations and has a masters in nonprofit management with distinction from DePaul University in Chicago.

Ralph Vasami, Esq.

Chief Strategy Officer

Ralph Vasami, Esq., serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Kellen and brings a versatile background encompassing engineering, business management, operations, finance, strategic planning, and law. With over 20 years of executive experience, he has consistently excelled in guiding associations, showcasing a remarkable proficiency in nurturing partnerships, crafting and executing strategic initiatives, and driving both results and profitability. His involvement extends to spearheading efforts to modify and advance National Building Codes for clients, as well as frequently facilitating strategic planning meetings.  

Ralph was a trailblazer in the vinyl window and door industry, holding the position of Chairman at the Vinyl Window & Door Institute. His contributions led to the acceptance of vinyl as a fenestration product within Model Building Codes. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in establishing product testing and standards, alongside developing the current industry certification program. 

Presently, Ralph provides executive leadership within Kellen’s Public Affairs division, dedicated to aiding associations in nurturing positive relationships with their key stakeholders. These stakeholders encompass government agencies, regulators, community groups, media, and the general public. 

Ralph earned a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and a law degree from Pace University. He is a member of the New York State Bar, showcasing his commitment and proficiency in the legal domain. 

Tim Welsh

Vice President

Prior to joining Kellen, Tim started his association management career with Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), and Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) in various executive-level positions.  He oversaw multiple disciplines including leading membership recruit campaigns in collaboration with the ABC and IEC chapter network; facilitated board strategic planning; new board/committee member onboarding; secured industry partners and lead sponsorship acquisitions; and oversaw national conventions and additional conferences.  Most recently Tim worked at digital media publisher SmartBrief responsible for securing association partners in the production of their industry newsletters. Tim holds a BA in Speech Communication from Frostburg State University, and graduated from the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM) certification program.

Bryan White, CAE

Group Vice President

Bryan White is a strategic and results-driven leader with more than 20 years of experience in association management, guiding organizations across the trade, technology, and health care sectors. Throughout his career, he has held executive-level positions with 17 organizations, driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.

Before joining Kellen, Bryan served as Chief Growth Officer and Chief Consultant at Bostrom, where he led initiatives to accelerate organizational growth and enhance client value. In this role, he oversaw business development, nurtured Account Executive talent, monitored emerging trends to inform new service offerings, and directed Bostrom’s client operations—including finance, marketing, meetings, HR, IT, and Bostrom’s Consulting Division.

An active contributor to the association community, Bryan serves on the Board of Directors for Association Forum and as Treasurer of the Association Education Alliance. He is a recipient of Association Forum’s Forty Under 40 Award (2017), a graduate of ASAE’s Future Leaders Program (2013), and earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2020.

Residing in the Chicago area with his family, Bryan channels his passion for motocross by teaching, providing private instruction, and competing in regional events.

Tomas Babicky

Senior Association Manager

Tomas works as European Affairs Manager at the European Rental Association (ERA). Tomas is responsible for the public affairs activities of ERA and for its projects related to sustainability, circular economy and digitalization. 

Tomas also works as the EU Public Affairs Manager at the European Portable Battery Association (EPBA) and at the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and is involved in the EU advocacy of several clients in the chemicals sector. 

Prior to joining Kellen, Tomas worked as a diplomat at the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union, focusing on EU trade policy. Before that he worked as an EU policies specialist at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Czech Republic in Prague. 

Tomas holds a Master´s degree in International Relations and European Studies from Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic and a postgraduate certificate in International Trade and Investment from Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Tomas speaks English, Czech, French and some German. 

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Carole Bachmann

Senior Association Manager

Carole Bachmann is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the construction equipment and building systems industry.  

She joined Kellen in 2013 as Manager of the European Rental Association (ERA). Since 2023, she has been the Secretary General of EPBA, the European Portable Battery Association. Additionally, she manages financial services and administration at the Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance (IAMA), based in Hamburg, Germany.  

In her role as Associate Director at Kellen, she assists the BCEE (Building, Construction, Energy and Environment) Cluster Leader in his task, providing comprehensive support and collaboration to ensure the efficient functioning of the cluster’s operations. 

