Who We Are
SBI is made up of a talented and well-rounded team of subject matter experts who wear multiple hats. Our integrated team structure creates an environment of open collaboration, flexibility, and innovation to support the evolving needs of our association clients.
Our unique internal structure is comprised of five Centers of Excellence (COEs):
- Executive Services
- Member Services
- Meetings & Events
- Marketing & Communications
- Finance & Operations
Specialists from each COE make up the various teams that support our association clients.
Executive Team
Alope Pardee
President
Alope leads the day-to-day operations of SBI, working closely with SBI’s executive leadership team as well as managing the finance team. With more than two decades of experience at SBI, Alope has extensive knowledge regarding SBI and its clients. She has served in numerous roles as the company has grown and designed many of the office procedures, client financial systems, and service standards that provide the strong operational infrastructure SBI’s client partners rely on. She also oversees client transitions and has proudly worked to achieve and maintain accreditation status for SBI from the AMC Institute. She likes that each day at SBI is different, and champions a culture that allows staff to have a lot of fun while doing great work.
Lindsay Jennings
Vice President of Business Development
Lindsay oversees SBI’s business development and client growth initiatives and serves as Managing Director of the International Ombudsman Association. With more than a decade of experience with SBI, she has worn many hats and been a key contributor to the development of SBI’s collaborative and technology-driven approach to association management. As a Seattle native, she has been involved with local non-profits for many years and is inspired on a daily basis by SBI’s awesome, hardworking team. Lindsay especially enjoys onboarding new clients and the opportunity to build relationships and learn from so many passionate volunteer leaders in a wide variety of industries. In her off time, she can be found cooking for friends and exploring the tidepools and forested mountains of the San Juan Islands with her family.
Louise S. Miller, MA, CAE
Vice President of Executive Services
With more than 25 years of association management experience, Louise serves as Executive Director of several of SBI’s largest and/or national clients. She provides best-practice counsel to the staff and all of our clients. Her expertise includes strategic planning and governance, fiscal management and budgeting, educational program development, credentialing, and large event management. Louise is particularly proud of leading ADRP from an all-volunteer-managed association to one with professional staff, and seeing the resulting growth in membership, conference attendance, and reserves.
Member Services
Kelsi Brisebois
Senior Member Services Coordinator
Kelsi comes to SBI with a background in Association Management. She has supported many clients focusing on areas of member services and coordinating meetings & conference. Kelsi’s top strengths are her attention to details while owning projects, building client relationships, and creating efficiencies throughout processes. In her off time, she can be found spending time with her family, watching sports, and exploring new places to eat.
Stephanie Couch, VEMM
Member Services Coordinator
Stephanie Couch comes to SBI from the world of theater. Actor, director, writer, producer, front of house, behind-the-scenes, teaching artist – she has done it all! She is excited to bring her creative mind and talents to the SBI stage and continue the customer service excellence that SBI is known for as a part of the Member Services team. An avid photographer, Stephanie can usually be found behind a camera in her downtime or in her backyard gardening.
Sadie Countryman
Member Services Coordinator
Sadie was born and raised in the Great Pacific Northwest and loves the rain, thank you very much! She has a varied background in customer service ranging from retail to college life (housing) and admissions. Sadie comes to us from the Central Washington University – Lynnwood Center campus, where she wore many hats both as a first-generation college student and as a student leader. She enjoys taking on new and varied challenges and tasks and finds satisfaction in being an essential part of the team and supporting others to succeed. Sadie is an avid subscriber of Webster’s “word of the day” and when she’s not knee-deep in to-dos she can be found in a big comfy chair with a book or daydreaming about her next side project. One day she plans to drive from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic… and back again.
Tiffany Hanzo
Director of Member Services
Tiffany has been with SBI since 2016, and has grown among the member services ranks to become our Director of Member Services, while also serving as Executive Director of National Association of Environmental Professionals and Washington Recreation and Park Association. Prior to working with SBI, Tiffany worked in a management role with Boys and Girls Clubs, supporting event planning, managing teen programming, and executing club-wide correspondence. Tiffany is studying to become a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and recently was recognized as Washington Society of Association Executives Rising Star. She has been instrumental in overhauling WRPA’s membership structure and growth over the past several years, as well as supporting NAEP in their Strategic Planning and Bylaws rebuilding efforts. Tiffany is respected in our company for her energetic leadership style, organizational efficiency and high productivity, and comprehensive knowledge of SBI effective practices and systems.
