Our Team

Marilyn Ellis

Account Manager

Marilyn Ellis serves as an Account Manager at SAM. She joined SAM in 2025 with more than 25 years of experience in association management and expertise in finance, governance, and operations.

Prior to SAM, Marilyn held leadership roles at the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), the International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC), and Superior Expo Services (SES), where she oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, supported board and committee operations, and led membership, chapter, and event strategy.

An active industry leader, Marilyn is Past President of the Dallas Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE) and a longtime member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE). She also serves as Founding Board Chair of The Door: Life and Pregnancy Resource Center.

Her contributions have earned her several honors, including DFWAE's Membership Star Award and a 2024–2025 nomination for MPI DFW's Rising Star of the Year.

Marilyn studied accounting and business management at Dallas College, holds certifications in component relations and nonprofit fundraising, and completed leadership training through Toastmasters.

Partners: Science Teachers Assocaition of Texas (STAT)

Family: Husband Russell, three sons, three daughter-in-laws, eight grandchildren, and an Alaskan Husky named Blue Berry Ellis

Outside of work, I love... gardening and spending time with family.

My workplace superpower is... my ability to create genuine connections through warm smiles and attentive listening, helping build trust and understanding with colleagues and clients alike.

Assessments: Adapter (Predictive Index)

What inspires me about working with associations: I find deep inspiration in supporting associations because I value the opportunity to serve diverse industries that work tirelessly for their members. There's a special satisfaction in completing projects and witnessing members unite around shared causes. The tangible impact of helping these dedicated organizations fulfill their missions brings me genuine excitement and fulfillment in this work.

My unique skills or passions: I am passionate about establishing structure and organization through the development of clear policies and procedures. I excel at defining project requirements and implementing internal controls that effectively communicate needs and expectations.

Favorite SAM core value: Seek clarity. When we establish clear expectations from the beginning, everything else naturally aligns. By truly understanding another person's perspective, we build genuine trust. This process of seeking clarity activates our natural curiosity, leading to deeper learning. As understanding develops, empathy grows between both parties. Through this shared journey of discovery, we create meaningful connections and develop together.