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

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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.

Crucial DEI data has been missing in the association world. Learn about the first comprehensive survey tracking diversity and career advancement in the association sector.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews three guests. Jose Segarra, Board Member of Association Latinos, Don Dea, Founder and Chair of the ASAE AANHPI Association Community, and Rick Burt, Board President of Black Association Executives. They discuss:

• The purpose and goals of the Association Workforce Trends survey.
• How everyone in the association space, from CEOs to entry-level employees, across all demographics, should participate in the survey
• The demographics and professional development questions included in the survey.
• The relevance of collecting data on work settings and salary comparisons across regions.
• How the survey aims to fill a gap in data on DEI initiatives within the association community.
• How diversity, equity, and inclusion within the association community drives meaningful change and supports professional growth for all groups.

References:

• Take the survey!
• Association Latinos Website
• Association Latinos LinkedIn Page
• ASAE AANHPI LinkedIn Page
• Black Association Executives Website

How do you distill your organization’s signature member benefits to create focus in your association? How do you make membership a business imperative?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA). Jennifer discusses:

• How her members are contract chemical manufacturers or divisions within larger companies that create small batch specialty chemicals for a huge spread of industries across the country.
• How SOCMA focuses on three things:
• B2B Networking
• Advocacy
• Safety
• SOCMA has different ways to connect members, including:
• On online directory that lets companies find contract manufacturers based on the most specific of capabilities.
• Lead sheets that allow companies to specify their needs, with help from a SOCMA members; these lead sheets are circulated to all members. To date, nearly 300 lead sheets have gone out to members, and an estimated 55% have resulted in business for members.
• A tradeshow that connects companies with members.
• SOCMA had sold its tradeshow many years ago and when they did, they realized that the industry lost a critical way to network, share and find partners. Many years later, SOCMA bought a tradeshow and is on the way back to a thriving show.
• How SOCMA advocates to regulators around the special circumstances of contract manufacturers, who manufacture different chemical on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
• How SOCMA provides members with a suite of safety trainings and guidance documents.
• SOCMA membership is growing and the organization is thriving.
• The new SOCMA strategic plan calls for SOCMA membership to become a “business imperative” - we love this bold thinking and messaging!

References:

• SOCMA
• SOCMA Show

Can agriculture be climate-friendly? How do we encourage climate-friendly and biologically-centric agriculture, while at the same time, helping farmers be more profitable?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Patrick Smith, Founder and Executive Director at Soil Upside. Patrick discusses:

• Climate Smart Agriculture is a movement to move away from just chemically-focused agriculture into biologically-centric agriculture.
• How the transition to climate-smart or regenerative agriculture is a difficult one, but once the transition is made, farming is more profitable.
• How Soil Upside is building a database of funding opportunities to help farmers make this transition.
• His entrepreneurial journey, including how he is uniquely qualified to run a tech company that is focused on climate and regenerative agriculture.
• How Soil Upside is a fiscally sponsored project and that’s how Patrick has been fundraising for the organization.
• How he is running Soil Upside to be a temporary organization. Once he builds the database, he will donate the company to a non-profit that can give the project the attention and care that it needs indefinitely.
• How Soil Upside could only be possible today because of AI and APIs.

References:

• Soil Upside

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What was it like to be an infection preventionist at a hospital during the pandemic? How do you support your members during a world-changing event like a global pandemic?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Devin Jopp, CEO at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Devin discusses:

• The founding of APIC and how their members’ job is to prevent the spread of infection in all health care centers.
• The training and certifications that infection preventionists (IPs) get.
• Devin’s journey, moving from IT to CIO, and then to CEO of several health care associations.
• When Devin was at ACHA, he gathered emeritus members who helped write the guidelines for college reopening during the pandemic.
• How Devin’s doctorate taught him that when things don’t work in an organization, it’s often not because of technology, but the structures, policies, and processes.
• How as CEO of APIC, he has seen the overhaul of all the technology systems at APIC.
• How APIC is launching new products called Policy Pro and APIC Text Online. Both products help members do their jobs better.
• How APIC is exploring how generative AI will make their products better in the future, especially since APIC literally has thousands of resources on its website. 
• How APIC has APIC Consulting, which is a network of IPs who go into healthcare settings to help organizations develop their plans, write the procedures, train people, or bring in consultants who work as IPs.
• How it was hell being an IP during the pandemic, and even today we don’t talk enough about the health and safety of healthcare staff.
• APIC is launching a new ethics framework and a new advanced certification program.

References:

• APIC
• PolicyPRO Info
• Apic Text Online
• Apic Consulting Services

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The AANHPI tent covers Asian immigrants from more than 70 nations. Despite the wide spread of cultures, Asians are severely underrepresented within the Association community.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda welcomes back a returning guest in Wendy-Jo Toyama, CEO, of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care (AAHPM). 

Wendy-Jo discusses:

• The four focus areas of AAHPM.
• How they have increased both voice and vote for interdisciplinary team members.
• How AI is changing healthcare, and how it is going to add some risks and take away other risks.
• How hospice is changing to shift towards at-home care.
• How associations are going to be operating in an increasingly competitive environment because there are so many places where people can belong.
• How associations must offer comprehensive value to members structured around education, access, and community.
• The risks to associations that don’t take advantage of AI models that help to catch mistakes and improve data analysis.
• How and why she came to work for an association management company.
• While looking for her first CEO job she led with her values and selected a firm with a culture aligned with her values.
• How AMC is doing a lot of things right regarding diversity, including having a DEI week every year and a DEI advisory group, as well as housing a number of ERGs (employee resource groups).
• How May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI).
• How AANHPI is an incredibly diverse community, encompassing people from various ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. She explains the issues that are overlooked due to the sheer size of the community
• How Asian Americans have some of the highest income communities across the nation as well as communities among the lowest.
• How Wendy is a chair of ASAEs AANHPI Advisory Group, which aims to create a community for execs in the association space, alongside attracting more Asian Americans to the field.
• How Wendy urges listeners to visit the ASAE AANHPI LinkedIn page and collaborate community.
• How we need to use our voices to raise people up, spread awareness, and move the community forward.

