According to an announcement from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the organization’s chief executive officer, Arlene A. Pietranton, PhD, CAE, has been named Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update. Pietranton is one of three association leaders to be recognized as part of CEO Update’s Association Leadership Awards for 2015. The other winners were Tom Kuhn, Edison Electric Institute, who was named Trade Association CEO of the Year; and Jade West, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, who was named Association Lobbyist of the Year.

A panel of representatives from major association search firms, former association CEOs, and attorneys with association practices selected this year’s leadership award winners.

“I am deeply grateful to be recognized with this tremendous award,” Pietranton said in the ASHA announcement. “It is my pleasure and privilege to work on behalf of the nation’s audiologists and speech-language pathologists, who strive to improve the quality of life for individuals who are living with a communication disorder. My involvement in the association community has informed and enriched my work and my life. I thank CEO Update and the judging panel for designating me the 2015 Professional Society CEO of the Year.”

ASHA reports that the judging criteria for CEO of the Year included, among others, effectiveness in presenting the industry or profession story, reputation for accomplishing the association mission, and proven leadership in and outside the group.

ASHA represents 182,000 audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. As CEO, Pietranton leads a staff of more than 280 individuals. Her award will be presented at a CEO Update ceremony at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC, in September 2015.

Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

Photo credit: ASHA