SAM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Meetings and Events
Abby Mund, CMP, serves as Director of Meetings and Events at SAM. In this position, Abby oversees the planning and execution of conferences and other meetings, working directly with partner organizations to achieve strategic goals. Abby's ability to handle unexpected challenges-such as successfully relocating an exhibit hall location within six weeks of a conference due to a natural disaster-has proven invaluable in her role at SAM.
Abby joined SAM in 2023, bringing almost a decade of association experience and more than 15 years of meeting planning experience to her role. Prior to joining SAM, Abby was founder and CEO of AM Planning, a prominent Texas-based firm in the meeting- and event-planning industry. During her tenure, Abby planned and executed large-scale conferences with more than 12,000 attendees. She also successfully transitioned in-person events to an online format while also surpassing previous attendance records, allowing her client organizations to serve more members than ever before.
Abby earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics and her master's degree in agricultural communications, both from Texas Tech University. She earned her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation in 2017. She has served in leadership roles with the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) as a member of the New Ideas Task Force and the Women's Summit Task Force.
April Ramos serves as a Meetings Manager at SAM, where she works with partner organization volunteer leaders to plan and execute conferences and meetings. She joined the SAM team in 2024 with a rich background in strategic partnerships and event management. Her ability to leverage her skills to drive success is why she thrives in dynamic environments-like SAM-that value innovation and collaboration.
Previously, April served Texas PTA as the strategic partnerships and events management for two years. In that role, she fostered impactful collaborations and orchestrated memorable events, where exhibit hall revenue grew year over year under her management.
April earned her bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies from The University of Texas at El Paso. Her past experience also includes serving as an executive assistant at 360training.com for three years, where she honed her organizational and administrative skills.
Born and raised in El Paso, April moved to Austin in 2018 to embrace new opportunities and challenges.
Brianna Saenz serves as a Meetings Manager at SAM, where she plans and executes in-person and virtual association meetings, including annual conferences, regional events, board meetings, and other events. She works directly with key volunteers and association Executive Directors to align meetings with the overall goals of each association.
Brianna has developed a strong, diverse skill set throughout her years of association management industry experience. She has a jack-of-all-trades mentality and loves to learn whenever possible, which has proven invaluable in her role at SAM. She is an altruistic force in the workplace who uses her positive attitude and enthusiastic energy to encourage others to succeed.
Brianna earned her B.S. in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University (with a focus on rural entrepreneurship). Her previous experience includes work as an executive assistant, office manager, and clinical coordinator. As an executive assistant, she helped grow the company she served from a one-man lobbying firm to a small association management company.
Brianna grew up in Premont, Texas, before moving to College Station for college. She has called Austin home since 2017.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Leader
- CAE
Devorah Jakubowsky, CAE, serves as an Account Executive at SAM. A seasoned executive, she joined SAM in 2023 with more than two decades of experience in association management. She provides executive, strategic, and operational leadership to SAM partner associations.
After years of working in the for-profit world in accounting and finance for restaurants, car dealerships, and a real estate agency, Devorah stumbled into a career in associations in 2001 at the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TMVA), where she served as the deputy executive director, responsible for membership development, member services, affinity programs, and committee oversight. In this role, she was awarded the TMVA President's Award twice. She also served as the executive director for the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA), building strategic industry relationships and improving operations and organizational processes.
She earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2010 and has served on various committees and task forces for the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE), including completing a three-year term on the Board of Directors in 2020. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Women Texas class of 2023.
Devorah is a servant leader and seeks out opportunities for volunteer service, both personally and professionally. She has lived in several cities in Texas and Nevada, but has called Pflugerville home for the past 20 years.
Donna Randall serves as a Programs Coordinator at SAM, where she provides administrative support for client programs and services. Her past experience in the association space, as well as her passion for service, have proven invaluable in her role at SAM.
Donna's past experience includes serving as administrative assistant for the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA), with a focus on membership management and the TOMA educational credits program. Prior to her association experience, she was the office manager of a legal recruiting firm and an attorney relations assistant at a large law firm in Philadelphia.
Donna graduated Magna Cum Laude from Shepherd University with a bachelor's degree in communications, and she is working toward her CAE (Certified Association Executive) certification.
She was born in Maryland but has lived in more than seven states, with her second stint in Austin beginning in April of 2021.
