Mr. Thorner has more than 30 years of association leadership experience, including executive director-level positions at six international professional societies:
• American Bar Association Section of Taxation
• Academy of General Dentistry
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
• National Recreation and Park Association
• Optical Society of America (now known as Optica)
• Air & Waste Management Association
During his tenure, each of these organizations experienced membership growth and major improvements in their financial health.
As a senior consultant for Westman & Associates, Mr. Thorner recently assisted in the development of a strategic plans for the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) and the Society of Black Academic Surgeons.
In addition to his consulting work, Mr. Thorner recently served as an interim CEO for the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and for the American Health Information Management Association Foundation.
Prior to his association leadership roles, Mr. Thorner served as a lawyer/lobbyist and public affairs director for the forest and paper industry trade association and for an engineering society of water quality engineers. He also served as a lawyer for the Federal government. Early in his career, he worked as a journalist for The Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, and the Associated Press.
Mr. Thorner received his undergraduate degree in history and political science from Duke University, a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and a law degree from the University of Georgia. He is licensed to practice law in three states and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Mr. Thorner has served on numerous boards and committees, including a three-year term on the American Society of Association Executives Board of Directors. He has spoken at ASAE conferences on non-dues revenue enhancements and was the subject of two Associations Now articles on improving the financial health of not-for-profit organizations. He also co-authored an Associations Now article on auditing association government affairs activities.
LinkedIn: John Thorner