Kerry Parker

CSAM Announces Executive Director Appointment and New Management Team

Thu, May 30, 2024

Dear CSAM Members,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Cheryl Marcell as the new Executive Director of CSAM, effective June 15, 2024. Cheryl joins us through a contract with McDonald Association Management in Sacramento, CA, bringing over two decades of distinguished experience and a diverse skill set acquired through her leadership roles with nonprofit organizations in Sacramento and Canada.

Cheryl’s impressive background includes expertise in advocacy at both state and federal levels, membership services, cultivating strategic relationships, revenue generation, and managing conferences and events. She is a seasoned communicator, adept at representing organizations to the public, government, and the media. Cheryl’s most recent role involved serving a large nonprofit that provides crucial services to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

McDonald Association Management boasts a skilled team with a proven track record of over two decades in association management. Their expertise spans project management, member services, financial management, event planning, grant development, and government affairs.

The recommendation of McDonald was the culmination of an extensive search process that commenced in February. The search committee, led by Chair Dr. Dana Harris and comprising committee members Dr. Jean Marsters, Dr. Karen Miotto, Dr. Mario San Bartolome, Dr. Mason Turner, Dr. Neal Mehra, and myself, carried out the search process. Kerry Parker, CSAM’s Executive Director 2000-2020, served as our management search consultant.

As part of this new partnership with McDonald, CSAM’s new office and mailing address will be 1540 River Park Drive, Suite 211, Sacramento, CA, 95815-4608, while the primary email address (csam@csam-asam.org) will remain unchanged.

In addition to partnering with McDonald, CSAM has also engaged ConferenceDirect, a reputable nationwide conference management company, to provide support for the 2024 annual conference. Joanna Ward, serving as the conference manager, is collaborating closely with the conference planning committee on the State of the Art Addiction Medicine Conference coming up August 21-24 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

I am eagerly anticipating the conference and the opportunity to introduce our members to Cheryl and our new management team. I look forward to the pleasure of seeing many of you there.

Warm regards,

Sharone Abramowitz, MD, DFASAM
President, California Society of Addiction Medicine

CSAM Legislative Day – Sacramento – April 9

Fri, Mar 15, 2024

Join us for CSAM’s annual Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Dr. Randy Holmes, Chair of CSAM’s Government Affairs Committee, and legislative advocate Robert Harris invite you to participate in individual meetings California legislators and their staff. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and educate California’s elected officials on crucial topics related to prevention, treatment, and access for our patients. There is no registration fee, and we need strong voices to join us for this important annual event. To RSVP or for inquiries, contact csam@csam-asam.org

CSAM Change in Management Announcement

Wed, Mar 06, 2024

For the past four years, CSAM’s Executive Director, Kim Andosca, and our staff have provided their services through the Advocacy & Management Group (AMG). We extend our gratitude to Kim and the team for their hard work and dedication to CSAM. However, in light of future considerations and after careful deliberation on CSAM’s evolving needs, the Board has decided to transition to new management. This means that Kim and her team will be concluding their service to CSAM in June 2024.

During this transition period, we are pleased to announce that we will be collaborating with Kerry Parker, CSAM’s former Executive Director, to facilitate a seamless transition and to begin the search for new management. Our primary objectives during this search process include exploring various management structures to ensure the fulfillment of CSAM’s mission and to secure our financial sustainability for the long term. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout this process, prioritizing transparency and inclusivity. Your active engagement and input are highly encouraged during this period of change. The following links provide downloadable PDFs of the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for Association Management Services, Conference Management, and the Executive Director position description. If you have any recommendations for qualified executive directors or management companies with a passion for addiction medicine, please reach out to us via email at ca.addictionmedicine@gmail.com.

During these changes, CSAM remains steadfast in its dedication to education and public policy advocacy. The Board and Conference Planning Committee are fully committed to delivering an exceptional CSAM State of the Art Conference, a tradition we are immensely proud of, scheduled for August 21-24 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Having recently marked 50 years of service to the addiction medicine community and those they serve, we are excited to chart the course for the next 50 years of CSAM’s future alongside you.

Sincerely,
Sharone Abramowitz, MD, DFASAM
President, California Society of Addiction Medicine