IES Appoints Carolyn Woods as Director of Membership
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has appointed Carolyn Woods as Director/ Membership. Woods began her role on December 1 and will lead strategic initiatives to enhance member engagement, retention, and growth as IES advances its 2026-2028 Strategic Plan focused on lasting, scalable growth.
Woods brings more than one decade of association management expertise to IES, with a proven track record in membership development, strategic communications, and volunteer leadership support. She served as Director/Communications and Ministry Care at Accounting Beyond Borders, where she led stakeholder engagement strategies and spearheaded new fundraising initiatives that resulted in significant donation increases.
Prior to that, Woods spent nearly five years as Senior Membership Manager at the American Society for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition, where she led membership growth initiatives and managed a diverse network of local chapters as well as specialty-specific groups. She has consistently demonstrated the ability to empower volunteer leaders, analyze data to inform strategic decisions, and implement engagement strategies that enhance member satisfaction.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carolyn to the IES team,” said Colleen Harper, CEO & Executive Director of IES. “Her extensive experience in membership management, combined with her strategic approach to community building and her passion for fostering meaningful connections, makes her ideally suited to lead our membership initiatives as we execute our new strategic plan. Carolyn’s expertise will be invaluable as we work to grow membership by expanding renewal options, engagement pathways, and support for local sections while energizing our members and modernizing our structure.”
Woods holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Messiah University and completed the Certified Association Executive (CAE) course through the Michigan Society of Association Executives.
“I’m excited to join IES and contribute to an organization with such a rich history and important mission,” said Woods. “I look forward to working with the talented IES team and our dedicated volunteers to create engaging experiences that support our members throughout their careers and strengthen our global lighting community.”
