Eric Braendel

In my position as ABA’s Chief Financial Officer, I support the Association across three core areas: finance and accounting, HR, and IT. In a small association, those functions often overlap more than people might expect, so a big part of my role is making sure the operational side of the organization runs smoothly and efficiently. That behind-the-scenes work helps free up the rest of the team to stay focused on serving our members. I wear a lot of hats, but I genuinely enjoy the variety.

What I enjoy most about this industry is the hospitality mindset. Our members are in the travel and tourism space, and they care deeply about creating great experiences for the people they serve. That spirit carries over into how they do business, and it has influenced how I approach my own work. When I’m helping a member, I try to do it with patience, attentiveness, and a real interest in getting it right.

My background is rooted in accounting and tax. I have an undergraduate degree in accounting, a graduate degree in taxation, and I spent about a decade teaching at the graduate level. Along with more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting, that has given me a practical perspective on how to solve problems clearly and effectively.

One thing I’m especially passionate about is helping members see ABA as more than a membership organization. I want them to view ABA as a real resource they can rely on for tools, data, and insight that help them run stronger businesses.

Outside of work, family is everything to me. My wife and I have five children, four of whom we adopted, and we’ve also been foster parents for more than ten years. Providing children with a safe, stable home has been one of the most meaningful parts of our lives.