Meet the Team Serving IWPA Members & The Industry

Ashley Amidon is the CEO of the International Wood Products Association. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Public Policy for the National Pest Management Association where she headed up the public policy team, and was a registered lobbyist handling all federal legislative issues and the Treasurer of NPMA’s Political Action Committee. Her issues portfolio focused on pesticides, tax, public health and small business issues. She simultaneously served as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Pest Management Association, which had 250 member companies.

Prior to the pest management industry, she worked as a lobbyist at the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association, handling environmental issues. She began her association career at the International Wood Products Association, where she was the lobbyist and PAC administrator, focusing primarily on environmental and trade issues. She began her career in DC as a political fundraiser and has also worked a series of political campaigns doing GOTV work, fundraising and scheduling.

She holds a B.A. in History and International Affairs from George Mason University in Virginia and an M.A. in International Affairs from University of Hull in the UK. She holds a CAE.

In her spare time, she is very active in her local theatre community. A native of Virginia, she lives with Dan, her partner of over a decade in Alexandria, VA.

Joe O'Donnell joined IWPA as Manager of Government and Public Affairs in April 2014. Before joining IWPA, he served ten years on the staff of former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, a former Chairman of both the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Committee on Foreign Relations. His positions included Deputy Legislative Director and Senior Legislative Assistant while focusing on assisting stakeholders interacting with federal agencies and advancing funding priorities through the budget process. O'Donnell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Economics from Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

As Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs, O’Donnell works to advance the priorities of IWPA members in Congress and the federal agencies. He also works to keep members abreast of developments that may affect their businesses through IWPA’s weekly E-News newsletter.

O’Donnell resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Adele, and enjoys escaping the city at any opportunity to hike, bike, and camp.

Stephanie J. Rodrigue serves as the Managing Editor of the International Wood Magazine. Rodrigue brings over 25 years of experience in the wood products field, from cruising timber and outside sales, to Director of Marketing positions in the hardwood lumber, flooring, and architecture fields. She also owns the marketing firm, YOUR Marketing Department, which she has operated for the past decade. 

Rodrigue’s role is to lead magazine creation for the award-winning International Wood Magazine, identifying article ideas for the magazine and working with contributors to develop compelling stories for the magazine that highlight international woods in application. She also works closely with companies to secure advertisement sponsorships to support the magazine's production.

Rodrigue’s uniquely befitting background includes a B.S. in Forestry from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse, and an M.S. in Forest Products Marketing from Virginia Tech. Originally from New York, she now resides in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters.

Baron Williams, CAE, joined the IWPA team as the Manager of Membership, Marketing, and Operations in 2022. Baron manages membership outreach, communications, retention, and recruitment efforts. He can assist you with questions about joining IWPA, making changes to your online company profile, or getting you registered for any upcoming events.

Prior to joining IWPA, Baron worked for the American Society of Association Executives for more than two decades. He served in a variety of roles, including Director of Office Services and Senior Director, Book and Information Publishing. In the latter role, Baron was responsible for publishing best practices and benchmarking information on every functional area of association management, as well as resources for those preparing for the CAE exam. Baron earned his CAE designation in 2008.

Baron resides in Northern Virginia with his wife, three children, and multiple four-legged family members.

Ben Finnestad joined the IWPA as Coordinator of Policy and Marketing in 2024. He connects the IWPA to its members and the general public through the IWPA’s social media platforms. He also assists in advancing the goals of IWPA members in Congress and the federal government. 

He earned a B.A. in Political Science from St. Olaf College, with concentrations in International Relations and Business Management.

When not working, he enjoys photography and hiking. Originally from Nebraska, he resides in Washington, D.C.