AAN Executive Staff

The AAN Executive Staff implements strategic goals set by the AAN Board of Directors and the AAN Foundation Board of Trustees. Providing excellence in customer service to AAN Members, sound guidance to Academy leadership, and collaborating with AAN staff through teamwork are among the executive team's core values.

AAN Departments

Executive and Legal Administration

Directs staff and daily operations, strategic planning facilitation, and implementation.

Catherine M. Rydell, CAE, Executive Director/CEO—AAN, AAN Foundation, and AAN Enterprises, Inc.
crydell@aan.com

Donna Honeyman, Administrative Services Manager
dhoneyman@aan.com

Provides legal and management support to the AAN, AEI, AAN Foundation, and other boards and committees.

Murray Sagsveen, JD, CAE, General Counsel—AAN, AAN Professional Association, and AAN Foundation
msagsveen@aan.com

Karen Kasmirski, Legal Administrative Assistant
kkasmirski@aan.com

Finance and Operations

Oversees finance, human resources, information services, facilities management, and meeting services departments.

Timothy Engel, Chief Financial Officer
tengel@aan.com

Cora Jansma, Administrative Assistant
cjansma@aan.com

Center for Health Policy

Promotes state and federal advocacy initiatives (legislative, regulatory, and coding/ reimbursement) and develops and disseminates clinical guidelines and practice management tools to benefit the practice of neurology and improve the lives of patients.

Rod Larson, Chief Health Policy Officer
rlarson@aan.com

Center for Research, Education and Development

Advances the fields of neurology and neuroscience by developing innovative, quality programs designed to enhance and improve the treatment of patients with neurological disorders.

Christine E. Phelps, Deputy Executive Director, AAN/AAN Foundation
cphelps@aan.com

Tina Novack, Senior Administrator, Center for Research, Education and Developement
tnovack@aan.com

Membership and Strategic Planning

Identifies and supports the needs of members and potential members and facilitates measurement of goals in order to strive towards the AAN mission.

Christopher M. Keran, Chief Membership and Strategy Officer
ckeran@aan.com

Lynee Koester, Executive Assistant
lkoester@aan.com

Marketing, Communications & Technology

Develops and maintains all communications and provides strategic marketing, media/public relations, writing/editing services, digital development, and print design in support of the Academy's strategic plans and objectives.

Jason Kopinski, Chief Marketing & Technology Officer
jkopinski@aan.com

Heather Dawley, Executive Assistant
hdawley@aan.com

AAN Foundation

Works to broaden the base of support for basic science and clinical research in neurology.