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.
Senior Management
- Shawn P. McLaughlin, AIF®
In 2017, Shawn P. McLaughlin, AIF, became CEO and owner of MSP. With more than 40 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.
Extensive History of 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
- Elli Bernard
Director of Corporate OperationsElli 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.
- Denise Jackson
Senior Vice President, Association ManagementDenise 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 served 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 development, directs transitions of new clients into MSP 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, Chair of the AMC Institute Annual Engaged Conference and for many years served on the ASAE Research Foundation Development Committee. Denise is currently Vice-Chair of the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors as well as a volunteer for the Carpenters Homeless Shelter in Old Town, Alexandria, VA.
- Melissa Graham, MBA
Marketing and Creative Services DirectorMelissa Graham leads the MSP Marketing Team as Director of Marketing. She joined MSP in 2023, bringing 20 years of experience in marketing and event management for healthcare IT, UI/UX research, and SaaS companies. She specializes in full scale, multi-channel marketing strategy and campaign execution.
Melissa earned her BA in mass communications with a focus on advertising from Towson and a global MBA specializing in international marketing from the University of Maryland. She believes in facilitating a collaborative and positive team environment where integrity and transparency take the lead. Her organizational skills and incredible attention to detail, along with an ability to create and maintain successful relationships provide a solid foundation for client projects.
- Angela Pike
Senior Vice President / Member Services Director
- Deryck White
Director of Information TechnologyWith over 25 years of information technology expertise, Deryck leads MSP’s technical operations with seasoned insight and strategic vision. His comprehensive background spans the full spectrum of digital infrastructure management and development.
During his extensive career serving commercial enterprises, trade associations, and non-profits throughout the Washington DC area, Deryck has mastered all facets of website operations and technology management. He brings particular expertise in:
- Website redesigns and launches
- UI/UX optimization and streamlining
- SEO strategy implementation
- Multimedia content creation
- Member database integration
- Association management software implementation and customization
- Back-end system architecture and functionality
As MSP’s technology leader, Deryck ensures seamless technical operations while delivering innovative solutions tailored to the diverse needs of the company’s client portfolio. His hands-on approach combines technical acumen with client-focused service.
A Towson University alumnus, Deryck balances his professional commitments with his passion for recreational cycling, bringing the same dedication and enthusiasm to both pursuits.
Executive Directors
- 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.
- Linda Bernetich, CAE
Linda Bernetich has been with MSP for 24 years and has held the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation since 2016. She plays multiple roles within MSP, including serving as an Account Executive for the National Rental Home Council (NRHC), Director of Membership for the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), and Executive Director for the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA).
With extensive experience in organizational and supervisory roles, she brings a comprehensive skill set from her prior work as a law firm administrator and an account representative for a large insurance company. Additionally, her prior nonprofit experience includes serving as the Administrator for the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP), a national evaluation and certification program administered by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) and Account Executive for the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL).
Her expertise spans from organizational development to operational execution, ensuring efficiency and growth across the organizations she supports.
- 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.
- Jennifer T. DiSanza, JD, MS
Jennifer DiSanza has over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, policy development and implementation, budget management and event planning. She leverages her skills in administration, training and development, and non-profit management to create and implement solutions to drive organizational success.
Having spent most of her professional career in leadership roles, Jennifer has mainly worked in higher education and non-profits. Prior to joining MSP, she served as the inaugural Executive Director of a standalone non-profit and as a Regional Director at a non-profit dedicated to improving access to and the affordability of legal education. She also worked as a law school administrator, including time as the dean’s chief of staff, for many years.
Jennifer has served in volunteer association leadership roles such as the Chair of the Student Services Section of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and on the board of the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals (NALSAP).
Jennifer received her J.D. from the University of Maryland, M.S. in Organization Development and Strategic Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University, and B.S. in Business from Miami University.
- Charles W. L. Deale, FASAE, CAE
Charles (Chip) Deale is a career association executive with nearly five decades of senior-level nonprofit experience.
Before coming to MSP in 2017, he was 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. In 2015, he was selected as an ASAE Fellow, one of just more than 300 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
- 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.
- Amy Kulp, BSW, MS
Amy Kulp is a seasoned executive with over 29 years of nonprofit management experience. Prior to joining MSP, she served as chief operating officer of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). She has also worked as a nonprofit management consultant for a variety of other associations.
Amy describes her leadership style as thoughtful and strategic. Her areas of expertise and strength include fiscal oversight and management, designing and implementing programs, and mentoring her team members.
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 in Baltimore, Maryland.
During her tenure at AAS, Amy received the Spirit of AAS Award, as well as the Roger J. Tierney Award for Service.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys reading, traveling, playing with her three cats, and crafting.
- 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.
- 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.