References:

• AAHPM
• AMC
• Wendy-Jo’s Previous Episode
• AANHPI Association Community LinkedIn Page
• AANHPI Collaborate Community

During this AANHPI Heritage Month, we need to ask ourselves: What can we do to end systemic sexism, racism, and any other ism that divides us and robs groups of opportunities?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Sue Ann Hong-Whitaker, President & CEO at the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW).

Sue Ann discusses:

• How she flew to the U.S. on her own as a child, which taught her how to be independent, resilient, and adaptable.
• How CAPAW’s founder, Martha Lee, wanted to address the persistent sexism and racism that plagues Asian women professionals.
• How AANHPI women are more likely to keep quiet, keep their heads down, and do a good job, but not ask for what they want; THIS holds them back.
• How Sue Ann had a successful career working for a Fortune 50 company, but because of a reorganization and threats to her health from the lifestyle, she decided to make a change, and that’s when she became CEO of CAPAW.
• The mental shift of going from a large Fortune 50 company to a small non-profit with a tiny staff.
• How her number one job at CAPAW is to build relationships.
• How she became activated when the Atlanta Spa shootings occurred.
• CAPAW’s signature programs: The sHERO program and the APAWLI program. The sHERO program is for all women of color, with 5 or fewer years of experience in the professional workforce. The APAWLI program focuses on leadership and targets mid-career professionals who are looking to move up or explore their careers in a new and different way.
• To end racism, sexism, ageism, and all other -isms, organizations must partner to focus on solving these issues. CAPAW is focused on these partnerships.

References:

• CAPAW
• sHERO Program
• APAWLI Program

What will YOUR profession look like in the future? How are social, economic and technological trends shaping your future and how is your organization adapting to these forces?

Joanna welcomes the return of Vince Talucci, CEO of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). In episode 13 of Associations Thrive, Vince talked about his journey to become the CEO, and the changes that IACP has made to grow and thrive, by focusing on younger members, going global, IACP research, education, professional development, and law enforcement support. 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, Vince discusses:

• How the IACP now has 34,000 members, double the number of members in 2016. 
• How membership growth is being fueled by IACPs advocacy work, annual conferences, publications, and education.
• IACP just concluded a 10-city listening tour to find out what's on the minds of their members. They asked their members two questions: What is the most pressing issue confronting your agency, and what is the most important issue facing the profession?
• IACP members reported that the top-of-mind issues are recruitment and retention, officer safety and wellness, violence against police officers, legalization of marijuana, and highway safety.
• How IACP has a timeless strategic plan, but is always thinking about the future and where the profession is going. Technology and AI are issues they are tracking.
• How community policing and having police agencies that look like their communities are evergreen issues.
• When talking about AI and technology, civil rights, privacy, data storage, and ethical usage must be at the forefront of every conversation.
• IACP is exploring what AI is to the policing profession: what it is, the pros, the pitfalls, and interpreting these findings in a meaningful way for members.
• How staffing at police agencies in the future will include professionals who are complementing the police officers out on the street.
• How IACP is focused on leadership in policing organizations through the concept that everyone in a police organization is a leader.
• How IACP was already able to make quick decisions before the pandemic and continues to do so post-pandemic.
• Vince’s proudest moment during the pandemic was how his staff handled COVID.

References:

• IACP
• IACP Conference
• Police Chief Magazine

This is a special episode of Associations Thrive. Director of Marketing, Leah Monica interviews Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group International, Inc. on the occasion of Matrix Group turning 25 this month. Joanna discusses:

• When and why she started Matrix Group.
• How Matrix Group’s mission has not changed. We help associations and non-profits increase membership, increase revenue, increase engagement, and thrive in the digital space.
• How there is a real fit between the mission of associations and the capabilities of the web.
• How during the early days, Matrix group had MMM (Making Matrix Marvelous) nights, during which the staff would devote themselves to developing the internal systems that the organization needed to thrive, including the website, intranet, and extranet.
• The fortune taped to her desk that says: Nothing stays sold. We need to make sure that we demonstrate to clients that are still the best choice for them because of our services, tech, innovation, people, and culture, even if they picked us 10, 15, or 25 years ago.
• How to scale your services so that you offer your clients appropriate products and services during lean times and times when they can afford to make investments.
• How leadership development is one of the most important investments a CEO can make in her organization.
• Why she’s called the “Chief Troublemaker.”
• The story behind why Joanna doesn’t like to take no for an answer.
• The company fundamentals that are so important to the Matrix Group culture. Her favorites are “Do or do not. There is no try.” and “Don’t let your boss make a mistake.”
• How AI is changing how we do the work, as well as influencing new product development at the company.
• The advice that she would give to herself or any young entrepreneur just starting out.

References:

• Matrix Group website
• One of Joanna’s many blog posts on company fundamentals
• 9th Anniversary blog post
• 10th Anniversary blog post

How does your organization get started with AI? How does an organization develop deep AI expertise in AI, which arguably is the most transformative technology we will see in our lifetimes?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Amith Nagarajan, Chairman of Blue Cypress. Amith discusses:

• His ecosystem of companies that is focused on helping associations transform digitally through positive disruption.
• How he stumbled across associations 30 years ago and never looked back.
• How the people in the association market care deeply about their mission and members.
• How there are two types of innovation: customer-led innovation and inspiration that comes from other sources, including outside the industry.
• How, as a leader, he allocates a couple of days a week to experimentation.
• When to kill ideas that don’t make sense, even if those products are in flight.
• What leaders need to do is create more free time for themselves to think.
• How most of his time is spent being a cheerleader for AI to associations. In his opinion, AI is the most transformative technology that any of us will experience in our lifetimes.
• When it comes to AI, doing something is better than nothing. Start by allocating 15 minutes a week. By the end of the year, you will have developed deep AI expertise, especially when you dedicate time company-wide.
• How AI is here, and whether we ride the wave or are crushed by it, it will continue to accelerate and evolve for decades to come.
• Blue Cypress has several events coming up about associations and AI (see links in the show notes).

