This is another in a series of occasional ASHA Executive Director updates. These updates are intended to provide ASHA members with a more in-depth view of various National Office units, their key member services and the names and roles of ASHA staff in those units. Information about staff changes and ASHA National Office recognitions/awards is also included.
Many thanks to those of you who have provided feedback regarding the previous updates (posted on the ASHA web site at www.asha.org/about/Leadership-projects/national-office/exec-updates, or suggestions for future ED updates.
This update focuses on the Association's plans for a new National Office.
ASHA's current National Office at 10801 Rockville Pike in Rockville Maryland is the fourth National Office in the history of the Association - not counting the home of Lee Edward Travis in Iowa City, IA - where it all started in May 1925. When ASHA's first executive secretary Kenneth O. Johnson opened the first ASHA National Office in 1958, the Association numbered 4,000 members and two staff members. As many of you know, the other staff member at that time was Luella Cannon - who still works at the ASHA National Office - 47 years later! Over the years, ASHA has called three other addresses (see table below) "home".
Each of these moves was prompted by the Association's steady growth in membership and programs, a recurring situation that prompted the Financial Planning Board and the Executive Board in 2003 to look at updating and expanding the existing approximately 80,000 square foot ASHA National Office on Rockville Pike. Due to zoning restrictions (the current National Office site is zoned for residential use, ASHA operates there under a "special exception") and rising residential land values, the conclusion was that it would now be more cost effective to sell the existing property and build a new facility.
ASHA has purchased a 7.2 acre tract of land a few miles to the north of its current location. The new site is commercially zoned (for research and development), which will allow the opportunity to rent out any unused space (and generate non-dues revenue) until the Association grows into it. From the perspective of members who do volunteer work for the Association, the new location is as convenient to metropolitan Washington, DC airports as the current National Office - and there are more hotels and restaurants nearby.
The new N.O. will be a "green" building - following Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, resulting in buildings that are energy efficient, require less maintenance, hold their value longer, and are healthier workplaces. Planning and design for the new N.O. are underway. Groundbreaking is planned for the first quarter of 2006, and occupancy for the third quarter of 2007.
For those who will be at the 2005 ASHA Convention next month in San Diego, please be sure to look for display information about ASHA past National Offices and a rendering of the future building (Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Lobby of Sails Pavilion, 2nd level, Convention Center) and come to a property update session (On the Move ...ASHA's Plans for a new National Office - Friday, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the Marriot Hotel, New York Room) or the informal presentations and discussions at the ASHA Member Service Center in the Exhibit Hall at the Convention Center on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday [check the ASHA Daily for specific times]). The display information will also be featured at ASHA conferences throughout 2006.
National Office Staff Updates
The following individuals are new to the ASHA Staff:
Audra Barbour - Administrative Assistant - Government Relations and Public Policy
Stephanie Carrington-Brown - Professional Development Program Assistant
Tom Jelen - Director Web and Knowledge Strategy
William Jones - Administrative Assistant, Science and Research
Ghazala Osman - Registration Manager, Conventions and Meetings
The following staff have changed positions within ASHA:
Stephanie Austin - Continuing Education Registry (Formerly Administrative Assistant for the Academic Accreditation, Certification,, Ethics Issues Unit)
Maureen Thompson - Director, Association Governance Operations (Formerly Director, Private Health Plans Advocacy)
Kat Weixel - Community and Intranet Manager (Formerly Internet Content Developer)
The following individuals have left ASHA to pursue other opportunities:
Dwayne L. Donley - Web/Network System Engineer
Cathy Fisher - Administrative Assistant, Science and Research
Linda S. Lucas - Director, Grassroots Advocacy
Michelle G. McLean - Director, Association Governance Operations
Cynthia A. O'Brien - Financial Information Systems Analyst
Recent ASHA and ASHA National Office/Staff Awards:
ASHA received the 2005 Educational Excellence Award from the American Medical Association (AMA)'s CPT Editorial Panel - the award recognizes a specialty society's efforts in CPT educational endeavors. ASHA was recognized for its five publications, comprehensive coding web site, numerous ASHA Leader articles and columns, e-newsletters, and educational programs. The award was presented during the AMA-CPT/HCPAC Annual Meeting.
For the third consecutive time in the history of the competition, ASHA was selected as a "Great Place to Work" by The Washingtonian magazine. Held every other year, the competition selects places for their interesting work, good benefits, collegial staff, flexibility, and employee development. This year, a total of 55 organizations from the metropolitan Washington DC area were picked from a pool of more than 225 candidates. ASHA was also selected as a "Great Place to Work" in 2001 and 2003, the previous two years of the competition.
Reprinted by permission of the American Speech-Lanuage-Hearing Association.
