Clifford Brownstein, Executive Director
Cliff has spent his entire career in the field of association management. He has served as executive director of numerous trade and professional associations, has owned an association management company, and has opened and managed the Washington, DC office of an international association management and publishing company. He has served as a consultant to a wide variety of association boards, primarily in the areas of strategic planning and leadership training, and has authored articles on association management topics for several trade publications and professional journals. Cliff, a graduate of Rutgers University, is the father of three grown children, and grandfather to two. He is also a motorcyclist and has participated in numerous long-distance and charity rides.
Melissa Lawson, Director, Conferences and Administration
Melissa brings to NATSAP 13+ years of event and meeting planning experience. Her background includes eight years in the nonprofit sector (Marketing, Fundraising and Association Management) and over five years in the corporate arena (IT & Services Industry). She has managed myriad events, including speed scrabble tournaments to benefit literacy, accounting conferences at the University of Georgia, and Oracle meetings at the Georgia Aquarium. During her early professional career, Melissa worked with a number of organizations, including the Center for Poverty Solutions, Outward Bound, the Georgia Society of CPAs, and Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta.
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.
In her spare time, Melissa loves to travel. She also enjoys theater and live music. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she has recently devoted herself to rediscovering her hometown and the city’s restaurant scene and rich historic and cultural offerings. Civic engagement is an important part of Melissa’s life; she is actively involved in various non-profit organizations, including Cool Girls, Dress for Success, and Baltimore Reads.
Claiborne Guy, Director, Government Relations and Membership
Claiborne joined the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs in 2010. Prior to joining, he gained experience in member relations and study management at the National Petroleum Council, a privately funded advisory committee to the executive branch of the federal government through the Secretary of Energy. In addition, he worked as a Legislative Assistant at Arthur Regan, LLC, a federal government affairs consulting firm. There he assisted private sector entities achieve their federal funding and legislative objectives.
Claiborne is a native of the DC area and graduated from Episcopal High School and the University of Georgia, with a B.A. in History. Additionally, he is a passionate outdoorsman, hunter, fisher, and sailor.
