Strategic Association Solutions (SAS) is a professional services firm dedicated to supporting the operations of membership-based associations and other nonprofit organizations. With a team of 40 experienced professionals, we provide comprehensive back-office solutions that help organizations operate efficiently and achieve better outcomes. From trade associations to professional societies, our clients trust us to handle their accounting, technology, design, and other back-office functions with the care, accuracy, and integrity they deserve.
Our mission is to empower membership associations and other nonprofit organizations to thrive, enabling them to stay focused on advancing their missions. Explore our accounting, technology, design, and other back-office solutions.
Specialized Expertise: Our team understands the specific needs of membership-based nonprofits.
Tailored Solutions: We customize our services to fit your organization’s goals and compliance requirements.
Committed Partnership: We work closely with you as a trusted extension of your team.
We’ve spent decades working with membership-based associations under Kellen, a leading global association management company. Our team knows the ins and outs of associations, so you can be confident you’re working with professionals who understand your association’s pain points and the unique challenges of running a membership-based organization.
Due to our expertise in membership-based nonprofits, we expertly tailor our accounting, technology, design, and other back-office solutions to fit your organization’s needs. Our services include nonprofit accounting, association strategy and consulting, technology support and systems implementation, payroll and HR support, and creative design services. By bundling these services into a comprehensive solution, we are able to unlock significant value and free up value resources for you to re-allocate to key programs.
Your success is our success. We work alongside your team to create and implement solutions that suit your needs and adjust our approach accordingly.
Managing Principal
Tom Gooding is the Managing Principal of Strategic Association Solutions (SAS), where he leads the firm’s strategic vision and operations, empowering trade associations and professional societies through high-impact outsourcing solutions. With a career spanning technology, business development, and executive leadership, Tom brings a unique blend of strategic insight and industry experience to the evolving needs of membership-based organizations.
Before founding and leading SAS, Tom served for seven years as Executive Vice President at Kellen, a global association management company, where he drove digital transformation and organizational growth. Prior to Kellen, he was Head of Sales at Cloud Theory, a software provider serving private equity firms and hedge funds. Earlier in his career, Tom specialized in selling technology consulting services to the financial sector, helping institutions navigate complex digital and operational challenges.
Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from The George Washington University.
Principal
Effie Panos is an accomplished accounting leader and business operations specialist. With a strong portfolio of over 30 years of achievements focused on organizational improvement, profitability, and efficiency, she has helped both nonprofit and for-profit organizations enhance their internal processes, procedures, and applications.
As a self-starter and team player, Effie brings a blend of management and extensive accounting experience, with expertise in financial management, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), operations, change management, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue optimization to clients.
Effie holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois. She has held many previous roles in nonprofit accounting and operations, most recently as a Controller for A Safe Haven Foundation and Vice President of the Not-for-Profit Division at Quattro Business Support Services.
Principal
Abiola Bankole-Hameed is a strategic and results-driven leader with over 25 years of extensive financial and operational experience. She is responsible for steering the financial strategies of SAS in addition to the financial and fiscal management aspects of company operations, providing leadership and coordination for all global management, finance, and accounting activities.
Abiola deeply understands the complex association industry and has executive leadership experience in propelling organizations forward. Before joining SAS, Abiola served as the Chief Financial Officer for the National Black MBA Association, where she was responsible for setting the organization’s overall financial policy and direction, financial administration, business planning, and budgeting while actively participating in the leadership team. In previous roles, she led business strategy and oversaw all financial functions for several organizations and companies.
Abiola holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and an MBA with a concentration in Financial Management and Control from DePaul University in Chicago. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA).
Senior Vice President of Business Process Optimization
Leonardo Miller is the Senior Vice President of Business Process Optimization at Strategic Association Solutions (SAS), strategically driving efficiency and innovation for trade organizations and professional societies. His expertise in process optimization, technology implementation (AI, data), and change management consistently delivers measurable improvements and high user adoption rates.
Before joining SAS, Leonardo was a Consultant at MMI New York, focusing on strategic guidance and initiative management for Blackstone, overseeing 30+ teams with a $30 million budget. Prior to MMI, Leonardo leveraged Big Data analytics at Visa, generating $1.25 million in revenue in Latin America, and built out the cybersecurity program and vulnerability management initiatives at Oracle.
Leonardo holds an MS in Information Systems Business Cybersecurity and a BS in Information Technology with a Minor in Business Administration from Florida International University.
Vice President, Technology
Michael Patti is an innovative leader in association management, with more than 25 years’ experience helping nonprofits
achieve their technology goals. As Vice President of Technology, Michael leads a team that has implemented
association management (AMS) and content management (CMS) systems for more than 130 clients. Michael is
expert at bringing diverse stakeholders together to craft technology solutions that drive increased membership,
customer engagement, non-dues revenue, meeting registrations and online education offerings. Michael has led
the development of several award winning website redesign projects. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Sociology
and Music Performance from Knox College, and has achieved certifications in SQL Server programming and C#/asp.net development. Michael’s technology experience includes Azure and AWS server management, WordPress
site development and infrastructure management, Kentico and DNN CMS development, PCI compliance, DNS
management, and Software Development Life Cycle project management.
Vice President, Design
With over 35 years of experience in visual design for corporations and associations, Jason leads the creative team with strategic oversight and hands-on guidance. He manages the coordination across departments involved in print, digital, and web design, ensuring seamless integration and execution.
Jason brings a well-rounded blend of technical proficiency, design acumen, and marketing insight to every project, serving as a vital link between clients and designers. His success is driven by a relentless curiosity and an intuitive understanding of what resonates—qualities that enable him to navigate evolving technologies and shifting communication strategies with confidence and creativity.
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