The NSCA Education Foundation has announced the election of a new president to its executive committee, as well as many other leadership changes, including the addition of two new officers to its board of directors for 2019.

Laurie Englert, vice president of customer experience at Legrand AV and current NSCA Education Foundation vice president, assumed the role of NSCA Board of Directors president on Jan. 1, 2019. “The Foundation has come a long way over the past few years with the Ignite and PASS initiatives,” says Englert. “I can’t wait to see how much more progress we make in 2019!”

Englert replaces Jeff Kindig, global marketing director of events and installations at HARMAN Professional Solutions Division. Kindig will become treasurer.

Steve Emspak, partner at Shen Milsom & Wilke, LLC and current NSCA Education Foundation treasurer, will become NSCA Education Foundation vice president; Catherine Shanahan, owner of Shanahan Sound & Electronics, Inc., will continue as secretary.

In addition, the following professionals joined the NSCA Education Foundation Board of Directors and began their three-year terms on Jan. 1, 2019:

• Gina Sansivero, VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications at AtlasIED
• Tobi Tungl, Director at Conference Technologies, Inc.

Gina Sansivero has a demonstrated history of working with start-ups and SMBs in the commercial electronics, AV technology and electronic manufacturing industry. She is also recognized in the education market as an AV industry cheerleader and resource.

Tobi Tungl is an experienced audiovisual executive with a deep-rooted passion for education and technology, and supporting the growth of the industry. He’s an ambitious and inspirational person who translates big dreams into tangible plans and motivates all stakeholders to turn them into reality.

“I am beyond ecstatic to have Gina and Tobi on the NSCA Education Foundation board,” says Kelly Perkins, NSCA Education Foundation director. “Not only do they both have extensive experience in the industry, but they both have the intense drive and passion to continue to make initiatives like Ignite and PASS a successful reality. We truly have the A-team on board and I can’t wait to see the impact the Foundation has on the industry.”

Sansivero and Tungl join the following board members who continue their terms from last year:

• Paul Cronin, CEO at Apogee IT Services
• Ingolf de Jong, CEO/President of General Communications, Inc.
• Mike Shinn, Vice President of Operations, South Central AV
• Lauren Simmen, Director, Marketing at AMETEK Powervar; AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection (ESP/SurgeX)

Rob Pusey, former president and CEO of Communications Specialists, Inc., and Tom Hanson, vice president of specialized audio at Bosch, ended their terms at the end of 2018.

“The NSCA Education Foundation leadership is very thankful for the generous contributions of Ron and Tom and the many years of service they gave to the board,” says Chuck Wilson, executive director of NSCA. “Ron had many talents, including running the annual NSCA Business & Leadership Conference golf outing. Tom was very instrumental in starting the ‘next-gen’ movement on the Foundation board by insisting we bring a younger dynamic to the organization. He helped launch Ignite and created far greater age diversity within the leadership of the Foundation.”