ARLINGTON, Va. — National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) president and CEO Steven Anderson, has been selected to chair the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) board of directors. Anderson assumed this

Steven Anderson

responsibility at the ASAE Annual Meeting, which was held virtually earlier this month. This week, he is playing a leadership role at ASAE’s Summit Awards in Washington, D.C. – which will serve once again as a definitive statement on associations’ crucial role in society.

For 100 years, ASAE has served as a leader and supporter of progress and innovation in the association industry, with the ultimate goal of making society smarter, better and safer. ASAE is a membership organization of more than 48,000 association executives and industry partners representing 7,400 organizations.

“Steve Anderson’s volunteer stewardship with ASAE comes at a perfect time,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason. “ASAE is really at a pivotal point in its 100-year history, as we seek to implement a new strategy, create an inclusive and transformational community for our stakeholders, and advocate for association interests at the federal and state levels. Steve’s proven track record as a visionary association leader is crucial to keeping ASAE on the path to progress. Steve is also an untiring supporter for the power of associations to effect positive change, which melds perfectly with ASAE’s role in promoting the association sector.”

Anderson has held several leadership roles in ASAE throughout his career in association leadership. Over the past year he served as chair-elect and during the prior year he served as secretary-treasurer. In addition to serving on the ASAE board of directors, he previously served as chair of the ASAE Finance Committee, of the ASAE Public Policy Committee, of the ASAE Key Industry Associations Committee, and of the ASAE Insurance Commission. In addition to holding the IOM designation from the Institute for Organization Management of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Anderson holds the FASAE and CAE designations conferred by ASAE. In 2020, Anderson was selected as an ASAE Fellow, one of the association community’s highest honors.

Anderson also has served since 2014 as emcee of the ASAE Summit Awards Dinner – which will be held for the 22^nd time on Thursday, September 30, at its traditional venue of The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event will showcase associations’ innovative work to meet societal needs in the areas of industry and professional advancement; global development; diversity and inclusion; community support and engagement; and advocacy.

While the Summit Awards will recognize one trade association or professional society in each of these categories, NACDS was recognized earlier this year with a Gold Award for advocacy. NACDS’ campaign to advance sound public policy related to the COVID-19 response demonstrated and leveraged the heroic work of NACDS members and pharmacy teams throughout the pandemic and in vaccinating America.