ABOUT OUR STAFF

Connie C. Wallace, CAE, Hon AIA, Executive Vice President. 
Connie has over 30 years’ experience in association management.  Prior work experience includes Executive Director, Tennessee Society of Architects, Director of Communications, Gresham, Smith & Partners; and Director of Communications, Dede Wallace Mental Health Center.

Connie specializes in governmental relations, client communication, and meeting management.  She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Tennessee Society of Association Executives and The Council of Architectural Component Executives. Connie is a nationally recognized speaker on association management.  She has been featured on the cover of Association Management magazine and has been published in many related periodicals, and she co-chaired ASAE’s 1999 National Convention.   In addition to attending numerous educational seminars, she was also selected as the only American scholarship recipient to attend the Banff Center for Management in Banff, Canada.

A recipient of many awards, Connie is a Charter Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives, as well as a past president of the ASAE Fellows.  Connie received the 2001 National Service Award for Partnership and Collaboration from AIA, Washington D.C.  She was awarded CACE Executive of the Year in 1999.   In 1996, the Richard Upjohn Fellowship was conferred upon her at the completion of her presidency of the Council of Architectural Component Executives.  She received the Executive of the Year Award from The Tennessee Society of Association Executives in 1987 and became an Honorary Member of the AIA in 1989, the highest honor bestowed on a "non-architect."

Sheila Leggett, Vice President, Operations.
Sheila brings a wealth of experience as a legal assistant and telecommunications specialist to her position as VP of Operations.  She has been a member of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives since 1997, serving on various committees including the 1998 Trade Show committee.  She is a member of Rebuild Tennessee.  As a volunteer leader, she represented Tennessee when the American Society of Association Executives held their convention in Nashville.  Sheila shares her time and talent in community projects, including the Tennessee State Museum and CANstruction, and periodically exhibits her photography.

Sheila specializes in the areas of special events planning, i.e., legislative fairs; media and newsletter communications and member services.  She completed AIA’s component resource training, as well as continuing education in other association management areas.  Her responsibilities include communications, design award program management, member services and office operations.

Lisa L. Bowler, Vice President, Meetings and Conventions.
Lisa has 12 years’ experience in Hotel Sales and Convention Management, and eight years’ experience in association management.  Prior work experience includes seven years as a sales manager at Opryland Hotel Convention Center, with the last two years spent exclusively with Tennessee associations; and five years as a Sales and Catering Manager with Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Nashville and Atlanta.

Lisa is a Senior Account Executive managing professional associations.  She also specializes in contract negotiations, convention planning, cost control, catering and community relations. Lisa has extensive education and training in meeting management, and continues to attend numerous seminars on all aspects of association management.  She is a member of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives and has spent time fund-raising for various causes in Tennessee including MS and Cystic Fibrosis.

Molly O. Craig, Senior Account Executive.
Molly’s eight years’ experience includes behind the scenes knowledge of the sales and convention field as a former administrative support member at Opryland Hotel.  Her public relations and marketing skills were honed in a state university setting where she represented the college in the public arenas of the Chamber of Commerce, regional career fairs, community projects, etc.  She was chosen to serve on the Strategic Planning Team, administering several public and professional meetings, interviews and receptions at the college.

Molly’s responsibilities include extensive public relations and marketing.  She utilizes all communications media to increase public awareness of association events and to build association member bases and overall image enhancement.

P.A.  Bowler, Director of Finance Administration.
P.A. has 10 years’ experience in project management.  His prior work experience includes: Planning Director and City Engineer for the City of Gallatin; Project Manager for Tribble and Richardson; and Gresham, Smith, and Partners.

P.A. specializes in association financing and efficiency studies.  He is actively involved with high school wrestling as a coach and referee. He also coaches his children’s baseball and soccer teams, and he is Soccer Coach for Beech High School, Hendersonville.

Myra Withers, Account Executive.  Most recently, Myra was an executive sales assistant with Gaylord Opryland.  A 2004 graduate of MTSU, she received a Bachelor’s degree in public relations with an emphasis in the recording industry and a double minor in English and Spanish.  She interned in the publicity department of Capitol Records.