To better service the needs of its growing membership, the Insights Association has expanded its team. Joining IA are Aman Ayalew, Director, Marketing; Charlene Darko, Director, Chapters, Committees & Councils; and Cindy Neumann, Director, Research. All are newly created positions.
“This is an exciting time for our profession – new opportunities are stretching out before us in many directions. Growing the IA team ensures we can deliver the additional services and support our members deserve, as well as engage more people and companies in the important work of the Association,” commented Melanie Courtright, CEO of the Insights Association. “I’m thrilled to welcome Aman, Charlene, and Cindy to our team.”
Aman Ayalew brings a distinct background in association marketing with experience in both non-profit and commercial brands. He has helped organizations increase membership and build record event attendance through data-driven, 360° marketing. He also has led the development of B2B and B2C websites for various organizations. At IA, he will lead the brand and marketing strategy for all programs and services, including membership, events, certifications, and advocacy. Based in Chicago, Aman enjoys long bike rides and playing basketball.
Charlene Darko is an operations professional with more than 10 years of experience in large-scale events, including the London Jazz Festival, and London Olympic Festival. She has served in organizational management roles at The New School and for projects like MindOpen Learning Strategies. When Charlene is not maintaining processes and systems for organizations, she’s traveling, making candles, or water coloring.
Cindy Neumann is an Analytic and Insights leader with both client- and provider-side experience. She spent several years at Nielsen leading analytic consulting teams that delivered price and promotion, marketing mix, retail assortment, and other custom analytic projects to client teams across a wide range of industries. Cindy then moved to ConAgra Foods, where she held roles in Category Leadership and Insights before leading ConAgra’s Marketing Analytic function. Most recently, Cindy led third-party vendor partnerships for an ad tech company that specialized in mobile advertising delivery and targeting. Outside of work, Cindy plays clarinet in the Naperville Municipal Band.
Art oversees communications initiatives that promote and support the Insights Association’s various initiatives, including events and a multitude of member benefits and programs. With a team of experienced colleagues, Art manages the association’s website, publications, directories and social media. He assists with curation of content featured in events, webinars and in publications. Art has worked in communications for more than two decades. He began his career as a journalist, writing for newspapers and business magazines. Later, he moved into corporate communications. Art served as Director of Marketing at Hostcentric, Inc., a $60-million-dollar web services company, Manager of Communications & Publications at Bennington College in Vermont, Executive Director of Communications at Dowling College and from 2007-2016 served as VP, Communications for CASRO. He is a graduate of Siena College.