Excellence is Our Business
AOE provides CME/CE consulting and support services for education providers, pharmaceutical IME and compliance teams, and CME/CE professionals. We take a straightforward approach to strategic and tactical client support. Our deliverable is your success in the CME/CE Enterprise. Our combined experience has improved effectiveness and success at more than 50 education providers, pharmaceutical CME/CE teams, hospitals, academic centers and associations.
The AOE Consulting team includes seasoned accreditation, legal and compliance professionals; national and international CME/CE experts; and former executive leaders of professional societies and associations. We leverage the experience of multiple Certified CME/CE Professionals. Our Advisory Board and Consulting Design Team include CME/CE program, education grant office, and adult learning experts.
What’s in a Name?
We are often asked about the meaning behind “AOE”. AOE takes its name from the three Greek letters that represented the ancient city-state of Athens. In addition to the letters, each Greek city-state was associated with an animal mascot. The symbol for Athens was the owl, as it was believed by ancient Greek leaders and philosophers that the owl would circle the Earth each night, collect the wisdom of the world, and return it to Athens. We remain mindful of this thought as AOE Consulting works with you and your team.
Consulting Design Team
Stephen Lewis, MA, CHCP
President
With 20 years of medical education, executive management and professional society experience, Stephen is a leader in the field. Selected as one of Colorado’s “Top 40 Under 40” leaders by the Denver Business Journal, Stephen has served as CEO of Global Education Group, President of the Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education, and President/CEO of Medical Education Collaborative. In addition to delivering presentations and developing Congressional testimony related to CME, nursing education and regulatory issues, Stephen served as an ACCME Accreditation Surveyor, President for the National Association of Medical Education Companies (NAMEC) and as a columnist for Medical Meetings magazine.
Prior to entering the CME arena, Stephen worked as an executive for associations in public health, banking and energy and served as a lobbyist and U.S. Senate Press Secretary. He received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Melissa Marick, MA
Director of Operations
Melissa has an extensive background in education; she brings 13 years of primary, secondary, and administrative education experience to the AOE team. Prior to joining AOE, Melissa worked as the Dean of Students for a public school district in Colorado, where she served as an instructor and was also responsible for curriculum design, professional development, project/program management and communication with key, school district stakeholders. As Director of Operations at AOE, Melissa oversees staff allocation and client success for all core service areas: accredited CE program audits, accreditation/reaccreditation, CE program compliance management, and CE coordination. Melissa earned her undergraduate degree from Colorado Christian University and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Sarah Porter, CHCP
Senior Program Manager
With nearly 10 years of accredited CME/CE experience, Sarah’s background spans education, operations and communication. She brings expertise in accreditation requirements and policies, educational design, grant development, project management and event planning and logistics. Sarah is adept at development and implementation of policies and procedures across various stakeholder groups. As a Senior Program Manager, Sarah works with organizations to translate accreditation board criteria and to provide solutions for consistency in management and documentation of CME/CE compliance across accredited initiatives. She is a member of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Pepperdine University.
Lindsay Lopez, BA
Program Manager
Lindsay brings AOE clients a strong background in operations and account management. With more than 10 years of professional project management, writing, editing and team management/mentoring experience, Lindsay provides significant organization and project support to the AOE team. Prior to joining AOE, Lindsay worked in daily project, task, and client management with both consulting and communications firms. As a Program Manager at AOE, Lindsay is focused on client deliverables, including compliance audits, CE program management and coordination, and accreditation/reaccreditation requirements. Lindsay earned her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA.
Chantel Crowl, BS
Program Manager
Chantel brings AOE clients nearly 10 years of accredited CE/CME program management and leadership experience. She has served as a Joint Accreditation surveyor and President of the Colorado Alliance for Continuing Medical Education. Chantel delivers expertise with accreditation compliance, standards, educational design, faculty management, and event logistics. She works with organizations to navigate accreditation board criteria and implement effective and efficient procedures to ensure accredited CE/CME success. Chantel is a member of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions and earned her Bachelor of Science from Metropolitan State University in Denver.
Alexis LaCount
Program Manager
Alexis’ background spans business administration, operations and policy translation. She brings nearly 20 years of customer service and project management to AOE and its partners. Alexis is adept at managing multiple stakeholder groups to achieve a common goal and implementation of process to ensure compliance with policies and regulations. As Program Manager, Alexis oversees compliance reviews, activity file audits and accredited-CE coordination oversight across accredited initiatives designed and implemented by AOE’s clients. Alexis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wyoming.
Brandy Lewis, BS, CMP, CHCP
Vice President
Brandy brings 20 years of medical education operations, financial management, logistics and meeting planning experience to AOE’s partners. Brandy manages all internal and external financial functions for AOE and its clients. She has delivered various medical education presentations at industry conferences regarding CME guidelines, regulatory issues and best practices. Her knowledge of finance, operations and general business management comes from executive-level management positions held with medical education companies and both for-profit and not-for-profit accredited organizations. A former Certified Meeting Professional and member of Meeting Professionals International, Brandy received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.
The AOE Advisory Board
AOE was formed by and for CME/CE leaders who want to demonstrate their best and improve CME/CE practices and results. The AOE Advisory Board remains active and involved in the CME/CE Enterprise, providing direction that assists AOE in helping pharmaceutical and medical education organizations, as well as individuals, solve problems with relevant, effective solutions. AOE’s standing as an authority in the CME/CE Enterprise is reinforced by our Advisory Board leaders.
The AOE Consulting Network
The AOE Consulting Network includes seasoned legal/regulatory and compliance professionals, CME/CE experts, and former executive leaders of professional societies and associations. More than half of our consultants are Certified Healthcare CPD Professionals. Our Consulting Design Team includes CME/CE program, education grant office, and adult learning experts.
AOE consultants have authored white papers, trained pharmaceutical IME and compliance teams, undergone successful reaccreditations across education provider-types and accreditation boards, and shared expertise with thousands of attendees at more than 30 national and international conferences, including the Alliance for CME Annual Meeting, AMA Task Force on Industry/Provider Collaboration, ANCC Annual Meeting, MedEd Forum, CME Congress, and CBI Grants conferences.
Our Mission: Navigating Education Excellence
AOE helps organizations demonstrate and define excellence in continuing medical education. Our team delivers knowledge, tools and cost-effective services that enhance quality, integrity, and the results associated with you and your CME/CE Unit.
AOE works with multiple stakeholders in the CME/CE Enterprise to deliver tailored consulting and training services. As leaders in continuing medical education, we help you excel in the current continuing medical education environment. Our success is tied to yours, and we work to exceed your expectations.
