Certified Association Executive Exam

There are over 90,000 trade, membership, and professional associations in the United States, and more than 1 million charitable or philanthropic organizations, each managed by association executives and professionals that are dedicated to the mission, services, and social good provided by each institution. Perhaps you are one of these executives, or are considering a career in this important field. You may be surprised to learn that there are, in fact, only 3,000 Certified Association Executives, a mere 2% of all professionals managing associations and non-profit organizations. The CAE certificate is one of the most selective and unique credentials in business today. My process of preparing for the CAE examination and for meeting the application requirements was somewhat self-taught. I did participate in one of the American Society for Association Executives’ immersion study courses that are held twice each year in Washington, D.C., and found it to be helpful. But I recognized that a great deal of additional information could serve the community of executives that aspire to take this exam every year. And that not all qualified applicants could travel and stay in Washington, D.C. for three days in order to prepare in that fashion. This book is designed to do three things. First, it seeks to explain the CAE certification and its many benefits, in the hopes that you will join me in preparing for and attaining this credential. Second, it will provide a step-by-step process for preparing for the CAE examination, strategically and comprehensively. Third, it sets out to explain how to ready yourself for the test itself, and to offer specific recommendations and solid tactics for approaching it, so that you achieve your objective and complete it, successfully and with ease.

There are over 90,000 trade, membership, and professional associations in the United States, and more than 1 million charitable or philanthropic organizations, each managed by association executives and professionals that are dedicated to the mission, services, and social good provided by each institution. Perhaps you are one of these executives, or are considering a career in this important field. You may be surprised to learn that there are, in fact, only 3,000 Certified Association Executives, a mere 2% of all professionals managing associations and non-profit organizations. The CAE certificate is one of the most selective and unique credentials in business today. I had been an executive with the United States Tennis Association for 16 years when I undertook my preparation for the CAE certification. My ambition was not just the prestige and distinction of the credential. Nor the fact this it would support my imminent promotion to head of diversity and inclusion at the USTA. Primarily, I sought the recognition of my skills, experience, and capabilities as a senior association executive, and a confirmation of my understanding of the best practices for managing an organization at a top level. My process of preparing for the CAE examination and for meeting the application requirements was somewhat self-taught. I did participate in one of the American Society for Association Executives’ immersion study courses that are held twice each year in Washington, D.C., and found it to be helpful. But I recognized that a great deal of additional information could serve the community of executives that aspire to take this exam every year. And that not all qualified applicants could travel and stay in Washington, D.C. for three days in order to prepare in that fashion. This book is designed to do three things. First, it seeks to explain the CAE certification and its many benefits, in the hopes that you will join me in preparing for and attaining this credential. Second, it will provide a step-by-step process for preparing for the CAE examination, strategically and comprehensively. Third, it sets out to explain how to ready yourself for the test itself, and to offer specific recommendations and solid tactics for approaching it, so that you achieve your objective and complete it, successfully and with ease.

D.A. (David Anthony) Abrams is an author, speaker, coach, and consultant who currently serves as the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in White Plains, New York. Abrams has been involved in tennis since being introduced to the sport via the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) of Philadelphia. As a junior player, he excelled, earning national rankings in the United States Tennis Association, and the American Tennis Association. Good grades along with his hard work on the tennis court earned him a tennis scholarship to attend Millersville University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, he put his accounting degree to good use at Control Data Corporation based in Minneapolis, MN. Missing tennis, Abrams returned to Philadelphia after four years in the Twin Cities to serve as the Recruitment Director and Head Tennis Professional at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center (AATYC). While at AAYTC, he launched Dave Abrams Tennis Services, a full-service tennis company that offered tennis instruction to adults and juniors, as well as International Tennis Tours. Abrams has been a certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, and Professional Tennis Registry since the early 1990s. In 1993, Abrams moved to White Plains, NY to join the United States Tennis Association (USTA), where he is now Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. He has also served in the following capacities: Executive Director of two USTA Sections (Eastern, 2006-2012) and Missouri Valley (1997-2000); Director of Community Outreach (2000-2006); and National Coordinator, NJTL & Minority Participation (1993-1996). As a board member of the Alzheimer's Association-Hudson/Rockland/Westchester, NY Chapter (July 2009 to June 2013), Abrams served in the following roles: Chair, Audit Committee; Member, Compensation Committee; Member, Nominating Committee; and Member, Development Committee. In addition, he played an active role in the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE; 2010-2011) as a member of the Membership and Education Committees. It should be noted that Abrams is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Abrams believes in life-long learning, and loves to read. He also loves to write, and is the author of Diversity & Inclusion: The Big Six Formula for Success, as well as Certified Association Executive Exam: Strategies for Study & Success. Both books are available wherever best-selling titles are sold. Abrams enjoys travelling with his wife (Shelia D. Abrams), and has visited all of the states within the United States with the exception of four. Countries that he has visited outside of the U.S. include: Australia, Morocco, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, China, France, Italy, Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Indonesia, and the Bahamas. Over the years, Abrams has made many media appearances, including: "America's Black Forum," hosted by James Brown, to discuss the mission of the USTA's Community Outreach department; a Satellite Media Tour (i.e. 15 Markets across the United States) with tennis legend Zina Garrison, to discuss African-Americans in tennis and the National Junior Tennis League; and CNBC's "Rivera Live," as a panelist, to discuss the impact of Venus and Serena Williams on tennis participation among multicultural groups. Recent print articles include: ► “Exec of the Future: D.A. Abrams—Different Strokes” and ► “Serving Up Diversity: The USTA’s D.A. Abrams–Diversity Executive.” Please feel free to connect with Abrams: Twitter - @DAAbrams1 Instagram - DAAbrams1 LinkedIn - D.A. Abrams, CAE Facebook - David Anthony Abrams