Breakout #6

On the Shoulders of Giants: Key learnings and insights from the Association Leadership Academy Faculty
Patrick Laws, Mary Dean, Jerry Deschane, Michael DiFrisco

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
3:10pm - 4:10pm

The first WSAE Association Leadership Academy cohort just completed their year of education aimed at advancing their leadership and association management skills and they want to share some of their key takeaways. They have invited back four of the expert faculty members and mentors to expand on what they shared during the Academy so others can take advantage of the knowledge gained.

Michael DiFrisco, CAE, Executive Director
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Michael DiFrisco, CAE, currently serves as Executive Director of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He has worked in association senior teams and on marketing and branding teams for most of his professional years. He has led the brand charge for diverse organizations including the AACD, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and Ducks Unlimited. DiFrisco is the author of dozens of articles on branding and marketing as well as leadership topics and often speaks to diverse audiences on brand strategy.

Patrick W. Laws, IOM, PFMM, QAS, T.E.A.M., President
Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

Patrick Laws has served as the President of the Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies for over eight years. He served on the WAMIC Board of Directors from 2011 to 2014 and as Chair of the association in the last year of his term.

Patrick earned his Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University. He holds the Institute for Organizational Management recognition and Qualified Association Specialist certifications. Patrick has served on the WSAE Education committee, and he currently serves on the WSAE Association Leadership Academy and Membership committees.

Patrick grew up in Indiana. He now lives in Manitowoc, Wisconsin with his wife, Heather, and their six children.

Mary Dean, JD, CAE, Client Executive, Executive Director, Inc
Executive Director, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Mary Dean, JD, CAE is a client executive with Executive Director, Inc (EDI) and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), the world’s leading membership-driven organization dedicated solely to cancer immunotherapy. SITC’s membership counts more than 4,600 basic scientists, translational researchers, clinicians and many others who are dedicated to the advancement of immunotherapy as a means to treat cancer.

Ms. Dean has more than 19 years of association experience with EDI. Prior to working with SITC, she spent the majority of those years serving as the Executive Director for the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, in addition to the Executive Director for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, American Venous Forum, and Growing Spine Foundation.

Ms. Dean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history and environmental biology from Ripon College in Wisconsin before earning a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wis. She received a certified association executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Wisconsin Bar Association (WBA), and Wisconsin Society of Association Executives (WSAE).

Jerry Deschane, CAE/IOM, Executive Director
League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Jerry Deschane is the Executive Director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Since 1898, the League has represented and provided education for Wisconsin’s cities and villages. Deschane is the League’s 5th Executive Director. His 30-year lobbying and association management career includes clients ranging from the home building industry to bicyclists. He’s been on local school boards for more than twenty years and has also worked as an association management consultant and writer. A native of Wisconsin, Jerry is a Certified Association Executive and graduate of the Institute for Organization Management. His background and education are in radio news broadcasting.