It is with the utmost sadness that we announce co-founder and former president, Dagny Engle, passed away on January 2, 2023.

Dagny was known for creating a professional, family-like culture at AMC that included people from diverse backgrounds with unique skills and talents. She was one of the first and most highly regarded women executives and business owners in the association management community.

“I had the opportunity to know Dagny for many years and was always struck by her combination of grace, grit, hospitality, business acumen, and the way she cared about AMC, its clients, and staff—well beyond her retirement,” said Steve Smith, MS CAE FAAMSE, current CEO of AMC.

In 1974, Dagny and her husband Art co-founded AMC. Prior to then, Dagny worked as a nurse leader at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. She, along with her nursing colleague Susan Novak, recognized the need for a professional community to support the growing subspecialty of rehabilitation nursing. The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) formed in 1974 with support from Lutheran General Hospital, Novak, and Engle. Dagny officially joined AMC in 1976, bringing ARN on as the company’s first client.

For 20 years, Dagny served as the executive director of ARN as well as other nursing and healthcare associations managed by AMC. She also served as president of AMC and was able to develop and execute business strategies and build relationships to grow ARN into the thriving, industry-leading organization it is today.

Dagny was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Art Engle (pictured with Dagny), who died on November 19, 2022.

Dagny is survived by her sons, Scott, Jeff, and Mark and their wives; as well as 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

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