Our Team
Our Team
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, Administration & Operations
Specialists from each COE make up the various teams that support our association clients.
Our Executive Team
Alopé 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, Alopé 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 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 joined the SBI team in July 2008 from Association Management Center (AMC) in Chicago, where she served as Executive Director of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses for more than six years, and the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing for eight years. For two years Louise served as Treasurer of the American Board of Nursing Specialties.
She began her association career with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, as national coordinator of the Think First: National Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program. She also served as Administrator of Postdoctoral Training and Certification for the American Osteopathic Association, and as Manager of Certification and Instructional Services for the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association. Louise has more than 30 years of association experience. She earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2005, a certification held by only 5% of association professionals. Louise earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Bachelor’s Degree from Pomona College in Claremont, CA.
At SBI Louise serves as Executive Director for the Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO), the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists (WSSA), the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) and the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP). She is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). Her expertise includes strategic planning and governance, fiscal management and budgeting, educational program development, credentialing and association best practices.
In addition to her direct client work, Louise assists all SBI staff to ensure the success and satisfaction of all of our clients. One area of particular success has been transitioning in new clients from being stand-alone (e.g., managed by a single staff person, a small staff, or entirely volunteer-managed) to an organization partnering with a management company. ADRP, for example, has experienced significant membership growth and increased reserves since coming to SBI.
A Little Something Extra
Louise and her husband, a pediatric neuropsychologist, enjoy gourmet cooking and entertaining, and raising their enormous Boerboel (South African Mastiff) and a more reasonably sized Boxer. When interviewing with potential new clients and staff, Louise will be sure to ask about their dogs.
Meetings & Events
Megan Miller, CMP, VEMM | Director of Events
Joined the Team: May 2018
Works from: Raeford, NC
Megan is currently the Director of Events, with over 10 years of experience in the event industry. Having spent the last 3 years managing our Events Department, she has built a reputation for growing revenue and increasing attendance at our client’s events and trainings. One of her favorite things about working at SBI is that everyone has a voice and a seat at the table.
Stephanie Martinez | Event Planner
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Atlanta, GA
Stephanie brings close to 10 years of experience in marketing, administration, and event planning to SBI. She loves staying organized with color-coded spreadsheets and is excited to dive into event coordination with clients. Stephanie says meeting the members and watching them have fun at the event are the most rewarding parts of event planning. In her free time, she loves reading, hiking, doing puzzles, and playing pinball.
Ally McGuire, CMP, VEMM | Event Manager
Joined the Team: June 2018
Works from: Snohomish, WA
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.
Hanna Twiss-Brooks, VEMM | Registration Manager
Joined the Team: April 2018
Works from: Mountlake Terrace, WA
Prior to joining the team at SBI, Hanna worked as a camp counselor and barista. In addition, they also volunteered with nonprofit associations in a variety of roles, including office manager and board member. They bring calm chaos-coordination and excellent customer service to SBI, along with a great sense of humor. The fast pace and variety are Hanna’s favorite things about SBI, getting to work with a range of clients on their membership initiatives, events, and communications. Outside of work, Hanna loves camping with friends, baking, and practicing medieval fencing (with a real sword!) and archery.
Jeannette McMillan | Event Coordinator
Joined the Team: November 2022
Works from: Pensacola, FL
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. Jeannette 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.
Sarah Getsinger | Trade Show and Sponsorship Manager
Joined the Team: July 2023
Works from: Raleigh, NC
Sarah has a diverse background in events ranging from corporate luncheons to Christmas parades. She is extremely organized and enjoys being a part of the action at events. As a new member of the team, Sarah says she loves the culture and people at SBI the most. She is an avid traveler and loves the outdoors. Some of her favorite places that she has been include Norway, South Africa, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Marketing & Communications
Michelle Moser | Director of Marketing and Communications
Joined the Team: June 2022
Works from: Shelby, NC
Michelle brings more than 15 years of communication, marketing and design experience to SBI and is an NC State and Baylor University alum. Her experience in education and the non-profit sectors helps her develop and enhance strategic communications for our clients and Marcom team. In her spare time, she can be found at the pottery wheel, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her husband, twin daughters and spoiled cats.
