CEOs Speak Out: Past Association Executives of the Year on 2012
Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Alexandria, Va.: Big picture, NACDS remains focused on advancing public policy that reflects community pharmacy’s value as the face of neighborhood healthcare. Innovative pharmacy services improve patient health and reduce costs by preventing reliance on costly forms of care. In 2012, NACDS has a proactive agenda, and will maintain a bold offense and a staunch defense, involving all branches and levels of government. In addition, an NACDS get-out-the-vote campaign and the NACDS Political Action Committee, which posted its best fundraising year in 2011, will help put community pharmacy’s stamp on the 2012 elections. This year’s other exciting developments include the creation of the new NACDS Total Store Expo, which unites three NACDS conferences and debuts at Sands Expo in Las Vegas in 2013. NACDS also is coordinating the fall 2012 relocation of its headquarters office from Alexandria to Rosslyn, Va. – with enhanced proximity to Washington, D.C.
Anne L. Bryant, CAE, executive director, National School Boards Association, Alexandria, Va.: At the National School Boards Association we are all about focus. In 2012, working with and through our state school board associations we will help school boards address the challenges they face, using increasingly limited resources (federal, state and local funding are being cut in too many communities) to increase student learning. Using good data to drive decisions, looking at all the ways school districts can deliver high-quality instruction, getting tough on accountability, while being open to new avenues for both students and teachers to create 21st century learning communities, these are the outcomes that will drive NSBA’s programs and services.
Thomas Kuhn, CAE, president, Edison Electric Institute, Washington: Edison Electric Institute and our industry CEOs are focused on making the changes needed to the electricity system in this country to make it cleaner, smarter and more efficient. We face enormous capital requirements to fund the initiatives to build a cleaner generation fleet; transform the grid; build new transmission; meet new environmental requirements; and provide infrastructure for electric transportation.
Today, our industry is spending approximately $80 billion per year on infrastructure – about twice the amount that we spent in 2004. With this in mind, one of our main priorities for 2012 is the extension of the lower tax rates for dividends and capital gains, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Lower dividend tax rates make dividend-paying companies such as utilities more attractive to investors. This helps increase the value of utility stocks and lowers the cost of capital, which is critical for electric companies at this time of rising capital expenditures. This is good for our companies and our customers.
This financial issue is just the tip of the iceberg. Along with energy, environment and regulatory issues, we will be very busy in 2012.
Barry C. Melancon CPA, CEO, American Institute of CPAs, New York: We announced a major international Joint Venture in 2011 that launched January 2012. Executing on that strategy, combined with execution of our Horizons 2025 findings for the CPA profession, will be top priorities for 2012.
Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., president, Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria, Va.: We are going to double-down on our communications with our members so that we know their priorities and what they need, and we will continue to strengthen collaboration with our great partners to deliver outstanding products and services to our members. We will proactively communicate with our Powerful Voice® to elected officials, to ensure that they continue to keep their commitments to the all-volunteer force and those who have served our nation in uniformed service.