Carole holds a degree from ESSEC Business School in France. 

 

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Marco Baldoli

Associate Director

Marco has extensive experience in association management. While his core expertise is in the field of European Regulation and Public Affairs, he works as a bridge-builder between different environments, sharing complicated legal knowledge with different audiences in an understandable manner. Marco knows how to monitor policies and how to craft strategies for associations in order to make change happen, ensure membership growth and increased awareness of specific topics. After several of years in Brussels, he has built a unique contact base across different sectors and policy areas in Brussels and beyond.

Marco serves as Secretary General for FERM, the European Federation of Rice Millers, as Secretary General for TomatoEurope, which represents the tomato processing industry in the EU and as Executive Director of APEP, the European Potash Producers Association.

Marco holds a Master’s degree in Law (L.L.M.) from La Sapienza University of Rome. Before working for Kellen, he worked as a legal consultant both in Rome and London before moving to Brussels in 2015 to work for FoodDrinkEurope.

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Marian Brestovansky

Associate Director

Marian is a Senior Association Manager at Kellen and has over seven years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Marian has expertise specifically in the management of industry associations and in European and international affairs. 

Marian worked for various international and European associations and contributed with his knowledge to deliver on their strategic goals and objectives. Marian engages with the European Commission, European Parliament and Codex Alimentarius with a clear aim of contributing to legislative procedures and standard setting. 

At Kellen, Marian currently leads the European Salmon Smokers Association and provides regulatory and policy expertise to European Salt Producers and the International Flight Services Association. 

Marian holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and EU Affairs from Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.

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Nele Devolder

Senior Vice President

Nele Devolder is Vice President of Kellen in Brussels. She has been working for Kellen for more than 20 years, is specialised in marketing and communications, and has extensive experience in the creation, set-up and management of European and global platforms, trade associations and alliances. Nele is highly involved in strategic advice on different projects and consultations for trade associations and professional societies at global level. 

Nele serves as Executive Director of ECMA, the European Candle Manufacturers Association, which is the main European industry association for the candle industry, and as Secretary General for EASEE-gas, an association representing the streamlining of energy exchange in the European gas market.  

As Vice President, Nele leads the Association Management Cluster in Brussels, which includes the supervision of teams serving over 2015 different trade associations and professional societies active in a variety of industries and sectors.  

Nele studied Communications at the EGON Hogeschool in Ghent, Belgium. She is a Belgian national and speaks Dutch (mother tongue), English, French and German

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Olga Karline Henkele

Senior Manager

Olga is a public affairs and policy professional with extensive experience representing European industry interests within the EU regulatory landscape, with a particular focus on sustainability, energy, and industrial competitiveness policies.

Olga serves as Acting Secretary General of EPBA- Consumer Batteries Europe, where she leads EU-level stakeholder engagement and works to further strengthen EPBA’s positioning as a thought-leading voice for the consumer and portable batteries industry. She also oversees advocacy, policy, and public affairs strategies for the European Association for the Streamlining of Energy Exchange – Gas (EASEE-gas) and the European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA).

Previously, Olga advised clients on EU energy, trade, and sustainability policies at a Brussels-based public affairs consultancy and gained experience in both law firm and European Commission environments.

She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International and European Law from Ghent University and combines legal expertise, EU policy insight, and strong stakeholder engagement skills to effectively represent industry interests in Brussels.

Pascale Lammineur

Finance Director

Pascale Lammineur is the Finance Director at Kellen. Pascale is responsible for all financial matters related to Kellen and our clients. Pascale is also responsible for leading the Finance Team in Brussels and together with her team she ensures working towards achieving the strategic goals for our clients and Kellen. 

Pascale joined Kellen back in 2009 as a Senior Accountant. Pascale holds a Master’s degree in Commercial and Maritime Sciences from Lessius Antwerp and an Executive Master in Controlling from Vlerick Business School. 

Before joining Kellen, Pascale worked for KBC and for a family owned company in Belgium. 

Sofie Cabeceiro Luiz

HR Director

Sofie Cabeceiro Luiz is the HR Director and an active member of the Leadership Team at Kellen in Europe. ‎Sofie has 20+ years of experience in the HR field and is involved in defining and delivering on the ‎strategic objectives directly linked with people’s ‎growth. Sofie ensures that Kellen finds the right candidates who both fit the Kellen values and help clients to meet their objectives and goals.   

