FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brittany Carter
Phone: (240) 235-0270
Email: bcarter@columbiabooks.com

BETHESDA, MD (November 7, 2013). - Susan K. Neely, CAE, CEO of the American Beverage Association, Washington, is the TRENDS 2014 Association Executive of the Year. “Susan is greatly respect by her peers and colleagues, and rightly so. Her work and leadership over the years at ABA and, just as significantly, in the association community is impressive. She’s truly deserving of this honor,” TRENDS Publisher Joel Poznansky said. 
 
Neely’s association experience started in 1994 when she was public affairs SVP at Health Insurance Association of America. She went on to become SVP at Association of American Medical Colleges, before becoming a special assistant to President George W. Bush in 2001. She was public affairs assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before joining ABA as CEO in 2005. She also is president of the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America. 
 
Among ABA’s recent accomplishments under Neely are the association’s Clear on Calories initiative in support of first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, and the industry’s Calories Count Vending Program, which provides calorie information on vending machines.
 
Neely is chairman of the U.S. Chamber’s Association Committee of 100 and chairman-elect of ASAE as well as chairman of the ASAE Foundation, among other volunteer leadership positions.
 
She earned a B.A. in broadcast journalism and French civilization at the University of Iowa, and a master’s in public administration at Drake University.
 
Neely will be honored at the TRENDS 2014 Salute to Association Excellence, February 20 at the Capital Hilton in Washington. Details: www.AssociationTRENDS.com/salute. Also to be honored at the TRENDS Salute will be the 2014 Association Partner of the Year, Scott Bedford, Multiview; the 2013 Young and Aspiring Association Professionals; and the winners of the 2013 TRENDS All Media Contest, the most watched and respected competition for association communications in the country. For more information on the Salute, visit www.AssociationTRENDS.com/salute. 

For a complete biography, go to www.AssociationTRENDS.com/salute/honorees. 

About Association TRENDS: TRENDS has provided "seriously useful news & information for association leaders" in print and online since 1973. TRENDS is a division of Columbia Books & Information Services, which also publishes AssociationExecs.com, The Original U.S. Congress Handbook and Lobbyists.info, among other important resources.