Interim CEO

Robert Lay is the Interim CEO of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), the world's largest professional organization representing science educators of all grade levels.

Lay joined the association staff in August 2023 as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Since then, he has designed a financial close and reporting process and trained the accounting team, reducing close time by 60+ days; implemented a new corporate credit card and reduced manual payments, expense reporting, and accruals; spearheaded the revision of key processes to improve and reduce time and effort to perform, as well as aligned policies and procedures to support the organization; prepared for and presented at two board meetings and finance committee meetings; and standardized the reporting pack and deck to provide clear and consistent information to stakeholders in a timely manner.

Before he joined the NSTA staff, Lay served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the international nonprofit American Water Works Association (AWWA) from 2020 to 2023, leading the Finance, Procurement, Facilities, Warehouse, Data, and IT departments of the world’s largest Water Utility member association. During that time, he set the strategic vision for the Finance functions; led budgeting and forecasting, strategic planning, and information strategy for AWWA; worked collaboratively across the organization to develop new key performance indicators and metrics, reporting packages, and processes to help streamline the organization; led the Finance Committee; and regularly presented to the board of directors, the treasurer, and multiple committees.

Prior to joining AWWA, Lay was Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Domestic and International Sales for Centennial, Colorado medical and biological manufacturing company AlloSource from 2016 to 2019. He directed all aspects of production and set the strategic vision for the Supply Chain, Production, Engineering, Quality, Facility, Equipment, and Distribution teams. His key achievements included eliminating an eight-month, $6 million backorder by restructuring operations and creating new process standards. He increased utilization and efficiency of teams by more than 26% and reduced attrition from 73% to less than 12%, increasing employee engagement scores across the organization by 15%.

Lay’s other experience includes serving as CFO of m.pulse LLC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during 2012–2013, where he designed and created all accounting, finance, IT and operational structure for a new startup company under a venture capital fund. He was Director of Finance for Gambro Renal Products during 2007–2012, when he was responsible for all aspects of financial processes for the Americas and directed and supported finance teams in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. From 2004 to 2007, Lay was Corporate Controller and led a team of eight accountants in all aspects of the financial management functions for Alta Colleges, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, a system of 21 colleges with a complex corporate structure and with revenue in excess of $250M.

Lay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.