13 California Association CEOs to Know in 2026
Association CEOs work at the point where member service, public trust and practical leadership meet. In California, that work spans hospitals, cities, counties, professions, technical communities and the people who keep those organisations useful.
This list is designed for association professionals, board members and partners who want a clear starting point for understanding the people shaping that work. It focuses on current leaders with a direct connection to California association life, plus a distinctive detail that helps explain the contribution each person brings.
Why association leadership matters in California
Association leaders turn a shared purpose into something members can feel. They help boards make sound choices, build useful services, represent a field in public conversations and create the conditions for people to do good work together.
That is why the role is broader than administration. The leaders below show different versions of the same challenge: serve members well today while preparing the organisation for what comes next. For a practical way to think about how leaders work together, see 25 Ways Working Genius Transforms Executive Teams.
1. Jennifer Barrera
President and Chief Executive Officer, CalChamber
Jennifer Barrera leads CalChamber in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Jennifer Barrera took over as president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce on 1 October 2021, after leading policy and strategy work inside the organisation. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
2. Jot Condie
President and Chief Executive Officer, California Restaurant Association
Jot Condie leads California Restaurant Association in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Jot Condie leads a statewide restaurant community whose work combines advocacy, relationships and practical resources for members. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
3. Geoff Green
Chief Executive Officer, CalNonprofits
Geoff Green leads CalNonprofits in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Geoff Green leads CalNonprofits, an alliance of thousands of nonprofits focused on policy advocacy, education and research across California. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
4. Carmela Coyle
President and Chief Executive Officer, California Hospital Association
Carmela Coyle leads California Hospital Association in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Carmela Coyle leads the California Hospital Association, which represents nearly 400 hospitals throughout the state. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
5. Neil McCormick
Chief Executive Officer, CSDA
Neil McCormick leads CSDA in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Neil McCormick brings more than 26 years of association management experience and also serves related special district organisations. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
6. Denise Froemming
President and Chief Executive Officer, CalCPA
Denise Froemming leads CalCPA in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Denise Froemming leads a team of more than 85 association professionals serving about 45,000 CalCPA members. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
7. Carolyn Coleman
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cal Cities
Carolyn Coleman leads Cal Cities in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Carolyn Coleman brings 25 years of leadership and advocacy experience, including a decade with the National League of Cities before joining Cal Cities in 2016. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
8. Graham Knaus
Chief Executive Officer, CSAC
Graham Knaus leads CSAC in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Graham Knaus leads CSAC as a statewide association serving California’s 58 counties. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
9. Jenn Jones
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, CWEA
Jenn Jones leads CWEA in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Jenn Jones leads CWEA’s work with water and wastewater professionals, including its strategic planning, membership growth and online learning. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
10. Shaun Rundle
Executive Director, CPOA
Shaun Rundle leads CPOA in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Shaun Rundle has been with CPOA since 2014 and previously represented the organisation before the California Legislature. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
11. Jim Anderson
President and Chief Executive Officer, Associations West
Jim Anderson leads Associations West in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Jim Anderson supports the board and its committees on strategy, policy and programmes, alongside the day-to-day operations of Associations West. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
12. George Greene
President and Chief Executive Officer, HASC
George Greene leads HASC in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
George Greene leads the Hospital Association of Southern California, a regional hospital association serving Southern California providers. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
13. Dimitrios Alexiou
President and Chief Executive Officer, HASDIC
Dimitrios Alexiou leads HASDIC in the role shown above. That makes the work a strong fit for this list because it sits close to the needs of members, boards and the wider California community connected to the organisation.
Dimitrios Alexiou leads the hospital association serving San Diego and Imperial counties and is listed as a board adviser within the wider California hospital association network. For association leaders, the useful lesson is practical: the work is not only about holding a title. It is about making the organisation easier to trust, easier to use and better able to respond when the people it serves need it.
Patterns across the list
The first pattern is range. California association leadership is not one kind of job. It can mean representing hospitals, supporting local government, building professional learning, helping nonprofit boards or giving a specialised field a stronger public voice.
The second pattern is translation. Each leader has to translate member needs into services, policy, education, advocacy and decisions that a board can own. The best work makes that translation feel simple to the people being served.
The third pattern is stewardship. Strong association leadership holds today and tomorrow together. It protects trust, builds capability and keeps the organisation connected to the real work of its members.
If you want to turn those ideas into a team conversation, the Working Genius implementation guide is a useful next read.
How to use this list
Use the list as a starting point for better questions. Which member needs is each organisation closest to? What kind of trust does its leader have to build? Where does the organisation need more clarity, more energy or more follow-through?
For boards, the list can prompt a conversation about the leadership work that is visible and the work that is easy to miss. For partners, it can help you approach an association with more context and less noise.
Frequently asked questions
What does an association CEO do?
An association CEO helps turn the organisation’s purpose into useful member services, sound governance, public representation and a healthy operating culture. The balance changes by sector, but the need for trust remains constant.
Why are association CEOs important in California?
California has large and diverse professional, civic, health, nonprofit and local government communities. Association CEOs help those communities organise their voice, share knowledge and serve members across a wide geography.
Is this a complete list of California association CEOs?
No. It is a focused starting point, not a complete directory. Leadership changes, organisations use different titles and many strong leaders serve specialised communities. The companion package includes additional people for further exploration.
Conclusion
The people in this list show how much association leadership asks of one person. They must understand members, guide boards, serve a mission, make practical choices and keep the organisation useful in a changing environment.
That combination is why association CEOs matter. They build the conditions in which a profession, community or cause can keep moving forward together.
Related reading
Read more about Working Genius for leaders and how to make team insight stick.
If your leadership team needs a practical way to work better together, email jonno@consultclarity.org.
About the author
Jonno White is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker and author. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, with practical tools they can use on Monday morning.