Emily Armstrong serves as a Communications Manager at SAM, where she utilizes her experience in communications, theatre, and social work to approach complex problems with a creative eye. She also serves as the SAM Employee Connections Manager, where she manages and drives SAM efforts to bring culture and connection to life through staff activities and experiences. She describes her unique background as being a perfect combination of people and storytelling, both playing a large part in who she is as a person and an employee.
As a Communications Manager, Emily works to execute and manage effective and brand-affirming projects that support the overall communication goals of partner associations.
She is a native Californian but a lover of new places, and Emily left her hometown to graduate from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a bachelor's degree in strategic communication and minors in theatre and social work. She then chose to move to Austin with the desire to expand her worldview and ultimately seek discomfort.
Kameron Flemming serves as a Programs Coordinator at SAM, where she provides administrative support for multiple partner associations' programs and services. She joined SAM in early 2024 with several years of experience in the association and nonprofit space.
Prior to SAM, Kameron served as an administrative assistant with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which is part of the Texas Bar Association. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in management from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Born and raised in Austin, Kameron grew up as a competitive volleyball player. Outside of work, she enjoys working out, yoga, hiking, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Kathleen Smith serves as a Finance Manager at SAM. She manages the financial operations of multiple clients by collecting, interpreting, and reviewing financial information, as well as ensuring all financial data is accurately reported.
Previously, Kathleen was CFO at ECPR Texas, a large Austin-based communications firm, where she oversaw all financial and nonclient facing operations-and helped grow the company from five to 20+ employees. She also served as a programs and travel coordinator and building manager at Texas Exes. Among other duties, she assisted with logistics for Flying Longhorn trips and a number of Texas Exes events.
Kathleen has a long history of volunteer service, including serving as a UT Ambassador with Texas Exes, greeter for the first and second Formula 1 races in Austin, and group leader with the Ascending Leaders program.
Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Katy McDowall serves as a Senior Communications Manager at SAM, where she develops effective messaging and branding to meet the communications and marketing goals of partner associations. She also serves as SAM Head of Communications and leads the communications team strategies and services. With more than a decade of communications, project management, and editorial experience, Katy is able to focus on big-picture communications strategy for the partners she serves, as well as dive into the details to ensure that her teams' and partners' goals become a reality.
Prior to SAM, Katy served as editor for an independent educational publisher for seven years. She started her time there as an editorial assistant and grew to lead the editorial team while managing the production, editing, and marketing of 40-plus titles a year. In that role, she also managed conference exhibitions and copyright permissions, implemented new processes to increase team efficiency, and developed new marketing initiatives to promote products.
Katy earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Baylor University and her master's degree in journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. Her past experience also includes working in higher education communications and writing, editing, and designing for print and online publications.
Katy grew up in the Houston area and has called Austin home since 2012.
Kristin Graham, M.Ed., serves as an Account Director at SAM, where she serves partner organizations primarily through overseeing partnerships, professional learning, and operational success.
Kristin joined SAM in 2022 after serving for 14 years as a teacher and leader in gifted education in Houston and Shanghai. In her career as an educator, she developed multiple new initiatives and programs, including a vanguard mastery learning cohort and organization-wide training and professional development. She has a strong background in strategic planning, managing competing priorities and resources, and keeping the big picture in mind.
She earned her bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in education from Texas A&M University.
Previously, Kristin was an active member of the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented and now gets to serve the association as a staff member. She loves to help organizations operate at their best and empower their members to accomplish their goals. She loves getting to learn and experience new things through her work and keeps a service-first mindset with her teammates and partners.
Kristin grew up in Tyler, Texas, and has lived in College Station, Houston, and Shanghai. She moved to Austin in January 2022.
Lauren Turner, CAE, CMP, serves as an Account Director at SAM. She joined the SAM team in 2024 with more than 12 years of association experience and a proven passion for innovation and drive for excellence.
Prior to SAM, Lauren spent a decade with the Houston Apartment Association, where she worked her way up to the role of Vice President of Education and Outreach. In that role, Lauren oversaw multiple departmental budgets within a three-fold nonprofit and for-profit budget structure, supervised education department staff, and oversaw all education foundation education programs. She honed her skills in relationship-building and her ability to thrive in dynamic environments where she can leverage her creativity and problem-solving abilities to drive results.
