Affinity Strategies

Meet the Affinity Team – DeAnna McNett

DeAnna McNett
February 14, 2023

Name: DeAnna McNett, CAE

Position: Executive Director for the America College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP)

Month you started: January

What brought you to Affinity?
A blind job interview for a confidential association. When I interviewed with Affinity, I loved them from the first interview. They seemed bright, warm and welcoming. On the second interview, I was told who the association was and it made everything click and fall into place.

How did you get your start in medical association management?
I started in 2007 for the Emergency Medicine Residents Association, they found me on monster.com and I filled in temporary for a staff member on maternity leave. I did well enough that their management company offered me a full-time job. That was the American College of Emergency Physicians. I worked my way up through ACEP and worked for all of their managed organizations. (Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants – SEMPA, Emergency Medicine Foundation – EMF, National Emergency Medicine Political Action Campaign – NEMPAC). When ACEP took over management for the Council of Residency Directors (CORD) in Emergency Medicine, I took over their group as the Operations Manager and moved up to be their Executive Director very quickly. With my hard work for CORD, I became the face of CORD and synonymous with the organization. This was an amazing feeling, and I am grateful for my time in Emergency Medicine, and am extremely happy to be back in EM association management.

What are you most excited about in the year ahead with Affinity Strategies?
The brand-new start with ACOEP! I am excited to see the changes that have already come to this organization in such a short time. I am also excited to see what the future holds and the great things I know they can accomplish.

What inspires you to deliver your best?
Learning something new. I am always looking for new ways to express what is hidden inside. The creativity bug in me inspires me to constantly keep learning.

What three words would friends use to describe you?
Outgoing, Friendly and Creative. I can talk to anyone in any situation, I just like people. And creative because I am always doing something creative – I paint, I love glass blowing, I am trying to learn to sculpt and write calligraphy and I own a Cricut! I can also be found at Dollar Tree turning dollar store items into glam.

What are you listening to right now?
A Good Day to D13 – Arankai
I listen to a large selection of music. From 80’s hair bands, to 90’s grunge, gangster rap and country, to beautiful classical music. I listen to a bit of everything but jazz. I cannot stand jazz. My main genre would probably always be something metal.

What is something everyone should know about you?
I am a passionate advocate for mental health care and addiction therapy and recovery. I have lost way too much due to the stigmas regarding reaching out for help. If you need to talk, I am always here; you never have to be alone.

What quote do you live by?
I was going to say – “I’m your huckleberry” because this is my favorite quote of ALL time (I even have it on a tee shirt)
But if I was answering honestly about what I actually live by, it would be very simple – God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.