With more than 40 years of experience, the people at Smart have helped nonprofit associations get the most from their budget. With expertise in all areas of association management, we’re able to provide you with the right level of service and support. We know your world because we live in it, too.
Take a moment to get to know our team. With offices in Chicago, we’re here, when and where you need us.
Jay Lyon | Principal
Jay has 30+ years of experience working with associations across a variety of disciplines. His efforts have earned a number of Gold Circle Awards from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), as well as from national associations.
Jay serves as Executive Director for our association clients, many of whom have been with the company for more than 10 years.
He previously served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago (MCA), as well as the Assistant Administrator of the Piping Education Council. He handled all communications programs for MCA, from the association web site to its public relations program and marketing materials. As Assistant Administrator for the Piping Education Council, Jay planned all Board of Trustees meetings and meeting materials for an organization with an annual budget of $2 million.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in communication from Northwestern University, where he has served as an adjunct instructor in the Undergraduate Leadership Program.
Emily Culella | Association Manager
Emily has more than 15 years of professional experience, working in academia, the non-profit space, and the tech industry.
Through the various avenues of her career, Emily has honed her skills for:
- Communication
- Curricula development and training
- Intranet planning and development
- Event planning
- Project management
Prior to joining the team at Smart, Emily worked as a Project Manager in the Life Sciences Tech Industry. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Composition and her master’s in creative writing from Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Nicolette Marasa | Association Manager
Nicolette brings project management expertise and over 10 years of customer experience to our team including:
- Client relations management and support
- Event planning and execution
- Fundraising campaigns
- Membership Acquisition
Before joining Smart, Nicolette worked for Crate and Barrel as a Corporate Sales Manager generating leads and facilitating projects for the design trade program. Prior to that, she was an Executive Assistant Intern for Keller Williams Realty.
Nicolette has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Roosevelt University.
Joe Sullivan | Association Manager
The newest member of the Smart team, Joe brings a broad range of experience working with association clients:
- Client relations management and support
- Conference planning and execution
- Sponsor and advertising program management
- Membership development
- Database and website management
Joe came to Smart after working two years in the association management sector. He graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University.
Megan Courage | Communications Manager
Megan’s experience is in nonprofit coordination and support, including program management, digital content creation, and event coordination. Her diverse skillset includes:
- Website management
- Graphic design
- Copywriting
- Event and program planning
- Meeting facilitation
Prior to joining Smart, Megan served as the digital media manager at C-Strategies, Inc., where she managed statewide social media campaigns, including website management.
Judie Prophete | Accounting
Judie supports our Association clients in a variety of ways:
- Bookkeeping
- Management
- Event planning and execution
- Administrative services
Before joining Smart, Judie worked for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago (MCA) helping the organization with special projects, and member relations. Prior to that, she was a Finance and Accounting Intern for MCA, and assisted with accounts payable/receivable along with annual budget preparation.
Judie is working toward her bachelor’s degree in accounting at DePaul University in Chicago.