DENVER, COLO. (June 22, 2021) — The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the largest professional membership organization for financial planners, announced today the hiring of Leslie A. Whittet, CAE as the Association’s first chief membership experience officer (CMEO). Whittet, who assumed her new duties effective June 21, spent the past 19 years in executive leadership with the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), where she served as senior vice president of chapter operations.
While at ACG, Ms. Whittet led the strategic operations of ACG’s global network of chapters, focusing on enhancing the value of membership through chapter affiliation. She oversaw a 33% expansion of chapter revenue, created new chapter development protocols, diversified membership, launched programs to cultivate growth, improved membership retention rates, and transformed ACG’s relationship with chapters. Ms. Whittet brings a passion for the importance of an association’s chapter system to her role at FPA, having previously served as the executive director of ACG’s Boston chapter.
“I am thrilled to have someone of Leslie’s caliber join the staff leadership team at FPA. We are focused on doing what is necessary to grow our membership, and that starts with ensuring every member has a wonderful experience at FPA no matter where and how they are plugging into the Association,” says Patrick D. Mahoney, FPA’s chief executive officer. “We have an incredible team assembled at FPA that is committed to ensuring the long-term success of the Association is realized. With Leslie’s experience, leadership, and track record, I firmly believe we can evolve FPA to a level of sophistication worthy of the financial planning profession.”
As CMEO, Ms. Whittet will serve as FPA’s membership staff leader with accountability for all membership strategy and operations efforts, ensuring that membership recruitment, engagement, and retention goals are met throughout the organization. In addition, she will be responsible for FPA’s overall membership strategy, budget management, and daily operation of the Membership Experience department, which includes member engagement, chapter engagement, member services, and learning/instructional design.
“I look forward to getting to know FPA’s members and leaders and to work in tandem with them to strengthen and elevate the membership value proposition,” says Leslie A. Whittet, FPA’s new chief membership experience officer. “FPA is positioned for amazing growth and I am thrilled to be a part of the team that will help transform the organization for the benefit of all members.”
Ms. Whittet is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and is currently based in Chicago but will be relocating to FPA’s Central Office in Denver in the coming months. Those interested in learning more about Ms. Whittet, her passion for membership associations, commitment to chapter systems, and views on her new FPA role can hear from her directly in this video.
“FPA has seen its fair share of challenges when it comes to membership experience, engagement, recruitment, and retention - all challenges we are addressing head-on in the months ahead. Leslie’s leadership and experience in this area will be of direct benefit to FPA, our members, and our chapters,” added Mahoney.
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About the Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals, educators, financial services professionals and students who are committed to elevating the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning. With a focus on the practice, business and profession of financial planning, FPA advances financial planning practitioners through every phase of their careers, from novice to master to leader of the profession. Learn more about FPA at financialplanningassociation.org and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/fpassociation.