George is an experienced technology leader who optimizes businesses by creating environments that produce positive results. For over twenty years, he has leveraged his technology background to manage cross-functional teams by mentoring, coaching, and motivating others through mutual respect and trust. Possessing an MBA from Rutgers Business School, Project Management Professionals (PMP), and Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certifications allows George to manage in a traditional Waterfall methodology or Agile methodology effectively or lead in a blended environment. He uses his knowledge and experience to build strong teams that deliver consistently successful results.

Projects of note include implementing the first B2B and B2C internet e-commerce site and then managing the internet e-commerce organization through a site refresh several years later for the United States and Canada while at Oki Data Americas. During these implementations, he extended the site functionality via integrations, including integration to SAP R/3 for order placement, item availability, order status, and other third-party systems, including Taxware for sales tax and Melissa Data address verification.

At Association Headquarters, George directed a web team responsible for several mobile-friendly/ responsive design web site redesigns, including a website for a $6M certification organization of 50,000 members and a professional organization with over 1300 company memberships with an annual budget of $3M. In both cases, the refreshes focused on tighter integrations with their education partners (Blue Sky), communities (Higher Logic), and their AMS system (Association Anywhere) specifically for self-service and easy access to the member directory. The websites were hosted in the cloud via a third-party hosting solution. In addition, George worked with several AMS/CMS vendors to implement websites for associations with integrated AMS/CMS systems.

George has experience managing application development and technology infrastructure teams, personnel, projects, and operations. He works closely with clients on IT strategy, recommending and then implementing initiatives that help organizations operate more efficiently and effectively.

As a leader in the global tech industry, Eric is focused on developing customer-centric products and transforming the way professional communities build and enrich relationships. He has incubated multiple tech startups within the software, mobile, and environmental industries, and has worked with venture capital and private equity investments in the United States and China. He also founded China Entrepreneurs — a community he built into a 20,000+ member network. Eric is an elected member of AmCham China’s Board of Governors. In 2004, sponsored by Nike and Phillips, he traced Marco Polo’s route, cycling 100 days from Beijing, China to Venice, Italy. Eric holds an M.S. and a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been featured in media such as the BBC, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Barron’s, CCTV, China Daily, and numerous other outlets.

Julie is an experienced and accomplished association professional who oversees membership and state association management at the national not-for-profit Self Storage Association. Julie leads and collaborates with a talented team across the country that executes the complete internal management of 21 states, 13 of which are SSA chartered and eight that are third-party managed. Her role includes board relations, governance, finance, communications, marketing, over 30 in-person events, membership, and advocacy at the state level. This model allows the SSA to be the common voice at the local, state and national levels, resulting in active member engagement, consistent messaging, tailored educational programming in each market, and advocacy success nationwide.

A native of New York, Julie comes from decades in elite private schools as a highly regarded teacher and administrator in metro Washington, DC, and New York City. Julie’s background in leadership, innovation, creativity, operations, marketing, communications, and optimizing efficiencies to maximize results has allowed her to thrive in the rapid growth at the SSA. In the past five years, the SSA has formed two chartered associations, onboarded four large third-party managed state associations, and added 15 meetings at the state level resulting in a 50% increase in membership at both the state and national levels.