Lauren earned her bachelor's degree in hospitality administration from Stephen F. Austin University, and achieved her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) credential in 2016 and Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2020. She is active in both regional and national professional organizations, including the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She serves as a 2022-2025 TSAE board member and is also recipient of the 2019 TSAE Young Professional of the Year Award. She also served as 2023 Houston Society of Association Executives (HSAE) president.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and son, going on family bike rides and being outside. She grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has called Houston home since 2012.
Mary Beth Kiser, CAE, serves as an Account Executive for SAM, serving in the strategic management role for clients and also on the internal team focused on business development and best practices in operations.
Mary Beth joined SAM in 2020 with more than 17 years in association and nonprofit management. She has served as the President and CEO of Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF), a nonprofit rare disease research organization, since 2012. Previously, Mary Beth was the Senior Vice President and COO for Texas Land Title Association (TLTA), a 100-plus-year-old statewide trade association.
Mary Beth received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. She earned the designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2009 and a Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership in 2014.
Mary Beth is engaged in industry activities and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, AMC Institute, Mission Capital, and the Texas Society of Association Executives, where she has served as a board member, conference chair, awards committee chair, and mentor to the Leadership TSAE program. She regularly participates as an instructor in the CAE study course for TSAE and has presented for their educational programs several times.
Megan Kaufmann serves as a Programs Coordinator at SAM, where she provides administrative support for multiple associations. She joined SAM in early 2023 after earning her degree in communication and leadership from The University of Texas at Austin in December 2022.
As part of her certificate in social entrepreneurship and nonprofits, she interned with two nonprofits in her time at the University of Texas. With the Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Service, she served as a development intern, and with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, she served as a research intern. Both roles focused her passion for nonprofits, which led to her interest in SAM, where she assists staff in achieving the goals of several partner associations' volunteer leaders. Working for associations and nonprofit programs appealed to her desire to help others make the world a better place.
Megan was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, moved to Austin to attend college, fell in love with the area, and made it her permanent home.
Megan Woodburn, CAE, is founder and Co-CEO of Strategic Association Management (SAM), an association management company based in Austin, Texas. She is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years experience working with local, statewide, national, and international associations and nonprofits.
Megan began her career organizing and leading fundraising campaigns for a national advocacy organization. It wasn't long before she was directing the administrative functions of more than 60 offices across the country as part of its national campaign team.
In 2005, Megan returned to her home state of Texas, and became a fundraising associate for a statewide professional association known for its influence at the state capitol. It was then that she decided to dedicate her career to association management. Megan has since managed multiple statewide leadership boards, local affiliates, and national associations. Her expertise includes finance and budgeting, board management, fundraising, member growth and retention, and event management.
In 2010, Megan earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential awarded by the American Society of Association Executives. 2011 was a big year for Megan, as that was the year she was awarded the Young Professional Leadership Award by the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE), as well as the year she founded SAM. In the community, Megan currently serves as a board member for the AMC Institute and for the Austin Monitor, a nonprofit news organization. She has also served on the boards of the Texas Lyceum, EO Austin, and TSAE. In 2014, Megan served as a leader of the YMCA of Austin's Annual Fundraising Campaign where they raised $1.1 million.
Megan is a passionate traveler and has visited every continent, except Antarctica. She once lived in Tanzania for a year where she worked with the Jane Goodall Institute. Megan is a graduate of the Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons.
Family: I have a husband and three sweet boys.
Outside of work, I love... to travel, and I am lucky because I do a lot for work.
Michele Gonzalez, CMP, serves as a Senior Meetings Manager at SAM, where she supports partner organization volunteer leaders by providing end-to-end event management, including overseeing timelines, logistics, budgets, program development, and negotiations. She joined the SAM team in 2024 with more than two decades of experience in association and industry-related roles.
Previously, Michele served as deputy director of events at the Texas Tribune, where she worked with the editorial, revenue, and development departments to create topical and relevant events to support the news site's mission. Among other roles, she has also worked as senior event coordinator at the Austin Convention Center for eight years, and prior to that, held three concurrent positions with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, including convention operations and special events director, professional development director, and associate director of the Parity Project.
Michele earned her bachelor's degree in radio, television, and film from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. An active volunteer, Michele is a member of Meetings Professional International (MPI), International Association of Exhibits and Expositions (IAEE), and International Association of Venue Management (IAVM). She is a board member of the MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter (MPI THCC) and was awarded MPI THCC's Planner of the Year in 2023 and Committee of the Year (Education) in 2023. She earned her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation in 2021, and also is Cvent-certified in event diagramming and virtual events, MPI-certified in inclusive event strategies, and PCMA Leadership Institute-certified in pandemic meeting/event design and technical (AV) meeting and event design.