At Kellen, Sofie is responsible for both the Kellen consultants as well as the ‎internal staff. This includes recruitment, onboarding, engagement, ‎learning and development, compensation and benefits and stakeholder ‎management. Sofie ensures diversity across many levels and is a trusted Leader amongst the whole team. 

Before joining Kellen, Sofie worked for Accenture as an HR Business Partner.   

Sofie holds a Master’s Degree in Translation in Dutch, English and Portuguese and additionally, Sofie is a Gallup certified strength coach, trained in HR management from Cornell ‎University and Accenture.

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Lucie McMurty

Senior Manager

Lucie is a Senior Manager at Kellen and serves as Secretary-General for the Association of Manufacturers and Formulators of Enzyme Products (AMFEP).

She is a biologist by training, holding a BA in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Plant Genetics from Wageningen University. She combines her scientific expertise with strong experience in EU food policy and regulatory affairs. She previously worked in consultancy and trade associations on policy and regulation linked to food safety and plant and industrial biotechnology.

Gert Meylemans

Vice President

Gert Meylemans is a Vice President at Kellen Europe. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, he oversees operations with a specific focus on Communications, HR, Finance, and Administration. As the Communications Director, he also concurrently leads the Kellen Corporate Communications activities and the Communications Team in Brussels, consisting of four Communication Professionals, while being part of the Brussels’ management team.

Gert’s main client is EUROBAT – the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers. In his role as General Manager for EUROBAT, Gert reports to the association’s President and Board, ensuring strategic and operational alignment with the Secretariat’s staff.

Gert is a highly experienced communications executive with expertise in branding, positioning, social media, and all aspects of both internal and external communications.

He holds a degree in Marketing and Communications and has 35 years of expertise. He has international experience in automotive PR and corporate communications. Gert has previously worked at Nissan Belux, Bridgestone EMEA, and as a freelance communications consultant.

Nuria Moreno

Associate Director

Nuria brings over 8 years’ experience in association management for a variety of global and European food industry associations. Currently, Nuria acts as the Secretary-General of the European Vegetable Protein Association (EUVEPRO) and the European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA). Her expertise ranges from regulatory affairs and advocacy on food ingredients, to Codex Alimentarius and ISO standards, as well as (agricultural) sustainability topics. In addition, she has guided associations through strategic exercises and governance changes. 

Nuria holds a Master’s degree in European Public Affairs from Maastricht University (The Netherlands), with a focus on EU decision-making and interest representation.  

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Chiara Naddeo

Senior Manager

Chiara is a dedicated Senior Manager at Kellen Europe, where she serves as Secretary General of the International Cellulosics Association and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the European Vegetable Protein Association, the European Potash Producers Association, and the European Food & Fermentation Cultures Association.

A graduate with honors from the School of International Studies at the University of Trento, Chiara specialized in European and International Studies. She gained early professional experience as a research assistant focusing on food safety and trade, and as an intern at the Italian Embassy in Switzerland.

With a strong focus on food and regulatory affairs, Chiara is deeply passionate about environmental issues and is committed to making a positive impact through her work.

Adriana Nosewicz

Director

Adriana has spent almost 15 years working with European associations. Adriana is a lawyer by training and she has worked for a series of food associations including European Potato Processors Association, International Stevia Council and Soft Drinks Europe. 

Adriana is leads the Food Cluster in Brussels and supports colleagues in strategic direction of the associations they manage at Kellen. 

Adriana also works as the Managing Director of the European Salt Producers’ Association and manages two smaller associations, one European and one international. 

Adriana is fluent in Polish, English, Italian, has good knowledge of French and a basic understanding of Dutch. 

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Carl-Eric Portaels

Senior Association Manager

Carl-Eric Portaels has solid experience within European policy work and industry associations. Before joining Kellen, Carl-Eric ‎worked for associations representing the lighting industry and the plastics PET sector. He mostly works with topics linked to sustainability and more specifically related to the Green Deal. Carl-Eric’s last position was at the Minderoo Foundation. This gave him an in-depth understanding of how NGOs work.

