GSAE Names New Leader to Run the Respected SAE

The Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) has announced that Jewel Hazelton was named the next executive director of the organization; her role officially starts Feb. 25, 2026.

Hazelton possesses more than 20 years of executive leadership, driving growth and engagement across the nonprofit, financial services and hospitality sectors. She brings a valuable cross-sector perspective, with leadership experience in both corporate and nonprofit association environments, including 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations.

After an extensive and thoughtful search process, the GSAE executive and search committee presented Hazelton to GSAE's board of directors as the right person to lead the association into its next chapter.

"With full board support, we are confident her alignment with GSAE’s mission, values and strategic direction makes her the right fit to lead the organization into the future," said Jacob Wilder, CAE, GSAE's 2026 chair.

A dedicated servant leader, Hazelton specializes in member outreach, stakeholder relations, content strategy, volunteer engagement and event management. Most recently, she served as vice president of membership relations and content strategy at PayTech Women, where she helped guide the organization through a 133% increase in membership growth while strengthening programs and engagement across a diverse professional community. She also brings a demonstrated record of building scalable programs, supporting volunteer leadership and enhancing operational consistency. Her experience across education, events and member engagement strongly position her to help GSAE in continuing to deliver value, strengthen connections and operate with clarity and efficiency as the association moves forward.