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OUR TEAM
KDA has the best and brightest in every field. Our team is the backbone of everything we do.
Derek Dalling
President and CEO
On any given day: Derek oversees the firm and its personnel. He serves as Executive Director of several statewide associations and a national association. His duties include lobbying where he specializes on energy, transportation, insurance, regulatory affairs and healthcare related topics.
Derek began his career in 1995 and served as a legislative assistant in the Michigan House of Representatives. He joined the firm in 1998 shortly after helping elect the first Speaker of the House under term limits. During his time with the firm, he has been recognized by several clients with lay awards for his efforts to successfully promote their priorities. Derek and his wife, Erin, a former legislative assistant in the Michigan State Senate, reside in Grand Ledge with their daughter, Ashleigh and son, Jonathan. He earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and remains an avid Wolverine fan and alumnus.
Matthew Solak
Vice President
On any given day: Matt serves in the Executive Director capacity for five state associations while managing KDA staff to ensure the clients’ goals are met. Additionally, you can find Matt “working the tiles” at the Capitol on behalf of his lobby clients.
Matt’s career includes extensive experience in the legislative and association arena in both Lansing and Washington, DC. Matt has been working in politics ever since he delivered his first yard sign in 2004 as a senior in high school. From there he did internships in college for former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh and former Governor Jennifer Granholm. Matt finally began getting paid for his work after graduating college where he first worked on Mark Schauer’s successful 2008 Congressional Campaign. He then worked as Legislative Director for, then, State Representative Barb Byrum before taking a job on the government relations team of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in Washington, D.C. Matt was happy to return to home to KDA where he has been able to join his love of public policy and his home state of Michigan.
Jason Wadaga
Vice President of Governmental Relations
On any given day: Jason serves as KDA’s lead lobbyist. He can typically be found in legislative meetings, committee hearings and at legislative session representing KDA’s lobby clients. He also serves as the Executive Director for three of KDA’s association management clients.
His career includes extensive experience in politics and the legislature. He started his political career as a Sophomore at Northern Michigan University working on a variety of campaigns which brought him to Lansing. He spent nine years in the Michigan Legislature working in a variety of roles including serving as the Chief-of-Staff to State Senator Rick Jones before joining KDA. Born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Jason lives in East Lansing with his wife Kimberly and sons Nolan and Reid.
Geri Root
Director of Events
On any given day: Geri is planning and coordinating meetings, conferences and events for five KDA clients.
Geri has more than 25 years of experience working with non-profit associations in various management capacities, as well as planning meetings and events. She has worked in every facet of meeting planning including hotels and tourism. Geri has a long history with KDA having worked here for nine years previously and returning in 2014. She has achieved the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation and the Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) designation. She was name Meeting Planner of the Year by the Meeting Professionals International Michigan Chapter and the Meeting Partner of the Year by the National Speakers Association Michigan Chapter. Geri and her husband, Eric, enjoy relaxing at their cottage in northern Michigan with their family.
Lauren Concannon
Event and Education Manager
On any given day: Lauren is planning events and conferences for seven KDA clients.
Lauren is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. She has spent her career in the hospitality industry working in convention services for resort properties and event planning for Michigan nonprofit associations. Lauren has achieved the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends at her home in East Lansing.
Melissa Travis
Creative & Communications Director
On any given day: Melissa is designing a conference brochure, creating an e-newsletter, or managing our client communications.
Melissa has nearly 20 years of experience working with associations and has been designing for over 25 years. Prior to joining KDA, Melissa was self-employed as a freelance graphic designer for 9 years working primarily with associations, including KDA for 3 years. She previously served as the Creative & Communications Director for the Michigan Society of Association Executives for 10 years. She is a graduate of Lansing Community College with a degree in Applied Arts. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys relaxing by the pool with her husband and 2 children.
Denise Stone
Financial Director
On any given day: Denise performs bookkeeping functions for KDA and for a portion of the firm’s Non-Profit clients.
Prior to her 20 year employment with KDA, she came from a 12 year background in retailing where she performed inventory management for a major national retailer and as the supervisor of a store department.Her duties include accounts receivable and payable, financial reporting, and managing Federal and State filings. Denise has an Associate’s Degree in Office Administration from Baker College. She resides in and commutes from Owosso where she has lived all her life.
Trina Miller
Member Services Director
On any given day: Trina is processing dues invoices and event registrations, as well as managing the member database and assisting members in anyway possible.
Trina graduated from Northwood University in 2008 with her bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. While attending Northwood University Trina made the Dean’s list four semesters. Trina lives in Lansing with her children Mackenzie and Clayton. She enjoys watching her children in their chosen hobbies.
Erin Dalling
Financial Administrator
On any given day: Erin provides dues processing, invoicing, bookkeeping, and financial oversight for KDA’s association clients. Additionally, Erin manages PAC oversight and filings for all KDA clients.
Like many at the firm, Erin began her career in Michigan politics. She started her political activity in high school when she worked on a successful campaign for a state representative. She worked for the Speaker of the House while attending college. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Michigan State University, she continued her career as a Legislative Aide for State Senator Jason Allen and also served as a Committee Clerk in the State Senate. When she is not working at KDA, Erin enjoys spending time with Derek and their two children, Ashleigh and Jonathan, at their home on her family’s dairy farm in Sparta, Michigan.
Erin Theis
Administrative Assistant
On any given day: Erin is ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of KDA, performing a variety of duties such as reception, meeting preparation and managing member data, just to name a few.
Previous to KDA, Erin worked in the medical field for 21 years. During the last seventeen years, she was working in the Orthopedic medical field. She held several job responsibilities from being the check-in receptionist to scheduling depositions and Independent Medical Evaluations. She spent the last seven years as a Surgery Scheduler for two orthopedic surgeons. Erin received her Associates Degree in Office Administration from Lansing Community College in 2006. Erin resides is Dewitt with her husband Brian and their son Joshua. She enjoys traveling, bow hunting, and spending time with family and friends.