Paulina van Eeden Hill, CAE, Chief Operating Officer at Strategic Association Management (SAM), has been recognized as the 2026 AMC Institute (AMCI) Rising Leader Award recipient.

The Rising Leader Award honors an emerging talented leader who provides extraordinary support to their AMC or clients and exhibits clear thought leadership in the industry. The award is part of AMCI’s Awards of Excellence program, which honors the achievements of AMC firms and professionals shaping the future of association management.

In her role at SAM, Paulina oversees day-to-day operations, drives strategic initiatives and ensures companywide alignment with SAM’s goals and objectives. She applies her extensive association management experience to support organizations and members through strategic planning and execution, board governance, staff management, and member program and learning development.

“Paulina is a thoughtful, strategic leader who has made a meaningful impact on SAM, our team and the partners we serve,” said JJ Colburn, CAE, President and Partner at Strategic Association Management. “Her dedication to operational excellence, association leadership and the broader AMC community makes her incredibly deserving of this recognition. We are proud to see AMCI celebrate her leadership and contributions.”

Paulina is a Certified Association Executive and holds a degree in communications from The University of Texas at Austin. She actively participates in national and regional professional organizations, including serving as 2024–2025 Board Chair of the Texas Society for Association Executives and as an active volunteer for AMC Institute.

Paulina and fellow 2026 Awards of Excellence recipients will be honored at the Awards of Excellence Celebration on July 28, 2026, from 6–9 p.m. at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.