Employee Spotlight: Get Associated with Penny

Working at an association is different from any other job, but it is something that Deputy Director Penny Cunha has loved her whole working life.

Careers in associations require teamwork and flexibility, being able to work with all types of people, a willingness to learn and to help in all areas, and the knowledge that it is a community and not just a job.

After spending 28 years with the California Chiropractic Association, working her way up from Membership to Executive Director, Penny went to Sutter Health Plus to work as a Senior Writer before making her way to RMAI.

“I wanted to get back into the association world,” she said. “I liked the idea that RMAI was a different industry than healthcare and that the members were businesses instead of individuals. I wanted to do something different.”

As Deputy Director, Penny focuses on the member communications and membership, supporting education and certification, and filling in wherever she is needed.

“I like the communications best because it is how we connect to our members,” she said. “I like that there is room for creativity. I’m not doing the same thing every day, not even every hour.”

She also acts as support for Executive Director Jan Stieger, and most recently achieved the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.

“Penny came to RMAI with extensive experience, and furthered her professional development by obtaining her CAE,” said Jan. “The CAE credential is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment.  The CAE designation is the highest achievement/recognition amongst association professionals. Penny, I’m so proud of you for undertaking this goal, seeing it through, and joining the ranks of many of our colleagues as a CAE!”

Penny grew up in Montana and graduated from Carroll College with a degree in English and Communications.

She met her husband Larry in college, and they moved to California in 1988.

In her free time, she likes to hang out with her husband, their son and his fiancé, family and friends, travel, and work (and relax) in the backyard.

Penny said that for the future she hopes to be able to take some time to look ahead and work on overall business plans.

“I want to be more forward thinking on how we can make processes better and more refreshed,” she said. “I love working with this team and I appreciate that everyone looks beyond their job and collaborates with one another. I really appreciate the teamwork.”