Meet ASCPA President & CEO Oliver Yandle, JD, CAE

Oliver Yandle, JD, CAE, became the new President

& CEO of the ASCPA on Oct. 12.

Yandle previously served as Executive Director of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), the largest international organization providing support to people in the legal management profession. He has held CEO-level positions for a number of other professional service and trade associations. He is active in both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where he holds the Certified Association Executive designation, and the Association Forum of Chicagoland, where he served as Chair of the Board of Directors. He has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a member of the first class of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives.

Yandle is a native of Louisiana and holds a BA in journalism from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans, and a JD from Washington College of Law at The American University in Washington, D.C.

What excites you most about being the new leader of the ASCPA?

I am really excited to join the team because I get a chance to work with professionals who are passionate about their profession and who are looking to advance their careers. I have spent most of my professional life in association management, and working with volunteers is something that really energizes me.

I also think this is a growth opportunity for me personally. I am moving outside of the legal space, which is where I spent most of my association management leadership career. But I think it is an opportunity for the association, as well. I have had a chance to work with organizations that have had chapter or state-based organizations as part of it, but I have never worked for the state-based organizations before, so this is a really fun opportunity to see it from the other side.

When you look back over your life, what has been your greatest success?

In terms of greatest professional success, I would say leading the Association of Legal Administrators through a pretty significant organizational transformation. There was a need for a major overhaul of staff, organizational structure, programs and services. It was a very daunting feat. We developed a detailed strategic plan and had great support from the leadership of the organization. I think we were successful in achieving some significant goals through that whole transformation. In terms of my personal success, I think it is probably my relationship with Jeff, my marriage. It is always hard work, but it is also a source of strength.

What three words best describe you?

Well, the first thing that came to mind was bald. But then I thought, that is probably not what you were going for! These kinds of questions are sometimes hard for me to answer, so I asked my husband, Jeff, what three words he would say. He didn’t say handsome. He didn’t say brilliant. He didn’t say talented. But he did say loyal, compassionate and sincere. So, I thought those were three pretty good ones.

What have you learned about CPAs so far?

I know they are incredibly busy professionals. With all the changes that have taken place with the pandemic and challenges that businesses are facing, they are playing a key role in helping their clients and organizations manage through these turbulent times. I have also learned that in an age where there is a sense of lack of trust in institutions, and questioning facts and truth, CPAs are still seen as trusted advisors, as people who can be relied upon to provide wise counsel and objective facts. I think it is important, especially now, to have people like that in the community to help support businesses and help guide people through these unprecedented times.

You are a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and very active in the association community. What trends are you seeing in associations that are important for the ASCPA to address?

A lot of the trends affecting all associations are ones that are very relevant to the ASCPA. Today, perhaps one of the most significant trends is the impact of technology. Our members are experiencing a lot of challenges in terms of technology developments and how that is changing the nature of the work they do. Technology is having a huge impact on the association world, both in terms of the ability to connect and leverage technology for the benefit of members but also the challenges that it creates in terms of providing alternative platforms that people can connect with to build relationships, to network and to get education. It is good for the association, but it also creates challenges, as well.

Then there are things like artificial intelligence and data analytics, the volume of data that is available now that can be insightful in understanding members better and helping them to address their needs. That also brings the responsibility of managing all of that information and trying to get a handle on how to make the most effective use of the data, how to protect that data, and how to make sure that you are leveraging it appropriately.

Another challenge impacting associations, in particular, is demographic changes. Currently, there are as many as five generations in the workforce, with very different needs and very different approaches to how they engage with work. These generations have very different perspectives on the value of education and networking. It is important to find ways to be able to deliver value and relevance to those groups. I think one of the real issues facing the association community is how to deliver that to such a broad and varied audience.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

One of the things I like most is cooking and entertaining. Jeff and I really love having friends and family over for elaborate meals, New Year’s Eve parties, the whole nine yards. This pandemic has definitely put a crimp in a lot of that, especially Thanksgiving, which is our favorite holiday of the year. I like binge watching TV (not reality stuff), good, scripted shows. I like being on the water, being outside enjoying the sun and definitely enjoying the beach or the pool.

You talked about your love of cooking and entertaining. What are some lessons you have learned in the kitchen that carry forward into work?

Well, I think one of the most important things is to have a plan. Make your grocery list, make sure you have the recipe in front of you and that you are following the steps. That is definitely one thing that I think is an important takeaway. There is also a phrase called “mise en place,” it is a French phrase that means things in place. It is basically an approach to cooking where you have all of your ingredients measured, all of your shopping is done, everything is organized in a way so that when you actually start with the recipe, everything is there where you need it, and you can proceed through it smoothly. I think that is another good takeaway, having a plan and having things organized, so that you can execute effectively.

One thing that my mom always taught me was that you can always add seasoning, but you can almost never take it away. So, do things gradually, so that you are not going too crazy in the beginning. And one other thing is that taking risks can be delicious, too. Experimentation with recipes can be fun, and it can turn out to be quite tasty.

Do you have any closing thoughts you would like to share?

I am really excited to be here, especially to work with such a great team and to meet such enthusiastic members. And I have to say that the weather is not too bad either.