Immediate Past President
KELLY BERRY
Kelly Berry has been working with start-ups and small business owners since 2005, as a market researcher, trainer, speaker, consultant, and facilitator. She is a certified Market Research Specialist and a Strategic Research Team Leader for the National Center for Economic Gardening and the Wisconsin Center for Business Intelligence. Kelly is also a trained and licensed CEO Peer Group facilitator, running both in-person and virtual peer groups of small business owners.
Kelly holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a BA from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Kelly was the Western Wisconsin Businesswoman of the Year in 2018 and the UW-EC Outstanding MBA Faculty Member in 2014. She is working to grow her online business Learn Start Grow, with the mission of helping small businesses grow through courses, consulting, and community.
Kelly could never work for a big company again and is passionate about helping small businesses grow through research, futures thinking, workshops, and peer groups. When she’s not working, she is walking her dogs, playing tennis, or curling.
 PRESIDENT - elect
troy wason
Troy Wason, President of Axxess Point Inc., uniquely blends his academic background with professional licensing. Holding a Master of Arts in Intellectual History from the University of Calgary and a Professional Investigator’s licence from the Province of Alberta, Troy offers a combination of research rigour and practical investigative skills. His client-centred leadership at Axxess Point emphasizes the delivery of reliable and expert solutions in the research and investigative sectors. Troy’s commitment extends beyond his professional role, as he actively volunteers with his local Historical Resources Working Group and the Historical Society, leveraging his research skills to advocate for heritage preservation within his community.
secretaryMichele bate
Michele Bate lives in Northampton, England. She has been an independent information professional and AIIP member for over 20 years. She previously held information management and research roles in banking, management consultancy, executive search and corporate investigations. Michele launched her company Archer Van Den Broeck Limited in 2006, specialising in reputational due diligence. She helps her clients to know who they are dealing with, whether they are making an acquisition or investing in a company, hiring a senior executive or involved in a dispute, saving them from the risk to their reputation that could result from association with “bad actors” and people who don’t share their ethics and values. She is a former chair of the Mentoring Committee (now the Peer-to-Peer Group) and former chair and current member of the Awards Committee.
Treasurer gail joiner Gail Joiner began her career with the Department of Defense, serving as a
financial management analyst and providing expert advice to senior-level
management. With over 30 years of experience, she now offers research and
advisory services in financial accounting, forecasting, marketing research,
strategic planning, and project management from start-ups to mid-level small business owners.
As the founder and CEO of Joiner Consulting, Gail has successfully guided
both public and private sector clients through complex business challenges. Her
firm is recognized for delivering strategic solutions that drive success and
growth.
Gail holds a Master of Accountancy from the University of Phoenix and a
Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She has served on the Board of
Directors for her Neighborhood Civics Association and the National Association
for Black Accountants, contributing her expertise to various committees. Her
community involvement includes volunteering with local non-profits, mentoring
young accounting professionals, and participating in initiatives aimed at
economic development and financial literacy.
With a thorough understanding of federal and state government
regulations, directives, and manuals, Gail ensures that her clients are
well-equipped to navigate the regulatory landscape. Her commitment to
excellence and client success has established her as a trusted advisor in the
industry.
Director, MembershipEric Magill
Before launching officially as an independent information professional, Eric researched, reported, wrote, edited, published, created, analyzed, managed, handled, stored, and secured information in a 40-year career in the private and public sectors. From being a sports writer covering the Philadelphia 76ers, to owning a weekly newspaper, print shop, and his managed IT services business, FlexITechs, to starting a tourism website, to serving on the town council and planning and zoning commission in his hometown, Eric has handled information for his clients or constituents from collection to creation to organization and protection. Eric offers research and information services for small to medium-sized businesses that need assistance finding information tailored to the specific questions and problems they need answered and solved. Eric specializes in Software as a Service (SaaS) vendor risk assessments for clients seeking new line of business software. In the process, he conducts due diligence checks for software compatibility, security risks, and financial stability with potential critical business partners.
Director, Outreach
antoinette satterfield
Curiosity has
driven me forward for as long as I can remember. I probably read every Nancy Drew book that had been
published before my 12th birthday. We both shared the mission to
follow the clues and dig for the answers.
Earning my BA in
history was right for me because I knew there would be a lot of interesting
stories and resources to dig through. I wanted to discover the answers and learn
something about everything! I found a strong desire to understand international, domestic, and municipal
governments. Before I knew it I was working on a presidential campaign and
quickly turned into what was known as a ”political wonk.”
While working in
the main library for several years at UNC at Chapel Hill, NC, I also earned my
MLS from UNC.
After earning
the MLS, I started my librarian career at Kansas State University, where I
worked mostly with government resources, geography, agriculture data, and maps.
From there I moved to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where I learned
more about our military, foreign relations, and our government. I focused on political science,
government resources, law, and economics, while also instructing sessions on
how to use the library and our resources.
My next move
was to Washington, DC, where this political wonk was able to grab the best job
possible – Research/Reference Librarian for the Executive Office of the
President of the United States. (Whew! What a mouthful!) My job was to mainly
assist everyone who worked for the Executive Office, as well as the First
family and the Second family. Even on the most stressful days, I always lived
in amazement of where I worked and all I learned because of it.
I still
research about anything you can imagine. I love the creativity of research but
also get a charge from the process of building a spread sheet and/or writing a
report.
As the owner of
Nette Information Services, I am moving forward and searching for answers in
every field. Since I also included “general reference” in every institution where
I worked, I am ready to tackle any subject.
For fun and enjoyment,
I like to cook, hike, read non-fiction books and the news, feed the birds in my
back yard, solo explore forests and large cities, and serve on the board of our
local public library. My favorite activity
of all is to share a table of delicious healthy food, include about five
friends, and partake in interesting and
educational conversation during this meal.
Director, Professional DevelopmentChris Cochran
At Cochran Information Services, Chris focuses on delivering clients timely, strategic, and actionable
information to help them solve their business and information puzzles. He started his info business after almost 30 years as a research librarian and manager in U.S. government libraries, where his work centered around international business and infrastructure, reputational due diligence, international development, U.S. legal and legislative processes, and general reference. Chris has a Master’s in library science from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master's in international relations from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. Chris was an Associate member of AIIP before starting his business. He has recently served as the editor of
the AIIP Connections Blog, where, he says, "I've been able to interact and network with
a great group of AIIP colleagues."
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