References:

• Blue Cypress
• Sidecar Global
• Blue Cypress Events

This special episode of the Associations Thrive podcast was recorded during the 2024 ASAE Annual Conference in Cleveland. Joanna had just finished moderating a session on open access for journals with Lyn Beamesderfer from ISPOR, Pam Harley of Clarke & Esposito, Dave Jackson of ASPET, and Sharon Kneebone of AAPM, and. After the session, Joanna had a chance to catch up with Sharon in the podcasting booth in the expo hall to continue the discussion about open access.

To learn more about how open access will affect the association world, catch the discussion live in Joanna’s upcoming webinar hosted by UST, on “How Open Access Will Affect Your Journal Strategy and Revenue.”

Sharon and Joanna discuss:

• What open access is and how it affect associations that have journals.
• How journals with research funded by the federal government are highly impacted by open access. 
• How AAPM is going hybrid with its open access: within each issue, some articles are open access, while others continue to be restricted.
• How journals need to focus on assessing their open access exposure.
• How associations needs to focus on author recruitment.

References:

• AAPM Website
• UST Open Access Webinar

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and immigrants want to transfer their businesses to their children. Trust and estate attorneys make those transitions happen.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Deborah McKinnon, Executive Director of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Deborah discusses:

• Her career journey to becoming Executive Director of ACTEC and her experience working with boards of large and small non-profit organizations.
• How ACTEC fosters engagement among its members through its Institutes, activities such as involving ACTEC fellows in the website redesign, and through educational content, including their podcast series.
• How ACTEC Institutes act as a training ground for young attorneys, instilling ACTEC's values and preparing them for Fellowship. 
• How trust and estate law is important to small business owners who want to pass their assets to their heirs.
• The importance of attracting and involving young attorneys in trust and estate practice.
• How ACTEC can put on events, webinars, podcasts, and educational content through the involvement of their members and ACTEC’s amazing staff.
• ACTEC’s criteria for becoming a member includes at least 10 years of experience, community involvement, and nomination by a current ACTEC Fellow.
• How ACTEC has fosters continued learning, sharing information about the profession, and staying current on legislation affecting trust and estate law in different states.
• At meetings, ACTEC fellows who have been members for less than 5 years get a blue dot on their name tags. ACTEC fosters a culture wherein leaders are trained to seek out blue-dot members to make the new Fellows feel welcome and involved.

References:

• ACTEC
• ACTEC Institutes

If your association went away tomorrow, what would be lost and who would miss it? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Michael DiFrisco, ED, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Michael discusses:

• How cosmetic dentistry is on the rise; brands like Invisalign have become household names.
• How cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, but cosmetic dentists need specialized training.
• How membership numbers resurged after the pandemic. AACD Identified and catered towards best-fit members: the members who support the organization and are supported by the organization.
• How accredited members are the most engaged, and most likely to renew their memberships.
• How a recent membership survey allowed AACD to learn that 52% of their members are retiring within the next 5 years.
• For this year’s annual conference, AACD reached out to practice transition companies to become exhibitors; they sold out these spots!
• How AACD is reaching out to younger professionals to make up for the upcoming membership cliff.
• How AACD created the Dental Dojo to create a community for members.
• How ACCD created the Esthetic Skill Studio to compete against for-profit organizations. 
• While updating their strategic plan, AACD asked their leadership and members, “If AACD went away tomorrow, what would be lost and who would miss it?” The answer was very clearly ACCREDITATION and it would be missed by accredited members and their patients.
• AACD has research that shows accredited members are more successful than regular members and regular members are more successful than non-members.
• Michael’s amazing formula for helping organizations articulate their brand promise: We are the only (blank) organization that does (blank) for (blank).

References:

• AACD website
• Dental Dojo
• Esthetic Skill Studio
• Annual Conference

What do you do when your name no longer represents your organization? How do you create urgency among lawmakers and the public so that those you serve have a chance to live fulfilling lives?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Joe Lindahl, CEO of Mission MSA. Joe discusses:

• How Multiple System Atrophy is a rare neuro-generative disease that is a movement disorder like Parkinson’s, but it is much worse because of the speed at which the disease progresses.
• The organization’s rebrand from Multiple System Atrophy Coalition to Mission MSA to lend clarity and urgency to their mission to cure MSA. 
• Mission MSA is the largest funder of research into MSA, after the NIH.
• His journey working for different organizations, including working for an association management company, and many medical associations.
• The transition from working for a professional society to working for a nonprofit.
• How having patients, care partners, and industry researchers on his Board gives the organization insights and perspectives from the entire MSA ecosystem.
• How Mission MSA provides seed grant funding to support new ideas, and collaborative ideas to help companies attract larger pots of funding.
• How Mission MSA is supported mostly through fundraising.
• Their support services to patients, especially newly-diagnosed patients, including a patient support line that is staffed by trained volunteers and staff, and peer supporters who meet with patients in person.
• MSA Connect, their new, private community platform for patients and care partners.
• The new MSA Centers of Excellence that provide interdisciplinary care from trained healthcare professionals who know about MSA and how to care for MSA patients.
• Mission MSA’s advocacy efforts, including support for the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, which will bring together internal and external stakeholders to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders.
• When a person gets diagnosed with a debilitating disease, they become eligible for disability payments and Medicare after two years, but that waiting period is too long for MSA patients, because of the speed of disease progression. Mission MSA is advocating for patients to get these disability payments and access to Medicare much sooner.
• March is Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month. Please spread the word about MSA!