Andra Kendall | Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Joined the Team: January 2023
Works from: Santa Ana, CA
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.
Maykel Landaverde | Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Joined the Team: April 2022
Works from: Santa Ana, CA
Maykel graduated from Concordia University Irvine with her B.A. in Marketing. Before working at SBI, she was a Social Media/Marketing Coordinator and had previously worked for a few non-profit organizations. She enjoys getting to know her clients and can easily adapt to just about any change in the workplace. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and going to DISNEYLAND!
Greer Gates | Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Poulsbo, WA
Greer is new to association management but has experience in fundraising and marketing within the nonprofit sector. She brings an eagerness to help and loves the opportunity to learn daily about changes in marketing, the industries client’s associations represent, and how the two fit together for the best reach. Greer loves spending time with her dog in her free time, cooking for friends and family, and watching bad reality tv.
Tayton Hewitt | Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Joined the Team: August 2022
Works from: Bowling Green, KY
Tayton graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Prior to joining SBI in August of 2022, she was employed by the famous National Corvette Museum in her hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is recognized for her communication skills, meticulousness, and knack for making people laugh. When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her family, indulging in new TV shows, and snuggling with her adorable cat Mochi.
Finance, Administration & Operations
Steven Burger | Director of Banking Services
Joined the Team: April 2010
Works from: Seattle, WA
Before coming to SBI, Steven spent 7 years as a financial account executive acting as a liaison between banks and his previous employer. He is known to be very detail-oriented, which is needed for his finance position here at SBI. Some fun facts about Steven are he was born in Seoul South Korea and is an absolute sports fanatic.
Teresa Massingham | Bookkeeper
Joined the Team: August 2023
Works from: Auburn, WA
Teresa comes with a strong background in office management, including HR administration and bookkeeping. She is very detail-oriented, personable, and very dependable. Teresa likes that each day at SBI is different and has a lot of growth. Teresa loves to travel and explore new places.
Diana Vengrovski | Accountant
Joined the Team: June 2007
Works from: Lynnwood, WA
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.
Amy DuBeau | HR Manager
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Lake Stevens, WA
Amy comes from the public sector as a paralegal in criminal prosecution for 15 years. She made the transition to HR in the private sector 7 years ago and loved how the two careers seem to go hand in hand. Amy enjoys streamlining processes and making the overall workflow of the workplace more efficient. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, from hosting to coaching her daughter’s volleyball team and everything in between.
Member Services
Tiffany Hanzo Martin | Director of Member Services, Association Executive
Joined the Team: May 2016
Works from: Everett, WA
Tiffany has been with SBI since 2016 and has grown from the member services ranks to becoming our Director of Member Services, while also serving as Executive Director of the National Association of Environmental Professionals and Washington Recreation and Park Association. Prior to working with SBI, Tiffany worked in management roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, supporting event planning, managing teen programming, and executing club-wide correspondence. Building relationships with her clients and colleagues is what she enjoys the most about her job. When she’s not working, you can catch her going out to sing karaoke.
Adam Carranza, CMP | Association Executive & Assistant Director
Joined the Team: September 2021
Works from: Charlotte, NC
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.
Michael Majdalany, CAE | Association Executive
Joined the Team: February 2022
Works from: San Francisco, CA
With 24 years of experience in association management, 15 years in the Silicon Valley high-tech sector, and a background in rocket science, Michael has extensive international experience and has been recognized for his team leadership and management abilities. Michael loves working with associations because of the people he gets to meet! He’s a fan of anything that moves quickly like cars, planes and trains. He has even taught ballroom dancing as a hobby – how cool is that?!.
Sadie Countryman | Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: February 2020
Works from: Everett, WA
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.
Kelley Santos | Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: August 2022
Works from: Raeford, NC
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.
