About

I’m a fractional chief marketing officer (CMO) specializing in nonprofits and small business who devises the strategy, outlines the tactics, identifies the metrics – so all your team needs to do is execute and measure.

I have corporate and higher education experience as well as over 20 years of nonprofit work experience and over 10 years of nonprofit board experience in a variety of industries, including:

• chamber of commerce / civic association / community, economic & workforce development
• manufacturing and logistics
• corporate governance
• animal health
• human resources and contingent staffing
• higher education
• health & medicine
• professional services consultants
• retail sales
• restaurants

I have worked with:

• professional associations
• trade associations
• civic associations
• faith-based organizations
• foundations
• social enterprises
• small businesses

Have a project? Need a fractional CMO?

I'm available for short- and long-term projects or fractional CMO work. My superpowers include getting up to speed quickly in new industries to create and execute impactful strategies for marketing, communications, and membership! I have a systems mindset and as a natural capacity builder, strengthen the teams I work with. 

Want to virtually "meet" me? 

Check out these videos & podcasts:

• A Conversation about Nonprofit Social Enterprise with .orgSource
• Nonprofit Conversations | B2B2C: Reaching Your Members' Customers with Cathy Lada
• Video interview where I discuss my nonprofit and marketing philosophies
• Nonprofit Conversations : Integrated Marketing and Communications for Nonprofit Products

Book a 30-minute chat

Training & education

I have a doctoral degree in information systems and communications, a master's degree in administration, and a bachelor's degree in economics. I have taught undergraduate courses and graduate courses in business strategy, ethics, leadership, and marketing at AACSB-accredited universities. My full LinkedIn profile has the details. 

I dove deep into social entrepreneurship to write my dissertation. My qualitative research focused on the drivers enterprising nonprofits and social enterprises use to increase their impact.

I earned my Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification from ASAE in 2022.  Earners of the Certified Association Executive have demonstrated, through experience and passing an exam, that they have practical experience in association management and executive-level knowledge in defined competencies. 

And even though I'm a systems thinker and nonprofit strategist, I keep my various marketing and communications skills up-to-date, recently earning a certificate in digital marketing from HubSpot.  

Volunteer service

I currently serve as a mentor in the American Marketing Association (DC chapter) and as a member of the ASAE Membership Professionals Advisory Council. 

I served on the ASAE Marketing Professionals Advisory Council for three years and chaired the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee in 2021-2022. During that time, I led a DEI in marketing research project with some really great association colleagues and published two articles on our research findings:

• The Current Landscape of DEI Practices in Marketing
• How Association Marketing Pros Can Help Ensure Diverse Vendors and Accessible Content

I also served on the board of directors of the Alexandria Jaycees Foundation for three years. In 2011, I was the founding president and an active member and board member, serving as president of the Alexandria Jaycees (among other roles).  I was awarded the Lifetime Membership Award for service to the community by both the Virginia and Alexandria Jaycees in 2010.

I also served on the marketing and communications committee of Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC). I won an AWTC Technology Champion award in 2025 for my work advancing association technology. 

I've also served on the boards of other nonprofits:  New Sun Rising (Pittsburgh, PA), the Alexandria Jaycees, and the Massey Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Robert Morris University.

Some fun stuff about me

As I life-long learner, I truly enjoy learning new things, from quantum physics (really, just the fun stuff like entanglement, a.k.a. "spooky action") to musicology to how to cook the perfect steak.  At any given time I can be immersed in up to 7 books, making notes in all the margins! (just in my own books, of course!) I live with my 2-year old rescue cat, Selene. 

Contact Me

I'm located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and would love to talk with you about your marketing, communications, or membership needs.

Contact me at cathylada@gmail.com or book a meeting to discuss your needs.