Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE

Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE, currently serves as the President & CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, where Carla made history as the first female CEO and successfully revitalized the organization, achieving $5M in additional revenue within nine months. Previously, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Electronic Transactions Association, Carla led a significant transformation that resulted in a 300% increase in operating budgets over eight years. Additionally, Carla held key roles at the National Association of College & University Business Officers, including Senior Vice President & COO, where collaboration and innovation were prioritized, and Vice President for Organizational Advancement & Member Resources, achieving remarkable member growth and retention metrics. Throughout a diverse career in association leadership, Carla has consistently demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, member engagement, and revenue generation.