Kelsi Brisebois | Senior Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: September 2018
Works from: Arlington, WA
Kelsi has spent 7 of the last 8 years in Association Management focusing on membership relationships while managing small events for various clients. She supports her clients by managing databases, registration forms, website updates, marketing, and acting as a staff liaison on committees. Her efficiency and process orientation make her a great fit at SBI. Outside of work, her passions are her family, Disney, and minimalism. She’s part of a minimalist program and has been lucky enough to create friends in the Disney community that has included local Disney meet-ups and meeting her favorite podcast hosts in Disneyland!
Pam Sefrino | Association Project Manager, Assistant Director
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Swansea, MA
Pam has spent 25 years in the association industry, first as a chamber of commerce executive for nearly 10 years, and then in the AMS tech space serving associations as a senior account executive and client success manager. Pam believes communicating early and often is the key to building successful relationships with both clients and team members. Understanding a client’s goals and developing deep connections are her priorities. Her passion is being with family wherever they are. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, has two sons in their early 20s, and a standard poodle named Troy. Whether at the beach, on the golf course, or exploring a new restaurant, if they’re all together, Pam is her happiest.
Amara Foster | CERF C-COAST Program Coordinator
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Germantown, MD
Amara has a background in research, science communications, and program management. Before working with SBI, Amara co-managed a STEM scholarship program where she mentored undergraduate students, planned professional development, led recruitment efforts, and did all the other things involving herding undergraduate cats. Amara brings her passion for mission-driven work and infectious positivity to any role she takes on, and working with a company that loves what they do. In her free time, she loves doing anything outside – gardening, foraging for plants, hiking, camping, or walking her 90-lb Schnoodle puppy.
Zahira Fernandez | Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Fayetteville, NC
Zahira has developed a passion for delivering outstanding customer service for the past 15 years and understands the importance of building strong relationships with customers. Her expertise in managing customer inquiries, resolving issues quickly, and streamlining processes ensures a stellar customer experience. She is enthusiastic about adding her skill set to the SBI team to give our associations innovative solutions and help them grow. When not working, Zahira spends her time reading, traveling, or indulging in her guilty pleasure of watching reality TV.
Tiffany Suscheck | Client Services Specialist
Joined the Team: February 2022
Works from: Seattle, WA
Tiffany has dedicated her career to helping people in various ways. She spent four years working with infants with and without special needs, and is known for her bubbly personality and quick wit. She loves learning new things with her work at SBI, whether it’s a client’s mission or a new process. In her spare time, Tiffany loves tending to her tropical plants. She recently converted an Ikea cabinet into a temperature-controlled greenhouse for her more delicate plants.
Darion Lespier | Association Executive
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Nashville, TN
Darion brings experience working in events and member services in the nonprofit sector as well as serving as an executive director for numerous associations within an Association Management Company. Her key strengths are driving process improvement initiatives, optimizing workflows, and enhancing operational efficiency to achieve tangible results. Darion enjoys working with associations as they provide a fulfilling opportunity to foster community by bringing individuals together based on their shared passions and interests within membership-based organizations. In her free time, Darion likes to mix it up between a good happy hour, a weekend getaway, or doing something outdoorsy like kayaking or rock climbing.
Stephanie Couch | Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: February 2019
Works from: Seattle, WA
Stephanie is a highly talented individual who has built an impressive portfolio of career experiences from acting and directing to roles in corporate environments to being a ghost tour host. Her reliability and creativity make her a great asset to SBI, where she enjoys interacting with people from all over the globe. In her free time, she enjoys painting and photography.
Khaila San Juan | Member Services Coordinator
Joined the Team: January 2023
Works from: Seattle, WA
With more than 10 years of customer and member services experience, Khaila prides herself on her reliability and kindness. Her passions outside of work include coaching swimming and building projects, as well as caring for two pet fish and a snail.
Kat Thornton | Member Services Administrator
Joined the Team: June 2023
Works from: Arlington, WA
Kat is new to the association management world, joining SBI with a background in Elementary Education and opening a small home bakery. Her background as a teacher and a small business owner gives her the ability to take on new challenges, create personal connections with others, and bring joy to others. As a part of the SBI Member Services Team, she is eager to build relationships with others and help others succeed! In her downtime, Kat is normally spending time with family or reading the Harry Potter series for the millionth time.
