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This is the first in a pilot series of occasional ASHA Executive Director update postings. This message provides an overview of ASHA's National Office. Proposed future postings in the pilot series will provide a more in-depth view of various National Office units, their key member services and the names and roles of the ASHA staff in those units. Updates regarding staff changes and ASHA National Office recognitions/awards will also be included. As many of you know, I assumed the position of ASHA Executive Director in January 2004. I would very much appreciate your candid feedback as to whether such postings are of interest to you - and what kind of ASHA National Office information/updates you would like to receive in the future.
ASHA National Office (N.O.) History
ASHA has had several names over our 79 year history. The first was the American Academy of Speech Correction (1925). The current name The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association was adopted in 1978. The first official ASHA National Office was established in 1958 at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington, DC. Subsequent National Office locations were: 9030 Old Georgetown Road (1966) and 10701 Rockville Pike (1977) In 1981 the ASHA National Office moved to its current location at 10801 Rockville Pike. Currently, approximately 225 staff work at the ASHA National Office. The current ASHA staff includes about 30 individuals from the professions of audiology or speech-language pathology and individuals with exemplary professional experience and credentials in the domains of: accounting and financial management, adult learning, association management, epidemiology, facilities management, graphic design, human resources, information systems, lobbying, marketing, meetings and conference management, postal operations, publications, public relations, research and survey methodology - just to name a few!
Current ASHA N.O.
The National Office is organized into fifteen clusters/programmatic units and is managed by a six person "Facilitating Team" (FT). The FT is composed of five "chief staff officers" (CSOs) for: audiology (Vic S. Gladstone), multicultural affairs (Vicki Deal-Williams), operations (Chuck Cochran), science and research (Brenda Lonsbury-Martin) and speech-language pathology (currently vacant) and the Executive Director (Arlene Pietranton). If ever you're unsure who to contact at the N.O., in addition to an Action Center Specialist (see information below), any of the CSOs can help connect you.
Contacting the ASHA N.O.
An important and user friendly way to access the ASHA N.O. is via the Action Center, by dialing 800-498-2071. The Action Center Specialists at the other end of the line can either answer your questions or identify who at the N.O. can. In order to reach N.O. staff by e-mail, just remember the formula first initial, last name @ asha.org (without spaces). The ASHA web site (www.asha.org) provides "24-7" access to many of ASHA's member resources.
Awards/Recognitions
ASHA received several awards in February through the Association Trends 2003 All- Media Contest:
- ASHA Leader - October 21, 2003 special health care issue - Silver award
- Hearing Health PSA Campaign - Gold award
- ASHA Web site - Bronze award
- ASHF Web site - Gold award
New N.O. Staff
The following individuals are new to the ASHA staff since January 2004:
- Brenda Darrah - Knowledge Manager, Web team
- Erinn Gorey - Registration Manager, Convention and Meetings
- Eric Pettaway - Manager, Accounts Receivable
- Ann-Marie Pierotti - Manager, Technical Assistance, Clinical Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
Feedback please!!! Please let me know if such information is of interest to you and what other topics or information you'd like to see included in future Executive Director Updates.
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