New SLA Executive Director, Amy Lestition Burke (Image via SLA)
Amy Lestition Burke, MA, CAE, a 15-year veteran of association and nonprofit management and a thought leader in the areas of membership engagement, recruitment, and retention, is taking the reins as executive director of the Special Libraries Association, effective immediately.
Burke was recommended for the position by an executive director search task force composed of five SLA members. The task force interviewed three finalists for the job from among 79 initial applicants.
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Burke has been serving SLA as vice president of success since March 1, when SLA entered into an agreement with MCI USA to manage its operations. She has been with MCI (formerly Coulter Companies) since 2006 and has served in leadership roles with several MCI clients, most recently as chief operating officer of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and its corresponding Foundation.
Burke brings a rich knowledge of stakeholder engagement strategies and tactics to her new role at SLA. From 2006-2012, she served as executive director of Association Media & Publishing, where she led membership restructuring, editorial strategy, program content, and management initiatives. Her previous experience includes stints at both the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.
Burke earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in international affairs at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is a certified association executive and was named a “Young and Inspiring Association Professional” by Association Trends in 2010.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
