Aaron Wolowiec

Aaron D. Wolowiec, MSA, CAE, CMP—a Michigan native—is an exceptionally talented and passionate leader with diverse achievements positively guiding and propelling association goals and initiatives, especially as it relates to education and learning. A meetings innovator and professional development trailblazer, Aaron has more than a decade of industry experience (and even taught for three years at a Michigan college). Additionally, Aaron is a certified association executive, as well as a certified meeting professional, and earned a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University.

An active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Aaron is both past chairman of the Young Association Executives Committee and a 2009-2011 Diversity Executive Leadership Program scholar. In these roles, he facilitates and coordinates the engagement of young professional members; promotes volunteer involvement; contributes content resources; and forwards diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the association community.

In 2010, Aaron was approached by the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) to establish a new Emerging Professionals Committee. In addition to championing this initiative, Aaron has served as the committee’s chairman since its establishment. Today, the mission of this group is to cultivate emerging association leaders through the development and enhancement of resources that enable career advancement and excellence.

Aaron is also a regular contributor of young/emerging professional and association-related content to industry newsletters, newspapers and magazines, including “Associations Now” and “Association News.” In 2009, he was featured in a special edition of “USA Today” at ASAE’s annual meeting in Toronto and served as an Acronym guest blogger for eight months (during which time the blog garnered more than 75,000 page views and more than 55,000 user sessions each month).

In 2010, Aaron co-presented two very well received sessions for ASAE: “Crisis Management 101: How prepared are you to handle a crisis at your next meeting?” (at the Great Ideas conference in Colorado Springs) and “Beyond Diversity: Building an Inclusive Environment” (at ASAE’s annual meeting in Los Angeles).

Most recently, Aaron was one of 18 young professionals invited to meet Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder during a luncheon outlining his commitment to making the state a vibrant place to work. Aaron also received the prestigious 2011 MSAE Emerging New Leader award, a symbol of extraordinary achievements and the promise of future accomplishments within the association management profession.

Today, Aaron serves as founder and president of Event Garde LLC, a consultation and event management firm that marries dynamic people and their diverse needs with visionary leadership to deliver compelling member experiences that inspire learning, engagement and community. Specifically, Aaron works with leaders who want to plan engaging events and associations that want to deliver dynamic member experiences. By partnering with clients to break the mold of expectations, Aaron builds programs, events and professional development experiences in an unconventional way, producing successful, unexpected results.