Michele grew up in Louisiana, has lived in Washington, DC, and Irving, Texas, and has called Austin home for more than 15 years.
Noelle Parsons, CAE, serves as an Account Manager at SAM, working closely with various client partners. She joined SAM in 2022 with more than 10 years of experience in the association world.
Prior to SAM, Noelle worked at the Texas Hospital Association (THA) for eight years in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility. She served as THA's Manager of Corporate Relations, where she was responsible for building non-dues revenue for THA and its family of companies through sponsorships, exhibits, and advertising sales.
Noelle graduated summa cum laude from Trinity University with her bachelor's degree in Human Communication and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (with a minor in theater for fun). In 2019, she completed her master's degree at the University of Texas in the Human Dimensions of Organizations, an executive graduate program focused on developing leadership skills to create lasting and effective change in organizations.
She is active in the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) with experience serving on several of its committees, as well as being named the recipient of TSAE's 2018 Young Professional Leadership Award. She was a member of the TSAE Toastmasters chapter from 2015-2020, though she loved public speaking long before that experience. In 2023, she was thrilled to be selected as part of the cohort for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) NextGen Association Summit, where she was the only Texan in attendance. She earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2024.
Noelle is a native Austinite.
Olivia Whaley serves as a Senior Meetings Manager at SAM, where she plans and executes conferences and events, including oversight of overall timelines and planning, logistics, budgets, programming, and hotel and contract negotiations. She works directly with key volunteers and association Executive Directors to align meetings with the overall goals of each association. She joined SAM in 2014.
Olivia graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in public relations. During her time there, she was a member of Texas Spirits and Alpha Phi sorority.
Olivia is from Longview, Texas. She is passionate about rescuing animals and loves to travel. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Ryan and their two children, Parker and Jett.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- CAE
Paulina van Eeden Hill, CAE, serves as Chief Operating Officer at SAM, where she applies her extensive association management experience to impact organizations and members through strategic planning and execution, board governance, staff management, and member program and learning development. She also serves on the SAM Executive Leadership Team, overseeing day-to-day operations, driving strategic initiatives and ensuring companywide alignment with SAM's goals and objectives.
Prior to joining SAM in 2018, with more than a dozen years of experience working with associations, she served as Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT), leading strategy around professional development, events, business development, and governance. Her experience also includes serving as the convention experience manager at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), events manager at the Texas PTA, and meetings and communications manager for the Texas Association for School Nutrition (TASN).
She holds a degree in communications from The University of Texas at Austin and earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- Member of the Society for Human Resource Management
Rachel Grant serves as Operations Manager at SAM, overseeing day-to-day logistics, office management, IT, human resources processes, and financial coordination, and providing executive assistance to the SAM Co-CEOs.
After graduating from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, with a bachelor's degree in communication studies, Rachel worked at Special Olympics Wisconsin for three years, solidifying her penchant for nonprofit work.
She moved to Austin in 2012 and spent three years working in admissions and programs at Jeremiah Program, a holistic model for helping single mother families out of poverty. Prior to joining SAM, Rachel became Salesforce certified and worked as a project coordinator for a Salesforce consulting firm for nonprofits. Landing at SAM in the Operations Manager role in late 2016 blended Rachel's interest in working with mission-driven organizations with her day-to-day operations and administrative skillsets.
Rachel is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP), and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Roshan Bhatt serves as a Senior Communications Manager at SAM, where he develops effective messaging and branding to meet the communications and marketing goals of partner associations.
A marketing professional with more than a decade of experience, Roshan has a strong background in brand marketing, social media and email communications, copywriting and editing, and content creation. His past experience includes working as a marketing manager for a Colorado-based food service training company and a digital account manager for a Houston-based full-service marketing firm.
Roshan earned his bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in marketing from the University of Houston.
Born and raised in Houston, he has called Austin home since 2022.
Sarah Vlcek, CAE, serves as an Account Director at SAM, with a focus on member relations and membership strategies for clients. Sarah joined the SAM team in 2019 after working for various local, state, and national nonprofit associations in both Austin and Chicago over more than 15 years. Having worked with association members from a variety of industries, including philanthropy, law, and health care, Sarah is adept at serving diverse membership bases to help make associations the strongest and best they can be.
