Staff and Leadership
Staff and Leadership
The International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) works on behalf of thousands of members from over 70 countries around the world, and across fields and disciplines, to facilitate collaboration and promote the science, research, and the evidence based applications and practices of positive psychology.
The leadership of IPPA includes our international Board of Directors – a diverse governance and oversight team of members from multiple continents – and a Council of Advisors who provides decision support and direction to our management and operations staff. The present and future of our Association is driven by our Executive Director.
Day-to-day management of the Association is handled by a team of experienced professionals from across areas of finance, operations, membership, technology, event management, partnerships, and more, who are all dedicated to fulfilling our mission and advancing the field of positive psychology on a global basis.
Scott Pearl, CAE, Executive Director
Scott Pearl became the first full-time Executive Director of IPPA in early 2020 (just before the start of a global pandemic) and has become an invaluable asset to the Association who helped to expand the impact, reach, and membership of IPPA. He has a strong personal connection to the mission of the Association.
Scott serves as an ex-officio member on the IPPA Board of Directors. He has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience from both public and private sectors, and from within some of the largest nonprofits and associations across industries. At IPPA, Scott oversees operations, events, programs, fiscal management, marketing, and strategy, works closely with the IPPA Board and global Council of Advisors, liaises with volunteers across all IPPA divisions, and leads digital transformation efforts.
Scott is a transformative leader who successfully built and sold companies, served on Boards along with Fortune 50 CEOs, advised senior government officials, startups and private equity backed businesses, and held executive roles at several companies that were acquired. He also worked in the C-suite within national and International nonprofits, NGOs, and Associations. Scott holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
He is an advocate for individuals living with disabilities or rare diseases, and for children with special needs. He and his wife are the loving parents of two children. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, boating, biking, and other activities, playing games, and having quality time together.
Kris Peterson, Operations Management
Kris Peterson brings over 20 years of accounting, administrative systems, and communications support experience from across industries to the IPPA organization. She has the unique ability to manage demanding environments and deadlines with a keen understanding of the unique needs of members and volunteers worldwide. Outside of work, Kris is a dedicated mother to her daughters, and enjoys spending time at the lake, boating, and having fun with her family.
Jenn Blees, Account Management Lead
Jenn Blees supports the day to day financial reporting and business operations needs of IPPA. Her ability to multi-task and to work under pressure to meet deadlines is an admired trait that continues to help IPPA deliver on its’ mission. She has worked across divisions to develop and implement, and measure KPIs and metrics, and provides vital reports that help to keep the operations integrated. When not working, Jenn loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, and playing tennis.
Sam Eng, Membership Support Lead
Sam Eng plays an important role, providing management and support for membership operations, and supporting other divisions in an effort to enhance member experience. Sam prides herself on being a perfectionist, which is welcomed by members around the world. Her attention to detail and ability to communicate directly with members, colleagues, partners, and vendors has allowed her to become a valued team member within IPPA. Outside of working hours, Sam enjoys quality time with friends and family and loves being outdoors.
Claire Doyle, Technology Support Lead
Claire Doyle brings over 20 years of experience to IPPA and provides management and oversight of the various technology initiatives and efforts across the association. She has worked in various sectors of the business world, from independently owned family businesses, to multi-million dollar corporations, and brings a collaborative, inclusive approach to every project and program that she is involved in. Claire also helps the team by supporting “other duty” functions requiring coordination. When not working, Claire enjoys cooking, writing, and sewing new creations.
In addition to the team and support members outlined above, IPPA has also assembled a team of trusted experts in the areas of membership and operations support, technology management and custom programming support, and events planning and management to further assist the Association on a day-to-day basis to further our mission.