Michael Majdalany, CAE
Association Executive
Michael Majdalany, CAE, spent 10 years at Sun Microsystems, where he was last the Director of Worldwide Marketing for the Academic & Research Computing group, having helped Sun build its education market into a $600 million business. A 20 year veteran of the computer industry, Majdalany has a broad international background that includes four years in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to Sun, Majdalany helped launch a start-up, Wedge Innovations, as director of marketing. He began his marketing career with four years at Hewlett-Packard as product manager and channel marketing manager. On the technical side, he spent four years as a software developer, focusing on enterprise management solutions. Majdalany has an MBA from Stanford as well as a M.S. in Engineering from MIT, and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics from SUNY Buffalo. He is fluent in French and Arabic. Michael has memberships with AMC Institute and the American Society of Association Executives.
Kelley Santos
Member Services Coordinator
Kelley comes to SBI with more than 20 years of experience as an executive assistant in the C-suite. This background gives her the ability to multi-task, manage complex projects, and work well under pressure. She thrives in an ever-changing, fast-paced environment. As a Texas native, she graduated with a BS in Marketing from the University of North Texas with a specialization in brand management and is always seeking ways to learn new things. When Kelley is away from her desk she can usually be found planning her next adventure, chasing her toddler, or playing in her vegetable garden.
Tiffany Suscheck
Client Services Specialist
Tiffany brings Enthusiasm with a capital “E” to SBI. She has spent her entire career in customer-facing roles (with the exception of her 3-month stint as a cake decorator). With a bachelor’s in Communications, Tiffany’s goal is to brighten a client’s day and make sure she has a personalized connection with everyone she meets. When not answering phones and expertly crafting emails, Tiffany can be found puttering with her greenhouse or gazing at Mount Rainier.
Dina Tassell
Sr. Member Services Coordinator
Dina Tassell brings over 15 years experience in administration, with more than 5 years of experience supervising administrative personnel for Arthur Anderson, in the areas of report processing, budget preparation, workflow management, with extensive experience in records and file management. Tassell’s role includes member records management (both physical files and database systems), application processing, membership renewals, and termination processing.
Hanna Twiss-Brooks, VEMM
Member Services Coordinator & Team Manager
Hanna brings dependability, flexibility, and positive energy to SBI. She is a must-have when updating and documenting new and existing processes. Her attention to detail and helpful attitude help implement new tech, train new employees, and support clients across the company. When Hanna’s not in the office, she enjoys solving murder mysteries with her partner, cross-stitching, and playing tabletop roleplaying games with friends.
Stacey Williams
Association Executive
Stacey moved to Seattle from Australia in 1999. In Australia, she worked both as a teacher and in education management. In Seattle, Stacey continued as an educator supporting families with new babies. More recently she worked at a large Seattle non-profit. Stacey loves to help people and organizations grow and support their goals. Stacey is a seasoned cyclist and enjoys running in her free time.
Meetings & Events
Kelsey Brownell
Event Coordinator
Kelsey started her journey shuffling through organized chaos within the printing industry and following her passion as a music promoter before finding her way to marketing and event planning within the healthcare and insurance industry. She’s known for her ability to read between the lines to identify the missing links in an event while searching for innovative opportunities to collaborate with my team and clients. What she loves most about working with associations is being able to collaborate with various walks of life while nourishing clients and making visions come to life. After work, you can find Kelsey with a paintbrush in her hand or stomping around in puddles with her son exploring the beautiful trails of the PNW.
Adam Carranza, CMP
Event Manager & Assistant Director
Adam loves developing events to give organizations an innovative and engaging platform to connect with their members. He enjoys being a part of a hardworking team and looks forward to continuing the successful growth of SBI and its clients. Coming from a background in nonprofit and event management, he is excited about continuing his professional growth in a premier association management company. In his spare time, he can be found exploring the outdoors or trying out a new recipe or restaurant.
Ally McGuire
Event Manager
Ally found her love of creating events early on. From high school, through college, and in her professional career, Ally has continued to grow as an events professional; leading many different types for an assortments of clientele. She enjoys managing the organized chaos that comes with putting an event together and feels true satisfaction when she can finally see her creation come to life. In her spare time, she enjoys checking out local dive bars, dancing her heart out at concerts, or recharging in nature.