References:

• Mission MSA website
• Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month

Sometimes, donations to a non-profit can be burdensome for the organization. Many nonprofits lack the infrastructure to accept physical assets like cars and real estate. But automobile and real estate donations allow non-profit organizations to raise large amounts of money, and allow contributors to easily donate in a more significant way.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Howard Pearl, CEO of Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS). Howard discusses:

• How CARS is a non-profit that provides fundraising services to other nonprofits. CARS takes the automobile and real estate donations slated for specific nonprofits, sells them at auction, and then remits 80% of the proceeds to the designated nonprofit.
• How CARS uses the proceeds from the sale of autos and real estate to benefit those in need in the San Diego area.
• How he went from interim CEO to full-time CEO when he realized he loved the CARS mission and saw the huge potential in its services and staff.
• How the organization has grown in size threefold with virtually zero staff turnover.
• How credit, respect, and effective management allow staff to flourish and approach their work creatively.
• How he devotes himself to giving his staff the tools, budget, and people to get the job done.
• How staff at any level at CARS can make a decision; they will only be reprimanded for making mistakes if they repeat their mistakes. 
• How he makes all new hires read the book “The Gratitude Diaries” by Janice Kaplan.
• How CARS now supports nonprofits across the country.

References:

• CARS website
• Make a donation form
• The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan

How do you set guidelines and parameters for contentious conversations to keep discussions civil? How do you bring voices to the table that have been historically excluded?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Matthew Hughes, CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America. Matthew discusses:

• How WACA is a trade association of Local Councils around the country that bring diplomats, journalists and professors to communities, to foster discussion and understanding about foreign affairs and global issues.
• His journey from the education world  to the association world.
• How and why world affairs should matter to everyone in the US, despite our domestic issues.
• How WACA develops partnerships with organizations that provide local councils with resources and speakers.
• How WACA helps local councils put on great programs, run high performing nonprofits, and be sustainable.
• How the WACA100 trains local council leaders and volunteers for the jobs of running a local council, promoting events, fundraising and running a sustainable organization.
• How WACA trains local councils to manage difficult discussions around polarizing issues to remain true to WACA’s mission of informed civil discourse.
• How WACA inspires the next generation of citizens to contribute to the discussion through the Academic WorldQuest program.
• How WACA’s annual conference last November saw an increase in attendance and was a big success.

References:

• WACA Website 
• Find A Council! 

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What’s it like to work for a for-profit vs. nonprofit company? How do you support your members during boom times, as well as downtimes?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews James Thomas, Executive Director of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). James discusses:

• When and why ASHI was founded.
• The value of certification for a home inspector, as well as meeting the needs of licensed and unlicensed members.
• Why the home inspection business experiences a downturn during boom times when buyers waive their home inspections, as well as during slow periods when the housing market stagnates.
• How ASHI’s code of ethics helps to ensure that there is no conflict of interest in home inspections.
• James’ journey working for for-profit companies, venture-backed companies, and associations.
• The similarities and differences between running a for-profit and a nonprofit (there are fewer than you might think)!
• ASHI’s task force that sought to determine what members need in today's education market.
• Investing in member education, including investing in a new learning management system (LMS) and continuing to provide online education by reimagining all of the courses and making them all free for members.
• How AHSI’s event programming this year includes an in-person conference and a virtual summit.

References:

• ASHI website
• ASHI Education 
• ASHI - Find An Inspector 

Inspection World

How do you rebuild trust in an organization? How do you bring back the members who previously felt excluded? How do you help your members navigate the AI landscape?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Laura Caputo, Executive Director of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Laura discusses:

• How romance is the largest fiction genre.
• How RWA defines romance as a work of fiction with a happily ever after ending, or happy for now.
• How RWA supports all writers of romance, including those who are working on their first book, the newly-published, even the best-selling authors.
• Her journey from being a bankruptcy attorney to Chief of Staff of an association, to Executive Director of RWA.
• How RWA imploded in 2019 amidst allegations of systemic bias against members of color, LGBTQ members, and poly members. The controversy led to the resignation of the President, Executive Director, and, eventually, the entire board.
• How the membership dropped from 10,000 members to 2,500 members, which led to RWA moving from being self-managed to being managed by an association management company.
• How Laura, her staff, and her new Board have worked really hard to rebuild trust with the members and instill inclusiveness across the entire association and their chapters.
• How RWA has been doubling down on member services, including services that help authors get published, the RWA communities, and the RWA conferences.
• How AI affects the profession in so many ways. For example, some writers are using AI to write their books and for some, this isn’t okay. But AI is also training on authors’ work, allowing random people to “write in the style of Nora Roberts”; should this be allowed and how does this affect an author’s work and reputation?

References:

• Romance Writers of American website
• Vox article: Bad Romance

What’s really working to change hearts and minds when it comes to diversity and inclusion? What’s the CEO journey like when you’ve been in an organization for a long time?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Meredith Gibson, CEO of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). Meredith discusses:

• How she determined that what motivates her in her career is mission.
• When she became CEO of AWIS, she had conversations with staff, including someone who she thought was interested in the CEO job.
• The organization’s renewed commitment membership and relationships (with members, chapters, and staff) in 2018.
• AWIS’ Summer of Science which educates the public about how science impacts our world.
• AWIS advocates on issues that fall between gender and science, including DEI curriculum, Title IX activities, bullying, sexual harrassment, bias in hiring.
• One day DEI events can be exciting but they don’t change behaviors and habits. The AWIS Inclusion Project is a 90 day learning experience that gives participants a small activity or reflection every day in order to create new habits and insights.
• How AWIS changed the corporate sponsor package to allow anyone at the companies to access member benefits. This has exploded membership and participation!
• How Meredith’s superpower of conversation and how she’s able to ferret out insights from members, Board leaders and staff.

