ITEA is pleased to announce ELK Management Group as the interim management solution as James Gaidry, current Executive Director, leaves ITEA.  We are pleased to have the Principals of ELK involved in this transition to provide stability during these challenging times.  ELK sees this as an opportunity for change and innovation and is looking forward to working with the ITEA leadership and membership by offering their expertise in Operations, Events and Outreach. ELK is composed of three part-time professionals offering an agile team approach to carry ITEA through these unprecedented times and into a bright future. 

With over 50 years of experience between them, ELK offers a plan that administratively supports the association’s mission and will provide fresh ideas for growth. Their backgrounds are firmly planted in the T&E community and between the three of them, will aid in such areas as fundraising, management, knowledge of business processes, communication, and planning and executing events.   

ITEA is looking to ELK Management Group to lead the charge. ELK will manage the educational portion of the Association’s charter as well as facilitate and execute revenue building opportunities. They will provide advice, guidance, direction and authorization in carrying out the major duties of the organization consistent with established organizational policies. Together, in partnership with the Board of Directors, ELK will review operating results, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and develop creative and innovative methods to improve the delivery of the organization’s products and services to current and prospective members.  ELK Management Group will fulfill the roles of ED and staff of ITEA for the next six months. 

Meet the three-person, part-time team of ELK Management Group 

Eileen G. Redd has been an ITEA member since 1996, earning the President’s Award in 2002. Eileen served ITEA for eight years on staff as the Assistant Director and Director of Events/Education from 2004 – 2013. And served as the Vice President of the George Washington Chapter of ITEA from 2013 – 2016. She established and currently serves as the President of the Aaron Redd Foundation, a Charity 501C3 organization to support the Military and First Responders. Eileen also holds a full-time job as the Director of Marketing and Communications at EWA Government Systems Inc.

Lena Moran has been an ITEA member since 2014, earning the Energizer Award in 2016. Since 2014, Lena has supported many ITEA events, such as the Systems-of-Systems Engineering Workshop, Test Instrumentation Workshop, Joint ITEA/DEPS workshop and ITEA Annual Symposium.  Lena has been a committee volunteer for the International Telemetering Conference since 2004 and has been the Events Manager since 2006. She has over 14 years of experience as a Professional Events and Meeting Planner. Lena is a full-time employee of TRAX International.

Kathi Swagerty has been an ITEA member since 2010 and earned the Energizer Award in 2014 and proudly received the President’s Award during Gene Hudgins’ presidency.  Kathi serves as the Corporate Member Development Chair for ITEA and holds the position of Secretary for the Valley of the Sun Chapter.  Kathi served as Member and Corporate Director of ISSSP (the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals), has been President of several HOA’s and school PTA’s.  Kathi is currently the Strategic Campaign Director for Air Academy Associates.