Vanessa LaClair, CAE, CMP

Association Executive in Wilmington, NC

Vanessa LaClair, CAE, CMP

Association Executive in Wilmington, NC

Having been involved in association management and volunteer leadership for nearly 20 years, coupled with a “people-first” attitude and a passion for outreach, I am able to help members be their best by building connections to knowledge, ideas, relationships, and marketplace opportunities.

As a leader in the association space, I have had the pleasure of giving back and speaking on association trends, culture, and management as well as budget-friendly technology options and social media for the hospitality and events industry.

There's always an opportunity to volunteer. Most recently, I served as Vice Chair and Secretary of the Board for the Association Societies Alliance (ASA) and on the Research Advisory Council supporting ASAE Research Foundation’s newest research initiative on volunteerism. Previously, I served as Chair of the ASAE Small Staff Association Advisory Committee.

I am recognized as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives having earned the designation in June 2019 and by Meeting Professionals International as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) since 2008.

Volunteering doesn't need to be all work and no play! In 2019, I started fostering rabbits for The Rabbit Resource, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, adoption, and education on the proper care of domestic rabbits. Counting two litters, I have fostered over 25 rabbits to date who have found forever homes and experienced my first "foster fail" when we adopted Sunny Bunny in May 2020.

  • Work
    • LaClair Studios, LLC
  • Education
    • Bachelor of Arts