References:

• AWIS website
• AWIS Inclusion Project

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What is social insurance? Who does it benefit? Answer: Everyone!

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews William Arnone, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance. William discusses:

• What social insurance is – Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance and workers compensation. The US government pools risks across the entire country and then provides universal benefits to people in need.
• How the Academy is the largest community of scholars and experts on at least one area of social insurance.
• The Academy’s membership process: you can’t just join, you must be nominated.
• How the Academy of nonpartisan. The Academy does the research and lets others advocate.
• Bill’s winding journey as a staff in Congress, running an area agency on aging, serving as Board Chair of the Academy, and then becoming CEO of the Academy.
• The questions to ask yourself when considering a job and when thinking about your legacy: Is what you’re doing meaningful and does it have impact?
• The skills you need to run a think tank: legal training, fundraising skills, communication skills, and so much more!
• The Academy’s intentional efforts to diversify the membership, including considering life experience as a form of expertise.
• During this election season, the Academy wants the discussion about social insurance to be based on evidence, and not ideology.
• How the Academy has a newsletter that anyone can sign up for to become better educated about the issues surrounding social insurance.
• How there are holes in the social safety net, including programs for people who are part of the so-called “gig economy.”.

References:

• NASI website

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jose Segarra, Executive Director of the Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA). Jose discusses:

• Who ACUA members are: they are internal auditors in colleges and universities. ACUA members audit policies, procedures and compliances with these policies.
• How the rules around college athletes and the DEI programs that are being sunset because of the recent Supreme Court decision are keeping ACUA members up at night.
• Jose’s journey in different associations and his experience working for association management companies.
• How the profession or industry represented by an association strongly affects the culture and personality of the Board and association.
• The challenges associated with managing two associations at the same time, especially when their annual meetings happen in the same month.
• How ACUA’s community is powering the association and how volunteers manage the discussions and nurturing of the communities.
• How ACUA members author guides and resources that help all members do their jobs better and be successful.
• How and why ACUA decided to take their Summit virtual this year in order to reach more members and manage costs.
• Bostrom’s culture and commitment to diversity, which Jose believes is helping the company to thrive.
• Jose role as one of the five founding Board members of Association Latinos. 
• Last year, Association Latinos held its inaugural awards ceremony, honoring two members during Hispanic Heritage Month.
• How a big part of Association Latinos’ mission is to elevate the profile of members in the association community.

References:

• ACUA website
• Bostrom website
• Association Latinos website
• Association Latinos on LinkedIn

How are you leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance the member experience? Are you prepared for the next wave of digital transformation? How do you handle resistance to change within your organization?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Rebecca Achurch, Founder & CEO, Achurch Consulting. Rebecca discusses:

• Achurch Consulting’s process for selecting technology that aligns with your association’s goals.
• Best practices for smooth integrations and minimizing disruption during adoption of new technology.
• How to train and support staff, ensuring that they are equipped and confident in using new technologies.
• How to utilize project management software, video conferencing, and collaboration platforms to keep teams connected, especially in this hybrid world.
• Strategies for addressing pushback from staff and leadership.
• How associations can stay ahead by continuously evolving their digital strategies.
• Using analytics and data to guide technology investments and measure success.
• How to enhance the member experience through digital platforms and personalized interactions.
• The top three things associations must do NOW to prepare for the future: address tech debt, budget for tech, hire for digital curiosity.
• Whether association CEOs need to be tech CEOs; Rebecca says no, but they do need to be tech-knowledgeable.

References:

• Achurch Consulting

How do you support your members when a lot of their work evaporates because of government regulations? How do you educate an entire ecosystem about your members’ work?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Pam Donahoo, CEO, America's Mortgage Banking Attorneys, aka USFN. Pam discusses:

• How she got introduced to associations because of her mother, who ran an association.
• Pam’s advice for getting to know an association and its industry or profession when you’re a new executive.
• How USFN rebranded to become America’s Mortgage Banking Attorneys.
• How USFN supported its members during the pandemic, when the US government froze all banks’ ability to foreclose on homeowners.
• How USFN doesn’t just educate its members, it educates its members’ customers and government officials.
• What banks and USFN members are doing today to keep homeowners in their homes.
• What USFN is doing to nurture and cultivate the next generation of members and leaders.
• How USFN is rethinking its conference, education, and other offerings.

References:

• USFN website
• The Source

What do a plane hijacking, the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, a hurricane in Louisiana and a deep freeze in Texas have in common? They all contributed to a crisis in the global supply of fertilizer!

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). Corey discusses:

• The critical importance of fertilizer, without which the human population would drop by 50% because of mass famine.
• How COVID was a gift because it gave him time to get to know his members at the start of his tenure at TFI.
• The events of 2021 that led to a huge crisis in the fertilizer market (the black swan event).
• The issues that keep members up at night, including volatile fertilizer markets, supply chain issues, the ability to make massive capital investments, and sustainability.
• How TFI communicated directly with farmers, who are TFI members’ customers, to explain why fertilizer prices were increasing so much during the pandemic.
• The nuanced advocacy and lawmaker education that TFI engages in.
• How TFI has been merging with other associations and the issues surrounding organization mergers.
• How trust is so important in an organization. Staff and members need to trust TFI and its leadership, and TFI leaders need to trust their staff to do a good job.
• TFI’s hybrid staff policy which does not have any specific mandates re: days in the office.
• Global Fertilizer Day on October 13.

