Sue Bertrand, MBA, CAE
Senior Consultant
Sue Bertrand brings clients a broad-based perspective and experience in the association industry. An innovative thought leader, she is a master in change management who is adept at finding opportunities for growth in competitive markets and delivering solutions to tough challenges.
Having served as a CFO, CMO, and COO, Sue values integrated strategies and systems and is skilled in fostering collaboration across departments. During 15 years as the Chief Operating Officer for the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Sue oversaw activities in finance, marketing, and membership. She transformed systems leveraging technology to allow a small staff to deliver high member satisfaction and impact.
Sue grew Illinois ASBO’s budget by 50 percent, streamlined membership categories to meet member needs, and delivered a 76 percent annual conference loyalty ratio (pre-pandemic). Sue concurrently served as the Executive Director for the Illinois School Nutrition Association. This management partnership resulted in a positive financial and operational turnaround for that organization.
An accomplished team builder, Sue is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Life Orientations. She completed The Center for Creative Leadership’s Leadership Development Program in 2009 and has facilitated leadership development in both public and private organizations for over ten years. Early in her tenure, she transformed the culture at Illinois ASBO. With a goal of empowering others to succeed, Sue has promoted and maintained positive cultural norms and values throughout her career.
Sue also worked as a Senior Financial Analyst conducting five-year financial forecasting for school districts in Illinois. She earned a BA in Economics at the University of Illinois and an MBA in Finance at DePaul University. She received the Illinois ASBO’s Lighthouse award for her work in designing and creating Illinois ASBO’s Delegate Advisory Assembly. Sue is a member of the Association Forum and currently serves on the Women’s Executive Forum planning committee. She is a trustee for the Institute for Clinical Social Work and a founding member of Chief, an organization for women leaders.
