Our Staff

In addition to attending many courses and seminars in association management, the staff regularly reads many publications on association management and trade journals of each client’s industry and exchanges newsletters with other associations in your field or related fields. The staff also maintains a complete library on association management with titles such as Membership Recruitment, Nondues Income for Associations, Long Range Planning for Associations, and Association Law.

The Easter Associates Inc. staff is efficient, effective, friendly, honest, and on time! Staff members are well trained in managing associations and societies and are concerned about each member and dedicated to the success of each client association.

You can send our Staff a message here.

Peter Easter, CAE
Chairman and Director of Government Affairs. He has been a Charlottesville resident for 50 years and has a B. A. in Economics from Dartmouth College. He is a U.S Army Veteran (1st Lt.). He had business experience in banking, printing, and sales management prior to entering association management. He is a Certified Association Executive by the American Society of Association Executives. He was a formerchairman of Albemarle County Planning Commission and former board member and member, since 1977, of the AMC Institute. He is a member, since 1976, of the American Society of Association Executives and Virginia Society of Association Executives and member, since 1977, of the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce.

Douglas Easter
President, CEO and Lobbyist. He has a B. A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado. Upon graduation, he spent two years on the staff of Governor Gerald Baliles handling constituent affairs. He has ten years experience in sales, marketing, and management in the broadcast industry and ten years experience with Easter Associates.

Jonathan Williams
Vice President and Lobbyist. Jonathan has a JD from the Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, CT, and a B.A. in Political Science from Mary Washington College. Upon graduation from law school, he spent two years as a legislative and regulatory analyst for the American Insurance Association in Washington, DC.

Christina Sandridge
Office Manager. Christina joined Easter Associates in February 2003 with over eight years of hotel management and hospitality industry experience. She currently works closely with all associations and members and assists them with their administrative needs, marketing mailings, database management, and more. In addition, she supervises and directs all office personnel under the guidance of the President.

Mary Howell
Director, Association Management. Mary's 15-year career includes marketing and public relations work for government, nonprofit and private sector employers. She previously served as communications coordinator for Easter Associates and the Virginia Governmental Employees' Association after several years as a state government public relations specialist. She has an M.S. in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Betsy Crowell
Director, Association Management. Betsy graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology. She was selected by the International Studies Committee to attend the University of Reading in Reading, England for her junior year abroad. With 20 years in the industry, Betsy has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Association Manager with Easter Associates, Inc. In the past, Betsy has worked in sales and marketing with the hospitality and travel industry for five years, as well as in meeting and festival planning for 15 years. Betsy is detail oriented and enjoys working closely with her clients to assist them in making their association a success.

Amy Shaw
Director, Meeting and Convention Services. Amy came to Easter in November of 2004 from the hotel industry.  Prior to hotel sales, Amy worked in Campus food service marketing for over five years at the College of William and Mary and at the University of Virginia and in outlet center marketing for over four years. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Amy graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in Communication Arts.

Raphael Snably
Director, Meeting and Convention Services. Raphael joined Easter Associates in September of 2010, but has lived in Charlottesville most of his life. He comes to us from a diverse backround of construction management, film, music & entertainment, and working with alternative energy corporations. He enjoys spending time with his family.

Samantha Wilson
Membership Coordinator. Samantha joined Easter Associates in May 2011. Samantha's duties include the processing of all new members and the recruitment of new members for all associations. Samantha will also be maintaining our databases to ensure all membership information is current.

Marci Malinowski
Communications Manager. Marci previously worked as Art Director for Key Communications in Stafford, Virginia. She has a B.F.A. in Art from James Madison University.

Kurt Pfund
Web Applications Manager. Kurt Pfund has over 20 years of sales and marketing, and business management experience. He has had features in local, regional, and national print and broadcast media. Kurt began building database programs and designing and maintaining company websites in 1996. He has specialized in developing websites and web based applications since 2008. Kurt studied business and computer science at NYU.

Laura Patterson, CPA
Vice President and Comptroller. She has a B. A. in Business from Transylvania University. Upon graduation, she spent five years as an auditor for the state of Kentucky. After moving to Virginia in 1989, she joined a Charlottesville CPA firm and for eight years specialized in auditing and preparing tax returns of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations. She became a full-time staff member of Easter Associates in August 1998 upon the retirement of its former comptroller who had served the company nineteen years. She has served on the board of directors of the Virginia Society of CPAs.

Symia Feggans
Accountant. Symia joined Easter Associates in August 2007. After graduation, Symia supervised a campus retail store at the University of Virginia. She then spent a year and a half in the tax industry with CF Hutter, Inc. preparing individual tax returns and researching and teaching tax law. Symia has a B.A. In Economics from the University of Virginia.

Janice Pfund
Accountant. Janice joined Easter Associates in December 2009.  She is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.  She recently moved to Charlottesville from Long Island, NY, where she spent the last 10 years running a bookkeeping business.

Christopher Manzella
Vice President, Virginia Broadcast Solutions, Inc. (VBS) Chris has worked closely with Easter Associates since 2002 when he took over leadership of VBS, a unique media service division of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB). With over 24 years of executive experience, including 17 years in the broadcast industry, Chris builds strong client relationships and delivers powerful results. Originally from Western New York, he is a graduate of the University of Buffalo and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration (M.I.S.). For more information, visit the VBS website.

Marlaine Hall
Accountant, Virginia Broadcast Solutions, Inc. (VBS) Marlaine has over 20 years of work experience in finance, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and human resources, budgeting, and auditing. Prior to joining Easter Associates, she served for thirteen years in non-profit corporations and held a Director of Finance and Administration position.