Next AAA Western and CNY leader starts in September

AMHERST — The next president and CEO of AAA Western and Central New York will begin his new duties on Sept. 9. The board of directors of AAA Western and Central New York has chosen Marke Dickinson following a national search, the organization said in its Aug. 7 announcement. Dickinson will succeed retired president and CEO Anthony Spada, who will remain with the organization as executive advisor through the end of the year to “ensure a smooth transition.” Dickinson’s leadership background spans health care and consumer marketing to general management, strategy, and finance. Immediately prior to joining AAA, he worked as chief marketing officer at ChenMed in Miami, Florida, a primary care provider focused on seniors. Dickinson will be relocating from Florida to lead AAA’s regional headquarters in Amherst, a Buffalo suburb. He is no stranger to AAA, having served in executive leadership roles over a 13-year span at AAA organizations in Wilmington, Delaware and Dearborn, Michigan. In that time, he earned regional and national leadership awards from AAA for his efforts and said he looks forward to returning to his AAA roots. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to join the talented team at AAA Western and Central New York and assume this important leadership role at such a pivotal time for the organization amid the growth and expansion of many valuable services for its members,” Dickinson said in the AAA announcement. Known for his commitment to community involvement, Dickinson has shared his time and talents with organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, United Way and the Urban League, AAA said. Additionally, he holds degrees from Penn State University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School with an MBA from Harvard Business School. “After an extensive national search to find the right, best candidate to serve as the next President and CEO of AAA Western and Central New York, we are excited to have found a dynamic and talented leader with a demonstrated record of success, including more than a dozen years driving growth in other AAA clubs. We are confident that Marke’s focus on cultivating a culture of innovation and achievement, paired with his self-described passion for bringing out the best in others, will make him an engaging leader with a passionate vision for AAA,” Laura Saxby Lynch, chair of the AAA Western and Central New York board of directors and chair of the CEO selection committee, said in the AAA announcement.