About

I’m Dr. Cathy Lada, D.Sc., CAE, AAiP, a marketing-savvy architect of professional learning ecosystems. 

Many organizations possess extraordinary expertise but struggle to translate that knowledge into programs, learning experiences, and narratives that truly scale.

Conferences can become a series of disconnected sessions.

Marketing can feel tactical instead of strategic.

Valuable institutional knowledge can stay trapped inside teams instead of becoming scalable education, thought leadership, or digital products.

My work focuses on helping organizations translate expertise into scalable learning programs, compelling narratives, and AI-enabled knowledge systems. Visit my Services page to learn more. 

Who I Work With

Professional & trade associations and credentialing organizations

seeking to strengthen learning programs, marketing strategy, and member/customer engagement.

Mission-driven organizations and nonprofits

looking to translate complex expertise into education programs, thought leadership, and scalable content.

Leadership teams navigating gen AI adoption

in marketing, sales, education, and membership.

Small businesses and consultants

looking to clarify their message, attract the right clients, and grow sustainably. 

Most of my work involves helping organizations move from scattered expertise and disconnected initiatives to cohesive learning, marketing, and engagement systems. 

A Few Results from My Work

Across consulting and executive leadership roles, my work has helped organizations achieve results including these:

• 50% increase in high-performing webinars through redesigned education strategy and program alignment & a 28% growth in attendees
• 72% increase in marketing conversions through messaging, positioning, and campaign optimization
• 137% growth in website traffic through analytics-driven content strategy
• 369% increase in email engagement through segmentation, value proposition re-design, and lifecycle marketing
• 300+ professionals trained in marketing, brand messaging, and value proposition development through a national branding initiative 
• 440+ new members recruited in two years through targeted engagement strategies and value-focused messaging

These outcomes reflect a consistent focus on connecting strategy, learning design, and marketing execution. Want to learn more?

Want to Virtually "Meet" Me? 

Check out these videos & podcasts:

• Radio Free 501c: Member Adjacent Industries
• Smart Starts, Big Impact: How One Small Association is Leading with AI
• 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 public administration, and a bachelor's degree in economics. I have taught undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses in: 

• introduction to business, 
• business strategy, 
• ethics, 
• supply chain/operations,
• community service, 
• intercultural communications, 
• global content marketing, 
• marketing analytics,
• entrepreneurship, and
• leadership

at AACSB-accredited universities. 

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 (social impact + revenue). My master's thesis was a training needs assessment for a small association. 

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. I earned my Association AI Professional (AAiP) in 2025. 

And even though I'm a systems thinker and nonprofit strategist, I keep my various tactical 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)
• a member of the ASAE Membership Professionals Advisory Council, 
• a Programming Committee member for Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC). 

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

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 5 books, making notes in all the margins! (just in my own books, of course!) I live with my 3-year old rescue cat, Selene. 

Contact Me

If your organization is exploring how to strengthen learning programs, modernize marketing, or responsibly adopt AI, I’d welcome the opportunity to connect.

Together, we can translate your organization’s expertise into programs, narratives, and systems that create lasting impact. 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.