About Us

Sarah Ayars brings more than 15 years of experience within the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) to her role as Executive Director. Since joining the organization in 2010, she has played a central role in the Association’s growth and evolution, supporting initiatives that enhance membership development, meetings, and the overall member experience.

Earlier in her tenure, Sarah managed the Association’s Target Programs initiative, gaining a deep understanding of member program offerings and the business development needs of program administrators. In this capacity, she helped participating agencies present their programs effectively and reach retail agents through coordinated marketing efforts. This experience strengthened her insight into how members position their programs and the tools that drive growth in the program marketplace.

Most recently, Sarah served as Director of Operations and Marketing, responsible for event management, daily operations, and the Association’s marketing efforts. Through this work, she continued to shape the TMPAA brand and foster the organization’s growth, strengthening its position as the leading resource for program specialists.

In addition, Sarah organizes and oversees the TMPAA Women’s Leadership Group, guiding its mission to elevate women in program business through leadership development, collective insight, and the power of a strong professional community.

Sarah works closely with program administrators, carriers, and service providers to ensure the success of the Association’s meetings, initiatives, and strategic priorities.

Prior to joining Target Markets, Sarah served as Communications Coordinator at Performance Marketing, where she developed and implemented integrated marketing plans for clients across a variety of industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from The Pennsylvania State University.

Ray has been involved with Target Markets since attending the first Summit in October 2001. He was hired as the Executive Director of the Association in January 2002. Ray was instrumental in the development and implementation of several Association initiatives including the commercial website, Target Programs, the Program Administrator Best Practice Designation, Target University, TMPAA Charities, and the Program Business Study.

Ray's management experience was gained in the public sector, serving as the administrator of a child abuse investigation unit in SE Pennsylvania for 22 years. He has also worked as an adjunct professor at West Chester University, PA. Ray holds a Masters Degree in Social Work.

Prior to joining Target Markets, Susanne worked as an underwriting assistant for the EPLI department of Rockwood Programs. Previous industry experience includes State Farm Insurance Fire and Auto Claims, Marine Midland Bank Commercial Finance Division and AIG's Payroll Marketing Department. Susanne has been the Association Services Coordinator for the TMPAA since January of 2002.

Merrie is responsible for assisting in marketing and membership efforts for the association. Prior to joining TMPAA in 2019, she worked as a private consultant specializing in small businesses. Her work has focused on web design, social media marketing, branding, and eCommerce. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University.

Krista's focus is on membership development, assisting members and prospects with the myriad of TMPAA resources. Previously, she worked in healthcare as a Community Coordinator with a focus in Hospice and Home Care, building relationships within the community to foster a better understanding of what tools and resources are available to people in need. Krista has a Master of Business Administration degree from Strayer University.

Nina is a graduate from Saint Joseph's University (2023) with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in marketing. She joined the TMPAA team in August of 2023 as their Marketing Coordinator and works primarily on the association's digital marketing.