Karen E. T. Garrett, CAE

Chief of Communications, Marketing and Membership
PA TIMES Managing Editor
kgarrett@ aspanet.org
202-585-4313

Karen E. T. Garrett began working for the American Society for Public Administration, the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration, in October 2015, where she serves as the Chief of Communications, Marketing and Membership. She has almost 20 years of association management expertise, previously serving as Senior Director of Marketing for the Direct Selling Association. She is responsible for all of ASPA’s communications and marketing activities, membership recruitment/retention, Chapters and Sections relations and website administration, as well as serving as the managing editor of PA TIMES magazine and PA Times Online.

Garrett’s career began at the Direct Selling Association in 2001, where she served in administrative capacities before being promoted to a variety of management roles within the communications department. She has further developed her expertise at ASPA, serving more than 10,000 public servants through its mission of advancing excellence in public service. Specific accomplishments have included expanding ASPA’s public voice to a broader range of constituents through a range of marketing efforts; professionalizing membership outreach efforts and engaging with constituencies to promote ASPA as a valued society of choice; amplifying its online presence through a polished website and active social media engagement; and more.

Garrett received her BA from American University in 2001 and her CAE from ASAE: The Learning Center in 2019.

Kelynn Keegan

Events Associate
kkeegan@ aspanet.org
202-585-4306

Kelynn Keegan joined the American Society for Public Administration staff as event associate in January 2024. In this role, she is responsible for executing all aspects of ASPA's Annual Conference as it pertains to hotel logistics, onsite needs, guest accommodations, vendor relationships and more. She also produces ASPA's webinar program, in coordination with other ASPA staff members, and supports any of ASPA's meetings and logistics needs.

Prior to ASPA, Keegan worked in various facets of the corporate events industry for seven years, in both for-profit and nonprofit capacities, most recently assisting in executing two international scientific conferences. In her free time, Keegan enjoys serving as a team captain and referee for local adult social sports leagues. Keegan attended Longwood university as an undergraduate and is pursuing her Certified Meeting Manager certification.

Leilani Kieti

Membership Associate
lkieti@ aspanet.org
202-585-4312

Leilani Kieti joined the American Society for Public Administration staff as membership associate in September 2023. In this role, she is responsible for membership retention and recruitment, as well as providing member services and customer assistance. She supports the membership process by bridging communication between ASPA members and the ASPA staff and community.

Before ASPA, she supported was part of the team at the Partnership for Public Service, where she analyzed survey research.

Kieti received her BA from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2023.

Amy Omang

Conference Manager and Member Services Specialist
aomang@ aspanet.org
202-585-4309

As Conference Manager, Amy is primarily responsible for the management, coordination, and logistical aspects of the annual conference education sessions, and works as the liaison with the program committee in the selection of conference sessions. She also works with the ASPA Director of Professional Development in providing general conference support, and works with the development and execution of ASPA’s webinar sessions.  She previously worked as a consultant to ASPA for nine years.

Before coming to ASPA, she worked as the Director of Meetings and Education with the American Staffing Association. She has worked for and with various trade and non-profit associations, as well as state government projects. She brings seventeen years of conference, education and nonprofit experience to ASPA.

Amy has a B.B.A. degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Portland. She is a fitness instructor and is active with various community organizations including Family Promise and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

William P. Shields, Jr.

Executive Director
wpshieldsjr@ aspanet.org
202-585-4307

Bill Shields became Executive Director of the American Society for Public Administration, the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration, in January 2014. During his tenure, he has significantly broadened the Society’s professional development programming, strengthened its 60 local chapters and 30 subject matter sections, revitalized its operations and enhanced the quality of its communications. He has recommitted the Society to its core mission of advancing excellence in public service and made considerable inroads in partnering with like-minded organizations on a wide range of activities.

Shields brings to his position more than 15 years of executive and management experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently as Vice President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the nation's leading public policy organization dedicated to ensuring that people with the lowest incomes have affordable and decent homes. In this role, he was responsible for the organization’s operational, financial, membership and outreach functions.

For more than a decade, Shields held senior management and research positions at the National Academy of Public Administration, a congressionally chartered organization established to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient and accountable organizations. As Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Communications, he worked extensively with the Academy’s elected Fellows, the nation’s top leaders in the practice and study of public administration. He served on research teams studying organization and management issues at the U.S. Departments of Defense, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation. He edited more than 50 Academy panel reports on issues ranging from federal compensation issues to FBI reorganization.

Shields served as Director at the Chief Executives Organization, a nonprofit organization of 2,000 chief executives around the world, and in the Executive Office of the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He earned his MA in government and BA in journalism from American University, where he has been an Adjunct Professor since 2000. In 2015, he received the School of Public Affairs’ Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Position. He is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a member of the governing board of NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. He lives with his wife and daughter in Washington, DC.

Jordan Thomas

Governance and Program Associate
jthomas@ aspanet.org
202-585-4308

Jordan Thomas joined ASPA as governance and program associate at the American Society for Public Administration in the Summer of 2023. In this role, he is responsible for a wide array of ASPA’s programing. He works closely with the executive director and is the direct liaison for ASPA’s group and institutional memberships, while also managing the Founders’ Fellows and awards programs. He also is the organization’s National Council liaison, including assisting several committees that support ASPA's leadership.

Thomas has 10 years of experience in nonprofit operations, political campaign management and business-to-business sales. He spent the majority of his life living overseas in several countries throughout the Middle East and Africa, but has resided in Washington, DC for more than a decade, where he and his wife live. He is conversational in both French and Arabic.

Thomas received his BA in international affairs from The George Washington University.