Staff Spotlight: Teona McCutchen, CAPM, Senior Manager, Professional Education
Connecting people and ideas requires a balance of structure and creativity to bring a program to life.
Teona and her children enjoy a walk in nature.
How long have you been at the Academy?
I started August 26, 2025.
What do you do as the Senior Manager of Professional Education – Annual Meeting?
I handle the education side of the Annual Meeting from start to finish—everything from the call for science and abstract submission peer reviews to speaker communication and onsite speaker logistics.
Tell us about one of your most memorable moments working for the Academy.
Attending the Annual Meeting just a month after starting at the Academy and getting to see how everything comes together gave me a real sense of the scale, teamwork, and impact behind the event.
On the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, during the President's Reception at the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO.
I fell into conference programming by chance. At first, I was just helping with speaker logistics and didn’t realize how much project management, problem-solving, and process went into it. But once I saw how all the moving parts came together, the planning, coordination, and behind-the-scenes work, I was hooked! I came to appreciate the balance of structure and creativity it takes to bring a program to life and found a real sense of purpose in being part of something that connects people and ideas.
What is something readers might be surprised to know about you?
I’m a mom of two children, and I have a background in fine arts, which means I can paint a portrait, sew a dress, and negotiate with a toddler before 8 am.
Coffee or tea?
I’m a fan of both—coffee to kickstart the day and tea to wind it down. It’s all about balance (and caffeine management).
