AVMA fills advocacy and meeting planning positions

Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

In July, the AVMA filled key staff positions in the Association's Governmental Relations and Convention and Meeting Planning divisions.

Dr. McClure
Dr. Kent McClure
Dr. Morgan
Dr. Ashley Morgan
Mr. Wilson​
Michael Wilson

Dr. Kent McClure joined the AVMA in the newly created position of chief governmental relations officer. Dr. Ashley Morgan was promoted from assistant director of the Governmental Relations Division to director of the State Advocacy Division. And Michael Wilson, a certified meeting professional, joined the AVMA as director of the Convention and Meeting Planning Division.

Dr. McClure was hired to lead the AVMA's federal and state advocacy efforts. He previously was general counsel for the Animal Health Institute, working on developing policy impacting the veterinary profession, animal health product research, and commerce.

"I'm excited to join the AVMA and use my experience to advocate for the veterinary profession and sound public policy," Dr. McClure said. "We have a lot of exciting opportunities in front of us, and I'm looking forward to working with our talented team to protect, promote, and advance veterinary medicine."

No stranger to the AVMA, Dr. McClure has been a member of the Judicial Council, a trustee on the AVMA PLIT, and an invited liaison from the AHI to the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents. In addition, he was a member of the board of directors of the National Association for Biomedical Research.

Dr. McClure earned a DVM degree from Texas A&M University in 1988 and a law degree from the University of Texas in 1993.

Dr. Morgan was an assistant director of the GRD since 2008, during which time she honed her expertise on pharmaceutical issues and built relationships with state VMAs across the country. In her new role, Dr. Morgan is responsible for providing vision and leadership for the AVMA's state advocacy efforts. She received a DVM degree from Cornell University in 2004 and is a certified association executive.

Wilson brings more than two decades of event planning experience to the AVMA, where he is responsible for directing the overall strategy, planning, and execution of Association meetings, including the AVMA Convention.

He received a Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1991. Following stints playing for the Cleveland Browns and the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League, Wilson put his hospitality and tourism degree to work with a variety of companies.

Prior to joining the AVMA staff, Wilson was director of event planning for the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook and, before that, associate director of sales at Hotel 71 in Chicago. His previous positions include regional sales manager with Harrah's Casino and Resort, meeting and events supervisor for Accenture, and assistant director of convention services at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel.

"I am so delighted and grateful to be a part of the AVMA organization. With over 23 years working in the hospitality industry, particularly in meetings and events, I feel that I have found a new home and opportunity that I have worked for over my career," Wilson said.

"Being involved in planning meetings has been a passion of mine, and I am very excited about the challenges that lie ahead of me," he continued. "My years with great organizations like Marriott Hotels and Resorts and Accenture have prepared me to really help strengthen our convention and meetings, keeping us fresh and innovative."