Associations Thrive – Details, episodes & analysis

Did you know that corporations that have diverse Board members have been shown to be more profitable and successful than those with less diverse Boards? So how do you get more women on these Boards?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Shawn Kaminski, Executive Director of DirectWomen. Shawn discusses:

• DirectWomen’s mission to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards.
• How DirectWomen prepares women lawyers for board service through an annual board institute.
• How DirectWomen serves as a resource for companies looking for diverse candidates for their Boards.
• How companies with more diverse boards are shown to be more profitable and successful than those without.
• How there's both a moral and business case for having diverse voices and representation in corporate boardrooms.
• Her personal journey, going from the American Bar Association, a large well supported organization, to DirectWomen, a smaller nonprofit.
• DirectWomen’s selective Board Institute program, which only accepts a small number of applicants each year. The small cohort size is intentional, so that DirectWomen can provide personalized attention to ensure participants' success.
• DirectWomen’s international expansion, starting with high attendance events in London.
• How DirectWomen will ring the New York Stock Exchange Bell on October 18th to celebrate reaching their 200th board seat milestone.

References:

• DirectWomen’s website

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus

License code: M2POPMBVFCE0RIPZ

What is foresight thinking, and how can it transform your association's future? Is your association prepared for what might happen?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor at Foresight First LLC. Jeff discusses:

• What foresight thinking is and what it is not.
• How foresight thinking differs from strategic planning.
• How foresight is not the same as a prediction or a forecast. Foresight represents anticipating and preparing for what could happen, not what will happen.
• Why association boards have the duty of foresight.
• How 5-7 years is the optimal window for foresight planning across industries, professions, and spaces.
• Foresight asks, “What could happen and how do we prepare the organization for it?”
• Foresight is not an initiative - it’s a way of thinking.

References:

• Foresight First website
• ASAE Foresight Article
• Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue Group

How do we create community in a post-pandemic world? How do you reinvent your company and what does it mean to create a startup culture again?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Sandra Nam, Co-Founder and CEO of Qiqo Chat. Sandra discusses:

• How Qiqo stands for Quality In, Quality Out.
• How Sandra was studying to become a landscape architect when she and a friend came up with the idea to develop a community platform to help her find fellow students and study effectively together.
• How Qiqo was an early Zoom API integrator, stringing Zoom meetings together to create breakout rooms.
• During the pandemic, she and Lucas Cioffi decided to focus on Qiqo full-time to help associations and nonprofits create a variety of different online meeting formats.
• How she calls the entrepreneurial journey “crazy fun.”
• The company’s pivot away from virtual meetings to an online marketplace, or a Buyer’s Guide on steroids, to help association members connect and find partners.
• One lasting effect of the pandemic is that today, we are able to meet and connect in a meaningful way online because that’s now an acceptable way to connect.
• Qiqo’s goal to help their clients be THE network, be THE community for their members.

References:

• Qiqo
• Association Marketplace

How do you find meaning and camaraderie in your work? Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Anton Ruesing, Director of the Finishing Trades Institute (FTI). Anton introduces FTI, and shares how a dead car battery led him back to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). He also shares what FTI and the IUPAT are doing to attract apprentices, make training better, and foster good relations in the industry. Anton discusses:

• The yearly Finishing Industries Forum, which brings contractors and Training Directors together 
• Helping Hand, a program of the IUPAT for members who are suffering from substance abuse or at risk for suicide
• The Big Build at the National Building Museum
• Rollers, spray rigs, and Virtual Reality training

References:

• Finishing Trades Institute
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• IUPAT’s Helping Hand program
• The Big Build at the National Building Museum

The skilled labor shortage is large and growing. Yet, the building trades offer some of the most fulfilling and rewarding careers available, with stats to prove it! The trades even offer earn-while-you-learn apprenticeships to teach the trade to those who are interested. How are the trades working to recruit talent and fill the gap? 

