Lowell Aplebaum

Lowell Aplebaum, Ed.D , FASAE, CAE, CPF, serves as the CEO of Vista Cova, a company dedicated to collaborating with organizations on strategic visioning and planning, fostering stronger stakeholder connections, and reimagining value and engagement. As an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator, Lowell consistently delivers dynamic sessions to organizations, actively engaging volunteers, members, and staff through experiential learning methods.

Beginning his career in informal education, Lowell has accumulated over a decade of experience working within associations, focusing on areas such as membership and value, volunteer leadership development, professional development, global alliance building, communications and marketing, community management, operations, finance, HR, and staff oversight. Following his tenure as the Chief Operating Officer for a medical association, Lowell returned to his passion for facilitating and collaborating with volunteer leaders, members, and staff by founding Vista Cova.

In addition to his role as CEO, Lowell is actively involved in various leadership capacities within the ASAE, including serving on the ASAE Research Committee and as a past Chair for the overseeing commission for the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. He also chaired ASAE’s Task Force on CEO Pathways and previously led as Chair for ASAE’s Component Relations Council. Notably, he is the creator of the master-level learning series, Through the CEO Lens, and Association Charrette, a co-creation retreat experience. Additionally, Lowell has contributed significantly to the field, co-executive editing and contributing as an author for ASAE’s Component Relations Handbook, 2nd edition, and contributing chapters to the latest versions of Professional Practices of Association Management and Membership Essentials.

In Winter 2023, Lowell completed his doctorate in education with a focus on organizational leadership from St. Mary's University of Minnesota, further enriching his expertise in the field. His commitment to mentoring is evident through his role as a mentor for ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program and his previous involvement as a facilitator for ASAE’s Centennial Recognition Task Force. With a global perspective, Lowell has contributed to associations across five continents, worked with hundreds of volunteer groups, and engaged with all 50 states in the U.S.