Governance
The ABNN Board of Trustees comprises ten volunteers dedicated to contributing to the future development of certification and continued competency of neuroscience nursing and its subspecialties.
Volunteer Applications
ABNN Board of Trustees (Closed for 2023. Opens August 2024)
Each year, ABNN looks for CNRNs and SCRNs who possess leadership skills that will contribute to ABNN's Strategic Plan and future development of certification. Applications open for Trustee positions for 3-year terms in July/August each year. One to two Trustee positions are available each year. The application to apply will open in August 2024. For additional information about the position, view the ABNN Trustee Candidate Guidelines.
SCRN Test Development Committee (TDC) (Application Deadline: January 22, 2024 )
Interested in becoming a member of the SCRN Test Development Committee (TDC)? As a member, you will have the opportunity to further the professional development of SCRN candidates by developing evidence based test questions on practice issues relevant to Stroke Nursing. Applications will be accepted for 3-year terms beginning in March 2024. The first in-person meeting will be Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th in Salt Lake City, UT in conjunction with the AANN Annual Conference. ABNN will cover flight expenses along with 2 nights hotel. If you cannot attend this meeting, please do not apply. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, January 22nd. If you are interested, please send a copy of your application and resume/CV to Kelly Podkowa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than Monday, January 22nd.
CNRN Test Development Committee (TDC) (Application Deadline: January 22, 2024)
Interested in becoming a member of the CNRN Test Development Committee (TDC)? As a member, you will have the opportunity to further the professional development of SCRN candidates by developing evidence based test questions on practice issues relevant to Neuroscience Nursing. Applications will be accepted for 3-year terms beginning in March 2024. The first in-person meeting will be Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th in Salt Lake City, UT in conjunction with the AANN Annual Conference. ABNN will cover flight expenses along with 2 nights hotel. If you cannot attend this meeting, please do not apply. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, January 22nd. If you are interested, please send a copy of your application and resume/CV to Kelly Podkowa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than Monday, January 22nd.
ABNN Board Mentee (Closed for 2023. Opens Fall 2024)
ABNN is seeking a CNRN or SCRN staff nurse who is interested in having the opportunity to sit on the ABNN Board as a mentee and non-voting member for one year. The goal of this program is to help develop future ABNN leaders by giving the mentee exposure to the Board. The mentee will gain valuable insight related to ABNN's initiatives and will also be the voice for staff nurses at the Board level. For additional information about the position, please view the ABNN Mentee Handbook and Application. The applicatino deadline for this year has passed.
2024–2025 Board of Trustees
President
Samantha Orr, MSN RN SCRN
Past President
Marianne Beare Vyas, PhD RN
ANP-BC CNRN
President-Elect
Rebecca A. Banat, MSN/Ed. RN
ONC CNRN CWC FACHE
Secretary/Treasurer
Carey Heck, PhD CRNP AGACNP-BC
CCRN CNRN
Trustee
Ellen Ahlersmeyer, DNP RN CNRN
Trustee
Katy Brown, RN SCRN
Trustee
Lawrence Georgiana, MSN RN
CCRN SCRN
Trustee
Cindy Guede, MSN APRN
AGCNS-BC CNRN
Public Member
Terry Rigdon
Trustee and AANN
Board Liaison
Michael Rogers, BSN RN
CCRN CNRN SCRN
Trustee
Estier Sayegh, MBA BSN RN
PCCN CCRN CNRN NEA-BC
ABNN Board Mentee
Brianne Holbeck, MSN RN
CCRN CNRN SCRN
Executive Director
Leah Zamora, CAE
847.375.6386
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Staff
Senior Operations Manager
Kelly Podkowa
847.375.4895
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Senior Marketing Manager
Allison Begezda, MPS
847.375.4844
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