GANA Staff
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William M.
Yanek, Executive Vice President
Bill Yanek
graduated from the United States Military Academy at
West Point in 1992, and received his Juris Doctor
from the University of Kansas in 2000. He is also a
Major in the United States Army Reserve, serving in
the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. Bill
was a State Issues Advocate for the Washington,
DC-based Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO®)
before coming to GANA. Prior to that, Yanek served as
the Director of Governmental Relations for the
Kansas Association of Realtors. He has also served
as the Government Affairs Director for the Manhattan
and Topeka Builder-Realtor Coalitions. Bill's
professional memberships include the American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the
Kansas Bar Association. He is licensed to practice
law in Kansas. |
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Ashley
M. Charest,
CAE, MBA, Account Executive
Ashley Charest is the account executive for GANA.
Her duties include setting up all educational
seminars, conferences, and trade shows, working to
increase GANA membership, coordinating Committee
meetings for the non-Technical groups, supporting
the Glazing Industry Code Committee, and acting as a
liaison on behalf of GANA with organizations
interested in a cooperative relationship. Ashley
graduated from Washburn University in 1999 with a
Bachelor's of Arts degree (magna cum laude) in Mass
Media with an emphasis in public relations, and she
received her Master’s of Business Administration
degree from Washburn University in 2006. She gained
her Certificate in Non-Profit Management from
Washburn University in 2009 and also earned her
Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2010.
Ashley is also a Leadership Greater Topeka graduate
in 2011. |
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Brian
K. Pitman, Director of Marketing and
Communications
Brian
Pitman is the Director of Marketing and
Communications for
GANA. He
attended Kansas State University, studying chemical
engineering and political science. Brian spent
eight years in the political field as a
communications and campaign specialist. Brian
maintains and develops the GANA information network.
Additionally he develops and coordinates
communications and marketing efforts for GANA, and
also manages special projects for the Association.
Brian is currently a member of the American Society
of Association Executives, the American Marketing
Association and the Kansas Society of
Association Executives. |
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Urmilla
Sowell, PE, Technical Director
Urmilla Sowell is the Technical Director of GANA. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of
Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech
University, Lubbock TX, and is a licensed
Professional Engineer. Urmilla was previously
employed by Hurricane Test Laboratory, LLC, where
she served as the Assistant Operations Manager after
serving as a Test Engineer and Technical Writer for
that company. She joined GANA in 2007. She also serves as the GANA liaison
for the Protective Glazing Council (PGC).
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Kim
D. Mann, Esquire - General Counsel
GANA's General Counsel is Kim Mann, an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C. with the firm of
Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary. Kim is a graduate of Yale University (1962) and Vanderbilt Law School (1965). He has served as general counsel of many glass and glazing industry trade associations over the years, starting with the Flat Glass Marketing Association in 1973, now part of the Glass Association of North America. |
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Carol Land,
Office Manager
Carol Land is the Office Manager for
GANA. She
has responsibility for maintaining all databases,
directories, coordination of mailings, maintenance
of records, processing of orders for the various
technical publications and processing GANA meeting
registrations. Carol has been with GANA since its
inception. |
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Sara Neiswanger, Technical Coordinator
Sara Neiswanger is the Technical Coordinator for GANA.
She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration
degree in marketing and management from Washburn
University in May 2006. Professionally, she is a
member of the Kansas Society of Association
Executives and the American Society of Association
Executives. She joined GANA in 2006.
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