Our Team

Lauren Turner, CAE, CMP

Account Director

Lauren Turner, CAE, CMP, serves as an Account Director at SAM. She joined the SAM team in 2024 with more than 12 years of association experience and a proven passion for innovation and drive for excellence. 

Prior to SAM, Lauren spent a decade with the Houston Apartment Association, where she worked her way up to the role of Vice President of Education and Outreach. In that role, Lauren oversaw multiple departmental budgets within a three-fold nonprofit and for-profit budget structure, supervised education department staff, and oversaw all education foundation education programs. She honed her skills in relationship-building and her ability to thrive in dynamic environments where she can leverage her creativity and problem-solving abilities to drive results. 

Lauren earned her bachelor's degree in hospitality administration from Stephen F. Austin University, and achieved her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) credential in 2016 and Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2020. She is active in both regional and national professional organizations, including the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She serves as a 2022–2025 TSAE board member and is also recipient of the 2019 TSAE Young Professional of the Year Award. She also served as 2023 Houston Society of Association Executives (HSAE) president. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and son, going on family bike rides and being outside. She grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has called Houston home since 2012. 

Partners: Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA)

Family: My husband, son, and two cats.

Outside of work, I love... to be active, attend Houston Dynamo soccer games, cook, and travel! 

My workplace superpower is... organization and multitasking.

Assessments: Persuader (Predictive Index)

What inspires me about working with associations: The opportunity to foster meaningful relationships with members and support their growth in the industry inspires me. This work allows me to combine my passion for relationship-building with my desire to enhance and support the careers of association members. 

My passions and skills: I am able to build relationships with members and key stakeholders. 

Favorite SAM core value: Stay curious. I love the idea of constantly learning, constantly looking at things in a new light, and being okay with change!