At Kellen, Carl-Eric works as the European Affairs Manager for the European Portable Batteries Association and as the coordinator for the Flexible Plastics Alliance. Carl-Eric also oversees the policy and advocacy work for Tomato Europe.  

Carl-Eric holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Vesalius College in Brussels and a Master’s in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Finally, Carl-Eric specialised in EU external relations with a master’s degree in EU Diplomacy from the College of Europe.

Carl-Eric is a Belgian national and speaks French, Dutch and English.

Ana Rivas

Senior Manager

Ana Rivas is a seasoned competition lawyer with over six years of experience in public affairs and regulatory advocacy, specializing in sustainability within industrial sectors such as chemicals, circular economy products, and energy.

As part of the Public Affairs team, she excels at driving impactful technical and political advocacy strategies to ensure meaningful engagement and clear, actionable, and effective policy recommendations are integrated into legislation. This empowers the associations she represents to foster business growth and continuity while advancing their long-term goals.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Ana brings a global perspective to her work, enabling her to build strong connections across diverse audiences and a wide range of stakeholders.

Before joining Kellen, Ana gained extensive experience at a top-tier consultancy in Brussels and within the EU Public Affairs, Regulation, and Antitrust Department of one of Europe’s largest multinational energy companies.

Ana is a qualified lawyer, holding a double bachelor’s degree in law and EU & International Advocacy from CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. She also earned a master’s degree in EU Competition and Intellectual Property Law from the University of Liège in Belgium.

Simona Romeo

Associate Director

Simona is a Senior Communications Manager and joined Kellen in 2023. She has strong expertise in strategic communications, with experience in all aspects of external and policy communications.

At Kellen, Simona works as Senior Communications Manager for EUROBAT, the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers, and is Strategic Communications Manager for the Association of Manufacturers and Formulators of Enzyme Products (AMFEP).

Simona has a BA in Foreign Languages and Communications and an MA in International Relations from Hult Business School. Her previous experience also includes media analysis, event organization, EU affairs, advertising, media relations and communications campaigns.

Jakub Rusek

Associate Director

Jakub holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Munich (LMU) and a Post-Graduate Master in European Studies. Jakub worked in several EU affairs organisations as well as the European Parliament and the European Commission on technical and science topics directly related to food, health and the environment. Prior to joining Kellen, Jakub was working in a sectorial association dealing with nutrition, analytics, additives, contaminants and raw materials.

At Kellen, Jakub serves as Secretary General of the European Food and Fermentation Cultures Association (EFFCA) and provides regulatory and scientific support for the Association of Manufacturers and Formulators of Enzyme Products (AMFEP), the European Federation of Rice Millers (FERM) and the International Cellulosics Association (ICA).

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Maria Teresa Scardigli

Executive Vice President & Managing Director

Since 2022, Maria Teresa Scardigli has been the Managing Director for the European Operations of the Kellen office in Brussels. 

Maria Teresa leads the strategic direction of Kellen on a European level and supervises more than 45 professionals servicing around 35 trade associations and professional societies on both European and international levels. 

Maria Teresa ‎has strong knowledge and expertise in the food sector with more than 20 years of experience in European public affairs, interest representation and strategic management of trade associations. Maria Teresa provides strategic advice to European and international trade associations on topics such as governance, strategic planning, association reorganisation, membership fees restructuring and mergers of associations. She also helps associations to be incorporated under Belgian Law and under US Law. She acts – amongst others – as the Executive Director of the International Stevia Council, the trade association representing the interests of the stevia industry on a global level. 

Maria Teresa Scardigli graduated from the University of Rome with a Law Degree and received a Post-Master’s degree in European and Community Law from the European University Center of the University of Nancy in France. 

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Stefan Thomann

Senior Association Manager

Stefan Thomann is a Senior Association Manager at Kellen, with 15 years of experience in managing national, European and international associations. Stefan has a strong passion for science and technology which helps him to understand very technical products and context in the associations he works for. Stefan is also the convenor of a CEN standardisation committee. 