References:

• TFI website

How can servant leadership revolutionize an organization? How do you serve the needs of healthcare professionals AND patients and their families? How do you reinvent your conferences so they cater to the needs of members, and don’t focus on the venue?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Adam Levy, Executive Director of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Adam discusses:

• How babies with cleft palate and craniofacial differences (we don’t call them birth defects anymore) are born to families all over the world, not just overseas.
• How Adam feels professionally fulfilled by holding a servant leadership role at ACPA.
• As ED of ACPA, he wants his team members to be successful; their success is his success!
• The importance of clarity in the job: Do staff have clarity about their tasks? Is Adam clear about his vision and expectations?
• How ACPA pivoted to provide patients with learning resources about conditions and treatments.
• How advocacy has become an integral part of ACPA's activities, advocating for patients and their families, especially when it comes to what insurance companies will cover.
• How ACPA is retooling their conferences to be less structured around a venue, but optimized for attendee education and connections.

References:

• ACPA Website
• Find an ACPA Approved Team

Note: Be sure to listen until the very end, after the outro, for the bloopers. :-)

This episode of Associations Thrive is a little different. Host Joanna Pineda had the opportunity to sit down with some of the top podcasters in the association industry. 

• Dave Coriale, Delcor Technology Solutions and host of Reboot IT
• Kiki L’Italien, Association Chat and host of Association Chat
• Ben Muscolino, Breezio and AMSGeek and host of The Association Podcast
• Dave Will, PropFuel and host of Association Strong

They talked about a few of their favorite episodes, key themes of governance, reinvention and entrepreneurship that keep popping up during the podcast interviews, and how the podcasts are changing them.

What does it mean to truly celebrate culture within the scientific community and why does it matter today? What role does mentoring play in shaping the careers of emerging scientists and leaders in STEM?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Juan Amador, Executive Director or the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Juan discusses:

• SACNAS's goal to increase the representation of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Native Americans in STEM.
• SACNAS's motto of "celebration, not assimilation." Juan explains this as celebrating science, community, and culture and bringing one's true self to science, including cultural expressions, and building stronger communities.
• The importance of mentoring in Juan’s career.
• How SACNAS has a variety of mentoring programs, including official mentoring, long-term mentoring and episodic mentoring during the SACNAS annual conference.
• What it means to him to be the first recipient of the Association Latinos Estrella Award, awarded last October 2023.

References:

• SACNAS website
• Association Latinos website
• Association Latinos Inspira Award

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda checks in with Leah Monica, Director of Marketing at Matrix Group International and Ray Stankiewicz, Director of Client Services. They look back on a year of Associations Thrive podcast episodes. They discuss:

• Their favorite podcasts, outside of Associations Thrive
• Episodes that stood out for them this year
• Episodes that surprised them
• Key themes that echoed through multiple episodes, including:
• The theme of the importance of having a great culture in order to have a high-performing organization
• Governance and the importance of having great Board-staff relations
• Organization rebranding and website redesigns
• How associations and nonprofits helped the US navigate and overcome the pandemic

We’re looking forward to another great year of CEOs sharing their journeys and the things that their organizations are doing to thrive.

How do you grow your company while maintaining relationships and quality? How do you stay on top of industry trends to be responsive to industry needs?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Loretta DeLuca, CEO & Owner of DelCor Technology Solutions (DelCor). Loretta discusses:

• Her beginnings in the association space and the founding of DelCor.
• How Delcor is run by a triumvirate (Loretta, Dave, Brian) and how they bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the company.
• The ways in which DelCor is expanding to provide more resources and services to the 501(c) sector.
• How DelCor has managed its growth, in order to maintain relationships, its reputation and the quality of its services.
• How DelCor has “boots on the ground,” or people who are tasked with spotting industry trends.
• Why associations should spend time mastering data analytics to further understand their members' needs.
• Modern methods of educating younger generations about the positive missions and goals of 501(c) organizations.

References:

• Delcor website
• The 501(c) IT Maturity Model
• Delcor’s podcast, Reboot IT

How do you lead an organization that does great work AND is a great place to work? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Marcie Finney, Executive Director at the Cleveland Cord Blood Center (CCBC). Marcie discusses:

• What umbilical cord blood is and why we bank it.
• The differences between a private cord blood bank and a public cord blood bank.
• The life-saving treatments that are now available because of research enabled by cord blood and stem cell transplants.
• Marcie’s journey from being a researcher to running the CCBC.
• The work she’s done to make CCBC a great place to work, including better infrastructure, a new strategic plan, updated job descriptions, and so much more.
• How the CCBC is part of the Cord Blood Association, which brought cord blood banks together and helped them achieve FDA licensing.
• The importance of racial and ethnic diversity in the cord blood units stored by public cord blood banks, especially as the US population is growing more diverse.
• How CCBC supports groundbreaking research into new treatments for all sorts of diseases, including leukemia, autoimmune disorders, cerebral palsy, and HIV.
• How creating a diverse cord blood inventory is a national resource.
• How nurses call donors when their baby’s cord blood is going to be used; these are some of the best calls they make!
• Why moms should consider donating their babies’ cord blood to a public cord blood bank.

References:

• Cleveland Cord Blood Center
• National Marrow Donor Program 
• Cord Blood Association
• Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation

What’s really working to attract Black, Hispanic and Native American professionals to the world of business? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Blane Ruschak, President of The PhD Project. Blane discusses:

• His personal journey from auditor to recruiter to head of The PhD project.
• The importance of diversity in the business community and how The PhD project is making a difference by recruiting diverse candidates to get their PhDs and become professors at business schools around the country.
• How The PhD supports its members through conferences, training and mentoring. The PhD project has a 90% PhD completion rate, a number unheard of in other programs.
• How they help new PhDs become better teachers and researchers through training and conferences.
• When The PhD project was founded, there were fewer than 300 Black, Hispanic and Native American professors in US business schools. Today, there are over 1700!
• How their members become PhDs and professors to give back, make a difference in their communities, and conduct meaningful research.

