Partner Organization Announces New CEO

January 2, 2014

AARC partner organization, the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), is welcoming a new CEO. Tonya Winders, who has served as AANMA’s chief operating officer since January of 2013, succeeds AANMA founder Nancy Sander, who led the organization for 28 years before her retirement last September.

Winders came to AANMA after 15 years in leadership roles in the allergy and asthma industry, where she worked tirelessly to ensure access to effective diagnostic and treatment tools for patients. She earned her bachelor of science degree in business and human resources management and her master’s degree in business administration and marketing from Louisiana State University.

She is also the mother of five school-aged children, four of whom have asthma and/or allergies. 

“My personal and professional passion is to preserve the quality of allergy and asthma care by keeping patients at the center of the discussion,” she was quoted as saying. “With its priority to eliminate needless death and suffering due to asthma and allergies, AANMA is well-positioned to help others live and breathe better.”

AANMA board chair Michael T. Amato, who also chairs the board of the American Respiratory Care Foundation, noted, “Working closely with Tonya during the last year, I know that her expertise and proven leadership will build on AANMA’s strong foundation and position the organization for the future.”