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Todd Stafford, Executive Director of the Electrical Training ALLIANCE. Todd introduces the ALLIANCE, shares his journey to becoming Executive Director, and then shares what the ALLIANCE and their 280+ training centers are doing to attract and retain apprentices!

Todd discusses:

• How their training centers are reaching out to more diverse, nontraditional candidates.
• A Department of Labor grant that the ALLIANCE used to fund nontraditional expenses, like clothing, tools, childcare, health insurance.
• How the ALLIANCE has updated its curriculum for today’s students.
• Why apprenticeships are still so relevant today.

References:

• Electrical Training ALLIANCE
• Construct Your Future

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Tracey Moorhead, President and CEO of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing. Tracey introduces AAPACN, shares her journey to becoming President and CEO, and then shares what AAPACN has been doing to increase membership and help their members navigate this challenging healthcare environment.

Tracey discusses:

• What post-acute patient care is and why it’s not being taught in nursing schools
• AAPACN’s new corporate member strategy
• Research that shows having even one AAPACN-certified nurse at a facility results in better quality outcomes and higher reimbursement rates
• The resources that the association makes available to members each month that help nurses comply with regulations and ensure quality treatments and outcomes for their patients

AAPACN membership is up and AAPACN is demonstrating amazing value to members every day!

References:

• AAPACN website
• AAPACN certifications

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Matt Baehr, Executive Director of the Book Manufacturers Institute (BMI). Matt introduces BMI, shares his journey to becoming Executive Director, and then discusses several initiatives undertaken by BMI to thrive.

Matt discusses:

• The strategic planning the BMI Board went through when Matt came on board.
• BMI’s new event, Book Manufacturing Mastered, which brings together publishers, manufacturers and suppliers.
• BMI’s research, which provides members with valuable industry data

BMI membership is up and the organization is generating more revenue than ever. BMI is thriving under Matt’s leadership!

References:

• BMI website
• Book Manufacturing Mastered Conference Site

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Lindsay Currie, CAE and Executive Officer at the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Lindsay introduces CUR, shares her journey to becoming an association executive, and then discusses several initiatives undertaken by CUR to thrive and grow.

Lindsay discusses:

• Futures thinking and how CUR engages in it to create an organization that will continue to be strong and relevant in 2032.
• CUR’s Opportunity Fund, which allows CUR to test and build for the future.
• How CUR staff established practices and procedures for becoming a healthy, virtual organization.
• CUR’s STR program, which teaches professors and their students to become strong advocates for undergraduate research. The STAR program goes beyond a 2-day legislative fly in; participants will train and engage over a six month period!
• How the Board engages in anticipatory planning to be forward thinking, nimble and prepared for the future.

References:

• Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Website
• CUR’s STR Program

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Ryan McLaughlin, CEO of the Northern VA Association of Realtors (NVAR). Ryan introduces NVAR, shares his professional journey to becoming CEO of this association, and then discusses several initiatives undertaken by NVAR during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, NVAR revamped its physical space at HQ in Fairfax to create a member hub. NVAR also rolled out several new, free services that Realtors can use to run their businesses more effectively. Finally, Ryan talked about changes they’ve made to their staffing and member experience strategy. NVAR is positioning itself to weather possible turbulence in the real estate market, and thrive in the next 100 years.

Welcome to the pilot of Associations Thrive, the podcast celebrating successful associations and their leaders. This podcast is hosted by Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International. In this pilot, Joanna speaks with Leah and Ray from her team, talking about how this podcast came out of a regular showcase webinar that clients absolutely love.

Joanna also speaks with three association industry partners and asks them about the state of associations:

• James Marquis, CIO of 501Works
• Teri Carden, Founder of Review My AMS, AMSFest, 100 Reviews and Non Due-A-Palooza
• Wes Trochlil, President of Effective Database Management

In future episodes, Joanna will interview association executives about the 1 or 2 things their organizations are doing differently to help them thrive, increase membership, generate revenue, and nurture member engagement.