Overview

Registration

Schedule

Awards

Disclaimer

Handouts

David "DJ" Johnson

David “DJ” Johnson lives in Washington, D.C. where he has helped advance the missions of associations supporting healthcare, interior design, journalism, and nonprofit management. For twenty-two years, DJ has served as a strategist and innovator in the areas of membership, DEI enhancement, volunteer & leadership development, and stakeholder engagement. He is an alumnus of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and a Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar through the ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership. He is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and in 2021 was inducted into the ASAE Class of Fellows.

Joy Alafia, MBA, CAE

Joy Alafia joined the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists as Executive Director in June 2022. She brings over 17 years of association experience, specializing in transformational leadership, organizational management, governance, marketing, and partnership development. In her first 6 months, CAMFT developed a two-year strategic plan and deployed the organization’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement. Recent efforts include building the public’s awareness of MFTs as Medicare providers, sharing the role of MFTs via media outlets including NPR. Her employment history includes serving as the CEO of the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA), where she led the organization to a new chapter focused on renewable propane as part of California’s clean energy economy. Joy previously served as an advisory member for the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program which supports the accelerated development and deployment of advanced transportation fuels and technologies. Prior to that, Joy served as a business director for the California Association of REALTORS®, an organization with over 185,000 members where she focused on developing innovative and enterprising business partnerships

Joy presently serves on the Board for the United Way Bay Area and previously held a Board position for the non-profit Building Diversity in Science. Joy has a BS in Physics from Spelman College and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She is a Certified Association Executive.

Michele Champian, CAE

Before joining CAMFT, Michele worked with national and local associations including the American College of Trial Lawyers, USFN - America's Mortgage Banking Attorneys, and the San Diego County Apartment Association. She has experience in various roles including education, events, marketing/advertising, volunteer recruitment, and sponsorship/fundraising. Michele has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, the marker of a committed association professional.
Michele served as Board member and the Chair of the San Diego Regional Council for CalSAE (California Society of Association Executives.) She received the CalSAE Geri Hayes McDonald Staff Achievement Award, presented to an association staff member who has achieved success in overall contributions to CalSAE, service to professional, civic, or charitable organizations, and achievements for their employing organization. She contributed to a White Paper on the Volunteer Learning Journey and was a presenter on Chapter Communication Best Practices.