Stefan serves as Technical Director for ECMA, the European Candle Manufacturers Association, as Secretary General for the European Certification Board for Mineral Wool Products (EUCEB), as General Manager for Association Euro-Qualiflex (AEQ) and as Managing Director for the RAL Quality Association for Phase Change Materials (Gütegemeinschaft PCM). 

Prior to joining Kellen, Stefan worked for an Association Management Company in Germany and before that, he worked as the Lab Manager of an independent testing organization. 

Stefan holds a state examination degree in Food Chemistry from Hohenheim University (Germany). 

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Alfons Westgeest

Board Member

As of 2022, Alfons Westgeest is Kellen’s Board member for global development, and Maria Teresa Scardigli is the Managing Director for the European operations from our office in Brussels, Belgium. 

Alfons supervises Kellen’s Beijing office, which has recently expanded to serve multiple international associations in China. He is also responsible for Kellen’s strategic affiliates in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. 

Alfons has expertise in various sectors including automotive, engineering, electronics, food, health care, construction, and financial services. 

A graduate of Leyden University in the Netherlands, he holds a Master’s degree in Commercial and European law and was previously a partner at EY. He is co-moderator of the European Government Affairs Roundtable and teaches international lobbying at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) 

Alfons is a former Board member of ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) and ASAE Fellow since 2006. In addition, he received the 2011 ‘Outstanding Contribution to EU Public Affairs’ award. 

Jessica Jai

Director

Jessica joined Kellen in May 2015 and has solid experience in association management and leading account teams for a variety of global professional societies and industry association, representing the association towards members, volunteer leadership and partners across the region. 

Jessica is an experienced account leader, offering strategic and operational support to a variety of clients, and possessing strong skills in process leadership and overall team management, liaison with members, and oversee daily operations with a focus on special client events and programs. 

Since the FNGO Law came into force on January 1, 2017, Jessica has been involved in advising clients, including search and communications with Chinese Partners and PSU, coordination in details on all the procedural application of the registration of Rep Office, as well as managing the operations after the Rep Office is set up. 

Prior to Kellen Company Jessica worked at the China National Convention Center, responsibility for planning and implementing overseas promotion activities, coordinate and maintain the relationship with international industry associations, international market research as well as advice local origination to bid for international conference. 

Maria Wang

Account Manager

Maria joined Kellen in April 2012 and has 10 years of experience in association ‎management. She coordinates the regulatory initiatives for key clients in the food and ‎pharma industry, including monitoring new regulations, producing quarterly regulatory ‎digests, coordinating the solicitation of comments and input on draft regulations and ‎national standards (i.e. GB standards). Maria is also sharing industry positions to government ‎stakeholders, e.g. MARA, NHC, as well as Chinese counterpart associations. 

Maria also ‎coordinates the planning and execution of a working group representing global companies ‎engaged in research, development, manufacturing of veterinary medicines, vaccines and ‎other animal health products. ‎ 

Maria has extensive experience in coordinating and arranging delegation visits, as well as ‎membership services, meetings/trainings support services, website content management, ‎data analysis, and desk research.

Jean Xu

Vice President

Jean is leading Kellen’s China operation, and has over 20 years of experience in the areas of government affairs and monitoring, as ‎well meeting management, marketing, business development and sales administration. ‎Jean has nearly 15 years’ experience in association management. 

Jean has led and ‎supervised various international association clients, and has developed a highly recognized ‎position in managing clients’ business in the Asia Pacific region through the restructuring of ‎operations and the management of regional Board, committee and leadership meetings. ‎Jean has achieved success in membership development and marketing in many industries ‎including food, pharma, IT and several professional service sectors. ‎ As the Head of presence in the Asia region, she has successfully led her team to execute multiple projects related to the review and strategic assessment of prospective clients who are planning to enter the Chinese market, and current clients who would like to enhance their fluence in the industry. 

Prior to joining Kellen, Jean served as Assistant Director and Marketing Supervisor for the ‎Beijing International Finance Forum, a United Nations backed organization that provides a ‎platform for world financial leaders to contribute to the revitalization of the international ‎economy.‎ 

Jean’s experiences in management in different industries, and her intuitive working knowledge and experience of various industries throughout Asia have developed a strong business sense to make her a perfect leader to better understand client needs.