Rhonda M. Payne

Rhonda is an award-winning learning leader, workforce development strategist, and certified association executive with over 30 years of formative experience growing the reach, revenue, and relevance of complex, mission-driven, trade and professional membership organizations.

She is a sought-after consultant with an entrepreneurial mindset and internationally proven expertise in nonprofit management, adult education, and business events across 15 countries. For three decades, including executive roles as ASAE chief learning officer and ICSC global vice president, Rhonda has helped hundreds of for-purpose organizations tackle their most challenging opportunities and create competitive advantage with and for the communities they serve.

As the founder and CEO of Flock Theory, Rhonda magnifies and defends inclusive expertise from stage to screen, bookshelf to boardroom, and classroom to congress. Her equity centered practice designs best-in-class event programming, creates and manages L&D products and initiatives, facilitates high-stakes strategic conversations, and advises on practices that optimize people and performance.

Rhonda serves on the boards of NYSAE, SocialOffset, and C4 Performing Arts; is an advisor on the ASAE Executive Management Advisory Council and the PCMA Education Task Force; and is principal consultant on workforce equity & strategic alliances for the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. A nonstop learner, she earned a BS in industrial & organizational psychology at the University of Virginia, a graduate certificate in Communication, Culture & Technology at Georgetown University.