Our Team

Senior Management

 

Our senior team members bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and leadership for every client. With years of industry knowledge and a commitment to excellence, they shape strategy and drive innovation. We exceed client expectations and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

  1. Shawn P. McLaughlin, AIF®

    In 2017, Shawn P. McLaughlin, AIF, became CEO and owner of MSP. With more than 35 years of experience in the financial industry, he has extensive knowledge in the nonprofit community and helping organizations reach their financial goals. Shawn is also the founder and CEO of McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc. His philosophy is to focus on the long-term relationships with and successes of each of his clients, his staff members, and the community.  Shawn’s emphasis on exceptional service and high ethical standards has garnered the respect and loyalty of his clients.

    Shawn earned a B.S. in business administration from Georgetown University and continues to serve as a mentor to students in Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business. He has been active in the Northern Virginia business and civic communities for more than 30 years. 

    Volunteer Experience:

    • Virginia College Savings Plan, chairman of the board, 2009-2018
    • Virginia Council on Economic Education, member of board of directors
    • Inova Health System, former member of the Inova Health System Board of Trustees , past chairman of the Inova Foundation, past chairman of Investments Subcommittee
    • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), elected member of District 9 for one term and appointed to Small Firms Advisory Committee
    • Basilica of St. Mary Parish, chairman of the Finance Council
    • Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, chairman of the board of directors
    • Georgetown University Alumni Association Board of Governors, member of board, member of Finance Committee, and member of Communications Committee
    • AMC Institute, member of board of directors

    Additional Accomplishments:

    • In 2020, completed the Foundations of Association Management course

  1. Elli Bernard
    Director of Corporate Operations

    Elli Bernard is the executive assistant to MSP’s CEO, Shawn McLaughlin, and she also serves as director of corporate operations. Elli handles a number of duties to help keep the office functioning smoothly and at a high level. Elli earned a B.A. in political science and diplomacy and foreign affairs from Miami University and an M.A. in legislative affairs from George Washington University.

  1. Denise Jackson
    Senior Vice President, Association Management

    Denise G. Jackson has more than 25 years’ experience in the association management and hospitality field. She specializes in relationship building, change management, strategic planning, and revenue growth for her clients.

    Denise is an expert in all aspects of association management, including membership development, financial growth, contract negotiation, board and volunteer engagement, leadership recruitment and business development. Denise currently serves as Executive Director for MSP’s largest client, Association of Water Technologies. She also was the client leader for Patent Trial and Appeals Board Bar Association, Academy for Women’s Health (APTA), Commercial Real Estate Brokers Association (CREBA),  and the Project Management Institute.  In her current role, Denise leads the MSP Executive Director Team, manages new business, and helps drive the strategic direction of the company.

    Denise started her career with Hilton Hotels Corporation, ultimately working as the Director of Association Accounts for Hilton National Sales in New York and Washington, DC. Denise helped lead the Washington office for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and was the Regional Director of Sales for NYC and Company responsible for bringing meetings and conventions to each destination from the Washington association market.

    Denise has served on the Board of Directors for the AMC Institute, and for many years served on the ASAE Research Foundation Development Committee. Denise is currently Vice-Chair of the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors.

  1. Tina Schneider
    Senior Vice President,Meetings Management

    Tina Schneider leads the meeting, expo, and sponsorship team as Senior Vice President. She joined MSP in September 2022, bringing over 25 years of conference management experience. Tina’s background includes successfully managing various events and conferences for numerous associations and organizations, including Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors, the US Embassy in London, ConferenceDirect, and the National Hydrogen Association—where she handled national and international conferences.

    Tina is well-connected and highly respected within the meetings industry. She is a tough but fair negotiator who understands the value client meetings bring to the hospitality industry, and she takes care to learn each client association’s culture to tailor meetings to fit their unique needs. She values the differences and applies that knowledge—providing stellar service for each client meeting. Tina received her CMP in 2003.

  1. Angela Pike
    Vice President / Member Services Director

    Angela Pike, our Scottish import on staff, is the Senior Member Services Manager for the Association of Water Technologies (AWT). She is responsible for membership promotion and retention, committee management, the certification program, convention sponsorships and is the day-to-day “face” of AWT. Her organizational skills, “can-do” attitude and terrific sense of humor make her a great addition to AWT and MSP.

    Prior to joining MSP, Angela worked as an Executive Officer at The Registers of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland where she was responsible for ensuring that title deeds to land and real estate were probative before being registered in the Scottish Land Registry. After moving to the U.S. in 1985, she went to work for the UK Ministry of Defence at the British Embassy in Washington, DC. As Head of the Visit Clearance and Industrial Security Office, she served as the day-to-day liaison between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defence on government and industry security matters.

Executive Directors

  1. S’Neta A. Benefield

    S’Neta A. Benefield has served the association and nonprofit industry for over 20 years, working with complex and diverse organizations, including the National Sheriffs’ Association, the American Nurses Association, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the Professional Insurance Agents. Her expertise lies in optimizing board and volunteer engagement, enhancing organizational productivity, and increasing revenue for diverse nonprofits and associations.

