Sacramento, Calif. (January 30, 2015) – The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has announced that Jan Stieger, Executive Director of DBA International has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.

“The CAE credential is the hallmark for a committed association professional,” said Bryan Faliero, board president for DBA International. “Jan demonstrates these leadership characteristics on a daily basis. We are honored to recognize her for the high standards, motivation and commitment she upholds.”

To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years’ experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. The CAE Program is accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

In addition to the CAE designation, Stieger earned a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional designation with DBA International in 2013. DBA International created its “gold standard” certification program in 2012 to promote a comprehensive national standard of industry best practices. It stresses responsible consumer protection, increased transparency and improved educational and operational standards within the industry.