We spend a great deal of time and effort explaining our services and their value to members. Today, I want to take a moment to have you meet the new faces joining AEM to help us provide those services. We are proud of the top talent we have at AEM to deliver the services our members want, and I want to introduce these key new staffers who support us in serving you.
- Aaron Hahn started with AEM in April as an ASP.NET developer. Aaron works on a variety of programming projects including web-based applications, website enhancements, desktop applications, database-backed websites and web layout enhancements for AEM’s websites. He previously worked 10 years at Dedicated Computing in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
- Mike Kelly joined AEM as director of international and tradeshow accounting in May, filling the position previously held by Renee Peters, who is now our CFO. Mike is responsible for international accounting and consolidation; budgeting, forecasting and reporting for tradeshows; and accounts receivable management, including billings, receipts and reporting. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and comes to AEM with more than 20 years of financial and accounting experience in manufacturing and distribution.
- Jennifer Knutson started with AEM in May, filling the position of web manager previously held by John Somers, who now serves as director, product management ““ construction. Jennifer is responsible for developing and managing AEM’s nine websites (including those associated with specific tradeshows) and HTML emails (such as the AEM Industry Advisor). She comes to AEM from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, where she was an e-marketing specialist.
- Maxx Lebiecki joined AEM full-time in June as a sales coordinator. He previously worked for AEM as a marketing intern, helping with the VIP, first-timers and exhibitor engagement programs for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014. In his new position, he will assist the exhibitions sales team with exhibitor prospecting and sponsorship opportunities. Maxx is a 2013 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in public relations and a minor in business.
- Mike O’Brien joined the staff in AEM’s Washington, D.C., office in May as public affairs manager. Mike serves as the primary media relations professional on our government and public affairs team. He previously worked as a politics reporter for NBC News, helping to launch the NBCPolitics.com portal through the height of the 2012 presidential campaign. He also worked as a staff writer for the online publication, The Hill.
- Jennifer Plazek joined AEM full-time in April as international marketing coordinator. She will be responsible for implementation of marketing plans and programs that attract international contractors, producers and engineers to AEM events. Jennifer had spent the previous year working as an international marketing intern for AEM while completing her studies at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She graduated in May with a degree in marketing and a minor in Spanish.
- Lydia Riesch joined AEM as REACH program coordinator in March. Lydia serves as administrator of the REACH learning management system/learning records store; develops and formats content for education modules; maintains the REACH page on the AEM website; and manages the collection and uniformity of content for the monthly REACH information bulletin. She comes to AEM from Forest Park Middle School in Franklin, Wisconsin, where she taught family and consumer sciences for four years.
- Jaime Vos joined AEM as safety materials manager in May. Jaime is responsible for content development, publication and sales of our safety materials product line, including our industry-consensus safety manuals and other safety materials. He brings to the Association broad experience in print and digital media production as well as business development. Jaime previously held positions with Schwaab Inc. and Finn Digital in Milwaukee.
If you get the opportunity to work with our new team members, please offer an AEM welcome. All of our people are always available to help you, our members, succeed in your businesses.
