Staff member earns Certified Association Executive credential

CHICAGO--The American Society of Association Executives has announced that Erin Berggren, CAE, director of governance and strategic initiatives at the Academy of General Dentistry, has earned the Certified Association Executive credential.

The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than five percent of all association professionals have earned the CAE.

In his position at the AGD, Berggren is responsible for establishing and managing a volunteer and leadership development plan, overseeing the maintenance of AGD councils and committees, working with top officers to develop a volunteer database and monitoring the organization's strategic plan.

Berggren also assists internal and external leadership with the connection of the work of the various agencies and departments to the goals of the strategic plan and leads the internal staff team in the development of the AGD's annual Leadership Conference.

"Earning the CAE designation is important to me on both personal and professional levels," Berggren said. "The education and training I have received will allow me to go above and beyond to better serve the AGD and its membership."

To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 75 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics.

To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. Approximately 3,300 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential, which was first awarded in 1961.

For more information about the AGD, visit Academy of General Dentistry.