John A. Thorner, J.D.

critical component in ASA’s Organizational Improvement Initiative structure has been solidified with the hiring of John A. Thorner, J.D., CAE, into the new position of Executive Vice President of the Park Ridge Executive Office. He officially began service to ASA on January 7, 2008.

Thorner’s hiring proves ASA’s strong intent to remain competitive and serve members at a time that will likely challenge everyone in health care.

“We know what we need to do to become the best medical specialty organization in the world,” said ASA President Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D. “And we know the obstacles we need to overcome. The missing piece of the puzzle was finding the talent, skill and expertise that would fit ASA’s current and future needs. In John Thorner, we’ve found a leader in association executive management who can take us to that next level of success.”

As Executive Director of the Optical Society of America (OSA) from 1998-2002, John oversaw an almost 16,000-member, high-level scientific organization that included 22 Nobel laureates among its ranks. OSA published eight peer-reviewed journals monthly that focused on the military, communications and medical applications of optics. He also worked with a medical group within the society made up almost entirely of physicians who specialized in vision applications of optics and lasers. During John’s tenure there, OSA’s annual revenue grew from $19 million to $34, and its membership increased by 30 percent.

Building upon his successes at OSA, Thorner took the reins at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in 2003, and in less than five years the association’s assets increased by 83 percent — from $6 million to $11 million. After having lost $1.5 million over the two years before his hiring, he steered NRPA to five straight years of positive bottom lines. John was instrumental in keeping the organization focused on a three-year strategic plan that helped to improve the image of the field, to score significant legislative victories in Washington, and to transform it from a weak federation into a strong national organization.

On top of his extensive experience in association management, Thorner is licensed to practice law in two states and the District of Columbia. His early career was spent as a journalist writing for The Washington Post, the Associated Press, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Legal Times.

Thorner received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law, a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Duke University.

He is a certified association executive and is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, where he serves on the Board of Directors. Thorner also was Executive Director of the Air and Waste Management Association from 1994-1998 and has been an Executive Committee Board Member for the American Institute of Physics, a Board member of the American Association of Engineering Societies and a member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives.

Eugene P. Sinclair, M.D., President’s Executive in Charge of the Organizational Improvement Initiative, shares Dr. Apfelbaum’s enthusiasm about the hiring of John Thorner, and he is similarly looking forward to what he will bring to ASA. “Mr. Thorner is a seasoned association executive with a track record of outstanding leadership and change management at the highest level in other organizations before coming to ASA. We are fortunate to have recruited a person of his experience and caliber.”

In his spare time, John enjoys spending as much time as he can with his wife Judy, his five daughters and his dog. He is a fanatical Duke University basketball fan and enjoys hiking, trail biking, reading historical novels and movies.

Eager to pick up where his predecessors left off, John is excited about playing a lead role in helping ASA to realize its limitless potential for success. “I look forward to working with Ron Szabat, ASA staff and volunteer leaders to help the Society best serve its 43,000 members. ASA has been a good association for its first 100 years — working together, it can become a truly great one in its second century.”