Ms. Kates-Ellison holds a Master of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Illinois. In addition, Kates-Ellison holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential through the American Society of Association Executives and the Certified Diversify Executive Credential through the Institute for Diversity Certification. She is also the recipient of many distinguished industry awards, including: the Workforce Diversity Scholar Leadership Program through the Association Forum of Chicagoland; the Women of Excellence Award through the Chicago Defender, the 2021 Women Worth Watching in Leadership Award through Profiles in Diversity Journal and the 2023 and 2024 Top Women in Illinois Leadership Award through Women We Admire.
April’s Key Awards
- Top Women Leaders of Illinois for 2024, Women We Admire (Scroll to the 27th picture)
- Top 50 Women Leaders of Illinois, Women We Admire (Scroll to #26)
- Woman Worth Watching in Leadership Award, Diversity Journal (page 58)
- Woman of Excellence Award, Chicago Defender
- Bernie Conway Distinguished Employee Award, ADA
- American Dental Association Presidential Citation
- Maryland State Dental Association Presidential Citation
Apri’s Key Engagements
- Association Forum of Chicagoland Conference Speaker
- American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Conference Speaker
- Digital Now Conference Speaker
- ADA Conference Week Speaker
- Texas Association of Society Executives (TSAE) Conference Speaker
- Women in DSOs Conference Speaker
- Wisconsin Dental Association Strategic Planning
- Indiana Dental Association Leadership Speaker
- Ohio Dental Association Leadership Conference Speaker
- Oklahoma Dental Association Leadership Conference Speaker
- Michigan Dental Association Leadership Conference Speaker
- Oregon Dental Association Leadership Series Speaker