Jeanette McMillan
Event Coordinator
Jeannette first began working in events during college and continued to grow her knowledge and passion for the industry as an event planner for a catering company. She believes that with enough coffee and a positive attitude, she can accomplish any task. Her ability to stay organized and flexible under pressure doesn’t hurt either. She enjoys working with a variety of clients and seeing projects she’s worked hard on come together to create memorable, unique experiences. In her spare time, you can find Jeannette hiking, paddle boarding, or relaxing with a good book.
Megan Miller, CMP, VEMM
Director of Events
Megan is a firm believer that each day is a new adventure and your life is what you make it. With a background in nonprofit and event management, Megan loves seeing ideas, visions and a well thought out plan come together. She enjoys seeing all the small parts incorporate to create a successful experience for all event attendees. When she is not in a planning meeting, you can find her outside with her two mini dachshunds, cheering on the Indianapolis Colts, or checking out the newest craft brewery.
Lori Servin
Registration Manager
During Lori’s 25 years of providing registration and event services as the owner of Action Registration, Inc, it has become a true calling that combines her passion for learning, people, customer service, and projects. Lori enjoys the building process of putting an event together, particularly conferences, getting to know people during the registration process, and then meeting them in person during check-in. Being a part of the SBI team keeps Lori doing what she enjoys doing: event registration, relationship-building, and working towards a common goal…the client’s success. When she is not at her desk or on-site at a conference, she likes to explore new restaurants, do yard work on her 3 acres, craft with her daughter, binge the latest Netflix show, read, and spend time creating memories with friends.
Marketing & Communications
Andra Kendall
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Andra brings a wealth of experience in communications, marketing, writing, and copy editing to SBI, and is excited to put her meticulous attention to detail to work with associations. She values the opportunity to learn something new each day, whether a new technology or a new industry. Time with family, her dogs, traveling, or working in her garden is always time well spent.
Tayton Hewitt
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Maykel Landaverde
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Maykel is detail-oriented, result-driven, and a strategic planner. She loves getting to know clients and the impact they have within their industries. Maykel holds a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from Concordia University Irvine. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, and trying new restaurants.
Marcia Molina
Sr. Technology & Marketing Coordinator
Marcia Molina has worked for more than 20 years in association management specializing in website design, maintenance, database management, and supporting technology implementation and upgrades. Currently, she focuses on coordinating and maintaining technology systems and processes internally as well as supporting marketing and communications for client associations. Marcia is also fluent in Spanish.
Michelle Moser
Marketing & Communications Manager
Michelle is excited to be part of the marketing and communications team at SBI and serve a variety of industries. She loves the challenge of learning about different fields of expertise and uses her background in communication, marketing, and design to enhance the customer and member experience. In her spare time, she can be found at the pottery wheel, trying out new recipes, or spending time with her husband, Bruce, and twin daughters, Avery and Annie.
Finance & Operations
Steven Burger
Director of Banking Services
Steven Burger brings several areas of expertise to SBI. He spent three years as a legal assistant and seven years as a financial account executive, acting as a liaison between clients and financial institutions, managing accounts with values in the millions. He likes the sense of accomplishment that comes at the end of each day and is steadfast in completing his tasks efficiently.
Amy DuBeau
HR Manager
Amy comes to SBI with a strong background in the legal field and HR administration and management. She worked as a paralegal for 15 years in the public sector before transitioning to HR and working in the private sector for 7 years. Amy is excited to be a part of such an innovative, technically streamlined, collaborative company. She is detail-oriented, personable, and very task driven. With her demonstrated skills and abilities, she hopes to strengthen SBI’s robust HR platform and strengthen staff relationships throughout the company in this new virtual world. When Amy is not working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and camping, racing, and watching her daughter play volleyball.
Ken Hoang
Bookkeeper
As a bookkeeper, and one with a keen interest in all things finance, Ken very much enjoys that his work involves accounts payable for associations, member service compliance and records, and running financial reports. He enjoys learning new things, and his favorite escapes include reading and being outdoors.
Diana Vengrovski
Accountant
Diana, who joined SBI in 2007 as a bookkeeper, worked for several years as office branch manager for an international technical equipment company in Lithuania. While there, she maintained customer relations, ensuring the growth of sales and efficient customer service. Diana also participated in financial planning, budgeting and helping customers to obtain financing for their projects.