June 2017, Melanie Talley, Senior Association Coordinator for the CLA, earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the CAE Commission of The American Society of Association Executies (ASAE), joining more than 4,200 industry leaders worldwide. Talley has been with CLA for 3 years. As one of several staff at P&N Association Management who run the association, she manages membership, heads the communication for the association, and supports the volunteer leadership.

The CAE Program serves to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate those who have acquired and have demonstrated knowledge essential to the practice of association management. The CAE Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 28,000 association executives and industry partners representing more than 7,500 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community.