References:

• The PhD Project website
• The PhD Project on LinkedIn
• Member Stories

While Asian-Americans are well represented in the tech workforce, they are poorly represented in leadership positions, including tech leadership. How do we help Asian scientists and engineers move into leadership roles?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Khanh Vu, CEO & Executive Director of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). Khanh discusses:

• How Asian scientists and engineers are often held back by cultural traits, including the desire to always be respectful, let their seniors speak first, and not seem overly aggressive.
• How SASE helps members develop the communication and leadership skills needed to rise up the rank at their organizations.
• How Asian women are the least likely to move into leadership positions, which is why SASE has a women’s leadership conference and new mentoring pods to support their women members.
• How the SASE National Convention is known for its amazing food, training, and job interviews with corporate sponsors.
• How hundreds of job offers were made during this year’s National Convention.
• How Northrop Grumman’s CEO challenged her Asian and Asian-American executives to come up with a plan to recruit and nurture their Asian-American staff, and then share their playbook with other SASE corporate sponsors.
• How Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help groups within companies find support and training.
• How the National Convention in 2023 was the largest ever, with 3,000 attendees.
• How membership is at an all-time high of over 20,000.

References:

• SASE website

How do you provide member benefits during a pandemic when your value proposition is built on in-person meetings? And how do you take the helm of an organization when you can’t meet your staff face to face?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Mike Copps, President & CEO, of the Analytical, Life Science & Diagnostics Association (ALDA). Mike discusses:

• The different sectors of the healthcare industry that ALDA members are involved with: Analytical, Life Science, and Diagnostics.
• How ALDA evolved to match the evolution of the member companies.
• How involvement in ALDA is by the senior executives of member companies, usually the CEO.
• How he has been working for associations since graduating from college.
• His experience working for the largest AMC (association management company) 15 years ago and how different it is to work for a self standing organization. He relies on his small team and outsourced partners to run the organization.
• How ALDA’s value proposition is built on their in-person events and the networking available there.
• How ALDA had to pivot very quickly when the pandemic happened, including setting up a zoom account, because they had never even held a webinar before 2020.
• How ALDA created “collaboratives” for executives running different departments within member organizations, e.g., HR, operations, etc.
• How ALDA holds two major conferences a year, one in Boston and one in San Francisco, the two major biotech hubs. They also host regional dinners throughout the year.
• How the organization is at a crossroads because their events are becoming very popular. ALDA is questioning how to expand the events while keeping them intimate.
• How ALDA provides a quarterly market assessment, compensation survey, and a D&I survey. These reports are key to member value.
• ALDA’s diversity initiative to attract more women and people of color into the membership and their conferences.
• How he’s headed to Japan to attend an international conference for a partner association which aligns with ALD’s strategy to hold a meeting, breakfast or reception within the confines of a partner organization conference.

References:

• ALDA Website
• Japan Analytical Instrument Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA) Website
• ALDA Market Data

How do you meet the needs of small and large firm members? How do you work alongside your state or national association to benefit your members, and remain distinct and relevant to members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Julie Kresge, Executive Director of the Erie County Bar Association (ECBA). Julie discusses:

• Her unique and winding path to becoming an Executive Director.
• How the Erie County Bar Association promotes the rule of law, does a lot of good in the community, and creates a vibrant community of attorneys.
• How the Bar Foundation raises money for law school scholarships and education support for homeless students.
• The Bar’s new strategic plan, which lays out 34 recommendations for improving the association. 
• The Bar’s new, non-attorney membership type that is meant to expand membership and support all the legal staff at law firms.
• The Bar’s weekly journal, which reports on all legal activities in the community. This journal is a HUGE member benefit and revenue generator.
• The Bar’s signature events: Law Day and the Bench Bar Conference.
• How lawyers are in high demand in Erie County right now.

References:

• Erie County, PA Bar Association website

How do you evolve an organization that’s been around for over 100 years? How do you help members adapt to changing technology and industry conditions?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jimmy Williams, Jr., General President of The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Jimmy discusses:

• His background in the trades as a fourth generation tradesman.
• Leading an organization during the pandemic when there was little guidance from the government about how to keep workers safe.
• Supporting workers during periods of economic turmoil.
• The enduring value and importance of registered apprentice programs, which have a curriculum approved by the federal government.
• How the IUPAT’s membership will be over 50% minority within the next year or two.
• How the largest segment of membership growth is coming from women.
• How equity is baked into the union’s structure, but inclusion is a feeling and it’s what makes members feel welcome.
• How IUPAT is advocating on issues of importance to members, including social issues.
• How technology and AI are changing the profession, and IUPAT is recognizing that their training and work have to adapt accordingly.
• How the union is growing in membership again, after years of stagnant membership growth.

References:

• IUPAT website
• Finishing Trades Institute website

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/clarity

License code: RQWZMZXYSBVT16ZW

How do you reimagine an organization so that its governance and culture are transformed to meet today’s needs? How do you further reinvent a conference to help your organization stand out in a crowded meetings field?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Tara Puckey, Executive Director of Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). Tara discusses:

• How she’s only ever worked for journalist associations.
• The crowded association space that RTDNA occupies because there are over 70 journalist associations!
• How RTDNA has changed over the years to include Internet journalists.
• The governance changes that RTDNA started about five years ago to expand committee membership, make the Board more strategic, and create a pipeline of new and upcoming leaders.
• The staff culture changes that Tara ushered in, including going fully remote, unlimited PTO, and creating a culture where staff show up for the people around them.
• How RTDNA completely revamped their conference: they reduced the number of attendees, eliminated panel discussions, made every session be more discussion than lecture, added white space to the schedule, and emphasized self care throughout the conference (think puppies and baby goats).
• How RTDNA partners with a local nonprofit in the city of their conference. Attendees participate in a service project, and instead of renting furniture and equipment, the association purchases and then donates everything to the local partner (often at a lower cost then renting!).
• How it’s really hard to be a journalist these days, especially when covering violence or war.

