Karen Hurley

Savvy Strategist

Karen A. Hurley, MA, CAE, serves as Executive Director of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA). She is a results-driven executive with more than two decades of leadership experience in association management. Known for her ability to deliver measurable results and operational excellence, she has advanced organizations by strengthening board governance and membership engagement, leading complex strategic initiatives, and driving continuous improvement.

Previously, Karen served as Chief Operating Officer of the Society of Surgical Oncology, where she propelled the organization into a global society by delivering two multiyear strategic plans and implementing both large- and small-scale programs. Earlier in her career, Karen held executive leadership roles with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Catholic Media Association, and SmithBucklin, where she led organizational excellence initiatives, realigned vision with mission, conceptualized future growth opportunities, and developed business plans for long-term success.

Karen is widely recognized for her strategic vision and operational leadership; and strengths in consensus-building and developing synergistic relationships, with a leadership style grounded in collaboration, adaptability, and accountability.

Outside of work Karen plays golf, jogs along the lakefront, and enjoys family time with her husband, Brian, and their dog, Jameson, named after the Irish Whiskey.

“Achieving goals requires getting a thousand little things right along the way.”
– Michael Massimino, NASA Astronaut