INDIANAPOLIS (July 19, 2016) – ASAE has announced that Alpha Kappa Psi’s Director of Education, Jason R. Pierce earned the Certified Association Executive designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry. Pierce joins staff members C. Steven Hartman, Miami University ’16-Honorary, Brian D. Parker, Indiana ’93-Life, and Jessica R. Seitz, Auburn ’02-Honorary/Life in receiving this designation.
“I walked into my office and the letter was there. Resting on my keyboard,” said Pierce. “I thought to myself: Did I pass or am I taking another round of study sessions this fall? I felt the envelope and was sure I had not passed. As I opened it, the first word I read was ‘Congratulations!’ and I immediately threw the letter in the air and jumped up and down a couple of times – I may have screamed out of joy, too. Earning the CAE credential is by far one of my proudest moments. It is the highest professional credential in my industry and having earned the honor and privilege of placing those three letters after my name is a tremendous feat. I look forward to continuing to serve the association industry.”
To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. More than 4,000 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential. The CAE program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 9,300 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit www.asaecenter.org.