    S’Neta embodies all that it means to be a good global citizen. Her volunteer commitments range from local to national engagements to serving on the board of directors of the AmeriCorps Alumni DC Chapter, Athletes Without Borders, and Take Flight. S’Neta holds a B.A. concentrated in Asian studies, communication, and Japanese from Ball State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nonprofit and association management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

    S’Neta has been recognized as a distinguished association and nonprofit professional who demonstrates success in leadership roles and exhibits a solid commitment to the association management profession. She is a recipient of the Association Forum/USAE 2019 Forty Under 40® Award and the Association TRENDS 2022 Young & Aspiring honor. She is also an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Project Management Institute, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

  1. Matt Coffindaffer, MBA, CAE

    Matt Coffindaffer brings over 13 years of association and nonprofit industry experience to MSP. His broad and diverse skillset includes expertise in strategic planning, governance, business development, member and volunteer engagement, financial management, and government affairs. Matt has served as executive director for several organizations, including the National Tax Association, the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association, and the OpenTravel Alliance. He has also held leadership and management positions with the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the National Pest Management Association, and the National Council of Agricultural Employers. In addition to his considerable experience in the association industry, Matt has worked as an artist for the Juilliard School, the Metropolitan Opera, and other distinguished arts organizations within the United States and abroad.

    Matt holds a BFA from West Virginia University and an MBA from the John Chambers College of Business & Economics of WVU. He received his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2015. As an active member of ASAE, he currently serves on the ASAE Research Foundation’s Development Committee and is past chair of the Foundation Subcommittee on the Young Professionals Committee. He has also served on the Higher Logic Product Advisory Council and the EveryAction Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

    Matt has been recognized by his peers in the association industry as a recipient of the Association Forum/USAE Forty Under 40 Award in 2016 and as a member of ASAE’s NextGen class of 2015.

  1. Charles W. L. Deale, FASAE, CAE

    Charles (Chip) Deale is a career association executive with four decades of senior-level nonprofit experience.

    He most recently held the position of vice president of membership and chapter relations at Financial Executives International (FEI), representing individuals holding policy-making positions in corporate financial management. Before joining the FEI staff, Chip was executive director at the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the organization serving visual journalists in all news media. For over 13 years, he also was the head of society relations at CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals.

    Prior to CFA Institute, Chip spent the first two decades of his career in the Washington, D.C. area in various executive staff capacities for the national industry associations representing manufacturers of concrete masonry products, owner-operators of truck stops and travel plazas, independent chain retailers of petroleum products, wholesale-distributors of wine and distilled spirits, and owners of temporary staffing companies.

    Throughout his career, Chip has been actively involved in national and regional organizations representing the association management profession. For example, at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), he served a three-year term on the board of directors from 2006–2009. Most recently, he was named to the 2015 class of ASAE fellows, one of only 250 individuals to have been bestowed with this honorary recognition since the program began in 1986. In August 2007, he received ASAE’s “Professional Performance Award,” which recognizes exemplary contributions and service by an association executive serving in a non-CEO capacity.

    Chip received a degree in journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C

  1. Susan DeCourcey

    Susan brings over 30 years of experience in senior association leadership and management roles, including executive leadership, governance, finance and administration, membership development, information technology, and operations management. Her association work through the years has been with national and international organizations engaged in the healthcare, life sciences, patient advocacy, and trade industries. Susan also brings diverse experience in for-profit work in the areas of IT consulting, project management, and new business development.

    Susan joined MSP after serving as the director of society management services and publishing for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). Prior to that, Susan served as the executive director of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF), a FASEB member society. Her prior association experience also includes the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

    Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Ursinus College.

  1. Amy Kulp, BSW, MS

    Amy Kulp has over 26 years of nonprofit management experience, including most recently serving as chief operating officer of the American Association of Suicidology. She has also worked as a nonprofit management consultant for a variety of other associations.

    Amy has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Minot State University in North Dakota and an M.S. in applied behavioral sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

  1. Thomas L. Stefaniak, MBA, CAE

    Thomas L. Stefaniak, MBA, CAE, an association executive leader, nonprofit strategist and change agent, has 25 years of direct experience in all areas of association operations with a special interest in building membership value through innovative programs. His executive and leadership roles include stops at leading healthcare membership associations where he created new member benefits and offerings, advanced policy, oversaw board and governance activities, facilitated strategic planning and grew membership. Mr. Stefaniak has a track record of shepherding substantial membership and revenue growth throughout his career.

    As a MSP Account Executive, Mr. Stefaniak is Executive Director of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association and the Association Education Alliance, LLC. His prior experience includes executive director and leadership positions with the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Society for Vascular Ultrasound, the International City/County Management Association, and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Team-sara
  1. Sara Wood, MBA, CAE

    Sara L. Wood joined MSP in 2016 after spending more than a decade at the National Court Reporters Association, where she most recently served as the director of membership and marketing. Throughout her association career she has gained a wide range of experience with multiple areas of association management, and her professional passions include strategic planning, leadership development, and digital marketing. Sara received her Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification in 2012. An active member with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), she is a past chair of the Education Subcommittee on the Membership Section Council. Additionally, she was selected to be part of ASAE’s NextGen class of 2016. Sara holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Mary Washington and an MBA from the Saunders College of Business of Rochester Institute of Technology.