References:

• RTDNA website
• Baby goats at the 2023 conference

How do you convince organizations that they can accomplish more when they work together? How do you develop standards and practices that dozens of organizations agree to, adhere to, and train to? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Amy Melnick, Executive Director, National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care. Amy discusses:

• The difference between hospice and palliative care.
• How the Coalition represents the many professions involved in hospice and palliative care, including doctors, nurses, chaplains, physical therapists, social workers, and many more.
• How the Coalition lets members “gang up on the problem” but not each other.
• The Coalition’s Clinical Practice Guidelines, which were developed with input from 50 organizations and creates a blueprint for providing gold-standard palliative care for all people living with serious illness.
• The Coalition’s Pediatric Palliative Care Division, which is working to make access to quality pediatric palliative care more available to children, and ensure that children who need hospice or palliative care can still receive curative treatment.
• Her pledge to transition the Coalition successfully to a new Executive Director through documentation, and co-working with Dr. Jessica Hausauer for one month.

References:

• NCHPC website
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Palliative Care

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/quiet-flight

License code: KJRRI6GHC7WKCLDT

How do you ensure that a school is serving students well and changing with the times?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bonnie Ricci, Executive Director from International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA). Bonnie discusses:

• How ICAISA is the accreditor of accrediting bodies for independent schools.
• What an independent school is.
• The value of accreditation is, how ICAISA standards are developed, and how these standards change to adapt to the changing learning environments of schools.
• How ICAISA helps accrediting bodies be better by taking their staff out of their comfort zones and introducing them to new ideas and practices that are often outside the education space.
• The impact of accreditation on student learning and success.
• A grant that ICAISA has received to study the impact of governance on independent schools.

References:

• ICAISA website
• List of ICAISA members

How do you change life outcomes for promising students who aren’t necessarily college-bound and desperately need a chance? What’s really working to help students navigate high school and college successfully?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jeffery Beckham Jr., CEO, Chicago Scholars. Jeffery discusses:

• In Chicago, there can be up to a 30% life expectancy gap between zip codes. Chicago Scholars believes that your zip code should not determine your life’s outcomes.
• Chicago Scholars’ 7-year model that pairs students with mentors starting in their junior year, until they finish college and land their first job.
• How Chicago Scholars currently serves over 5,000 students in their program (550 juniors join every year), with the help of 200 mentors, 50 staff, 400 volunteers, 25 part-time counselors, 30 Board members, 30 associate Board members, and alumni.
• How Jeffery had to develop the skills he needed to be an effective CEO, including fundraising and storytelling.
• How Chicago Scholars accepts 550 juniors each year, but there are close to 5,000 college-ready students who could be/should be scholars.
• On October 24, Chicago Scholar is holding its 6th Annual Onsite College and Leadership Forum, during which 140 colleges will interview Chicago Scholars for admission into their programs. Last year, they conducted over 3,300 interviews, which resulted in 1500 admittances and $85M in aid given.
• Jeffery’s alter ego as a renowned artist, and how his art gives him time to think creatively about problems at work, as well as celebrate his students.

References:

• Chicago Scholars website
• Onsite College and Leadership Forum
• Art by Jeffery Beckham website

How do you create a culture that moves lightning fast to respond to member needs? How do you get your Board to make decisions quickly? How do you convey to potential members that they are stronger when they are part of your organization?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Tom Morrison, CEO of the Metal Treating Institute. Tom discusses:

• The importance of his members, both captive and commercial metal heat treaters.
• How you create ongoing energy and passion in an organization by innovating quickly and doing new stuff.
• How MTI rebranded to be MTI Strong in 2009. Tom wants companies to know that they are weaker without MTI.
• How Tom has organized MTI around his members to be able to respond quickly to member needs.
• How Tom meets with his Executive Committee once a month in order to keep them updated and make decisions quickly.
• When presenting the MTI Board with decisions to make, he presents them with the information, options, and the cost of doing nothing.
• Tom’s formula for success at MTI is ALIVE: Ask the right questions. Listen intently. Innovate. Value Creation. Executive excellently.
• MTI’s Industry Support Team, which adds huge value to members AND industry consultants.
• How MTI is spicing up their upcoming annual meeting with theme nights and engaging sponsors through a sponsored timeline. 
• How MTI measures member engagement and focuses on the at risk members.
• Membership is strong, non-dues revenue is very strong, and association reserves are very strong!

References:

• MTI website
• MTI Industry Support Team
• Association Strong podcast

What does it take to be an association CEO these days? When was the last time your organization performed an assessment of your board and board members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Richard Yep, Interim Executive Director/CEO, The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). Rich discusses:

• When and how a chief executive should decide that it’s time to leave an association.
• The skills and experiences that association chief executives need, that are relevant to the job, regardless of industry or profession.
• How to get to know an association and its members fast, especially when you’re an interim CEO.
• The importance of doing an annual assessment of the Board and each Board member.
• The increased attention being paid to DEI when looking for association staff and board members.
• How everyone at an organization – staff and volunteers – should get unconscious bias training.
• How CEOs need to check their egos at the door when working with appointed and elected boards.
• The value of getting the CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation.
• What’s next for Rich - consulting, travel, and so much more!

References:

• SWANA website
• ACA website
• CAE certification