Sarah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in French. She is a member of the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). After a lifetime in the Midwest, Sarah made Austin her home in 2015.
Shari Noonan, CAE, CMP, serves as an Account Executive at SAM, where she serves multiple partner organizations by managing association operations and planning and executing conferences and events.
Shari joined the SAM team in 2023 with more than 30 years of experience with associations and nonprofits that first started with Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP). After six years with TAFP, she moved to Texas Medical Association (TMA) and worked on its Association Management Services (AMS) team, a full-service management department, for 25 years. There, she managed and served as Executive Director for several medical associations, including Texas Urological Society (TUS), Texas Chapter of American College of Cardiology (TCACC), and Texas Society of Pathologists (TSP).
Shari is originally from Austin, but now calls Canyon Lake home, which was a dream of hers for most of her adult life. She enjoys nature, hiking, and water activities. She is also an avid reader.
Stacey Jones, CMP, serves as a Meetings Manager at SAM. In this position, Stacey takes charge of end-to-end event management, overseeing timelines, logistics, budgets, program development, and negotiations. Her direct collaboration with association staff and valued volunteers ensures that every event is a resounding success. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Stacey consistently delivers outstanding results.
Stacey embarked on her career as a meeting professional in 2007 and joined the SAM team in 2023. Prior to joining the meeting-planning industry, she dedicated 16 years to human resources at a prominent medical device manufacturing company. Additionally, Stacey is an alumna of Trinity University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Stacey is an avid supporter of Longhorn sports and a passionate Houston Astros fan. She finds joy in playing golf, exploring new literary worlds, and embarking on adventures with her family. Stacey's deep affection for her golden retrievers, who hold a special place in her heart, reflects her nurturing nature.
Stephanie Carter, BSN RN, serves as an Account Manager at SAM. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit operations, fundraising, event planning, and grassroots organizing, Stephanie brings a diverse array of skills and perspectives to her role, including years of practicing as an ER nurse.
Prior to joining SAM, Stephanie served as president of the Will Davis Parent Teacher Association and led a team to meet its fundraising and membership goals while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also worked as a business development associate for an Austin-based program that recruits and trains community leaders.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in biology and magna cum laude from Texas Tech University's rigorous second-degree BSN program. She practiced as an ER nurse at South Austin Medical Center, where she learned to think critically and collaborate with a team to achieve positive patient outcomes in a fast-paced environment. Stephanie was nominated by colleagues and patients, and was selected to receive the ICARE award for compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence.
Steve Durham serves as an Account Executive at SAM. He joined the SAM team in 2023 with almost a decade of association experience in finance, operations, and programming.
Steve's previous experience includes serving as director of financial operations for Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) since 2015. He received TOMA's Meritorious Service Award in 2019. The statewide award is granted to one individual each year, and Steve is the only non-physician ever to receive the award.
Steve graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in economics. Prior to his work in associations, he worked in the insurance industry, reporting to the CFO of several companies, including a subsidiary of The Travelers Insurance Group.
Steve was born in Fort Worth and has lived in Austin since 2004.
Taty Harris-Simpson serves as a Programs Coordinator at SAM, where she provides administrative support for a variety of client programs and services. She joined SAM in 2023.
Taty's position at SAM is her first experience working with associations, but her previous experience as an executive assistant and in handling client relations serves her well in her current role. A service-minded professional, Taty has a passion for helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals and become the best possible versions of themselves.
Taty graduated from the University of North Texas in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in social sciences. While there, her main focuses were psychology, sociology, and social work.
She was born and raised in Dallas but moved to Austin in 2022 to be closer to her husband's family.
Tiffany Ritter, CFRE, serves as an Account Director at SAM. Tiffany joined the SAM team in 2023 with 20 years of experience in nonprofit and association leadership, fundraising, and event planning.
Before joining SAM, Tiffany served as fundraising director for multiple nonprofit organizations, including Creative Action, Keep Austin Beautiful, and March of Dimes, where she fostered lasting relationships with donors, transforming them into lifelong supporters of these organizations. She also worked on the meetings and events teams, creating memorable experiences for attendees and achieving significant fundraising milestones.
Tiffany graduated from Texas State University with a degree in communications. She obtained her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2018 and is a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Austin Essential Class. Tiffany has also served as a Girl Scout troop leader and on the board of Austin Fundraising Professionals.
Tiffany grew up in East Texas and has lived in Austin since 2002.