Salem, Oregon, July 1, 2026 — The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has announced that Ryan Gail, Vice President of VanNatta Public Relations and Spire Management, has recently earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association management field, awarded to nonprofit professionals who complete at least 100 hours of specialized education and pass a stringent examination.
This achievement reflects Ryan’s, VanNatta Public Relations’, and Spire Management’s ongoing commitment to professional excellence, ensuring clients receive knowledgeable, strategic, and high-quality service.
Ryan said, “I would like to thank all who supported me throughout my CAE journey, including Associations West, an organization representing the association communities in California, Oregon, and Washington; Amanda Parsons, my professional mentor and executive director of the Oregon Recreation & Park Association; and my team at VanNatta Public Relations and Spire Management.”
As a new CAE, Ryan looks forward to engaging with fellow association professionals and expanding his involvement with ASAE and Associations West.
About ASAE: ASAE is a membership organization of more than 50,000 association executives and industry partners. Since its establishment 105 years ago, its members have led, managed, and worked in, or partnered with, organizations across more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)
About the Certified Association Executive (CAE) Credential: To earn the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, candidates must have nonprofit management experience, complete at least 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a rigorous four-hour examination, and commit to a professional code of ethics. More than 4,600 association professionals hold the CAE credential, which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
