Cherokee, NC – July 2024 – The Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) announced their 2024-2025 Board of Directors during their Annual Meeting at Harrah’s Cherokee. THM’s Melissa Klingberg, CAE, has been voted in again as part of the AENC Board of Directors in the role of Secretary/Treasurer for a one-year term.

Klingberg , through her career in association management, hopes to bring her experience to the position including her expertise in management and strategic planning to help AENC continue to serve their mission of supporting association professionals across North Carolina. "I am honored to join the AENC Board in this capacity," said Klingberg. "I look forward to contributing to the organization’s continued success and to working with such a dedicated group of professionals."

2024-2025 AENC Board of Directors at the 2024 Annual Meeting (Melissa Klingberg is fourth from the left)

“Melissa has been an invaluable asset to the AENC community, both as a dedicated member and a board member. It is with great pleasure that we welcome her to the AENC Executive Committee in the role of Secretary/Treasurer. We eagerly anticipate her insightful leadership as AENC embarks on its 70th year of operations,” says Rich Phaneuf, AENC CEO & ED.

As Treasurer, Klingberg will work with AENC staff to help oversee the financial operations of AENC, ensuring transparency and fiscal responsibility. Her appointment underscores AENC’s commitment to effective governance and financial stewardship.

About AENC
The Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) is dedicated to supporting and advancing the interests of association professionals throughout North Carolina. Through professional development, networking opportunities, and advocacy, AENC provides valuable resources to its members

Melissa Klingberg, account executive and meeting planner with THM, has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). This credential is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment and is the highest professional credential in the association industry.

Melissa has been working towards this goal since early 2020 and sat for the exam this past December. With over 100 CEUs required to apply for the CAE exam, she took this past year to study management trends and the body of knowledge through additional CEUs, study groups. The stringent exam in association management focuses on Strategic Planning, Resource Development, Board Governance, Marketing, Mission Based Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Volunteer Management, and Strategic Alliances.

Given that less than five percent of all association professionals have achieved this mark of excellence and there are less than 5,000 CAEs in total, THM is proud of Melissa’s accomplishment and her new designation as a Certified Association Executive. Please join me in congratulating her on this great accomplishment.

Theresa Burnett,
President, THM