Association Strong

Strategic Planning That Maximizes Value and Engagement

All value and engagement in associations point back to a strategic plan that aligns goals, action steps, metrics and execution that work together to create a vibrant association that is making a difference for their members.  Strategy doesn't just happen.  It happens through a methodical yet creative process that drives boards and state to innovate within the changes going on in your industry.  Listen in as Tom Morrison and Dave Will interview one of the top facilitators and strategist in the association space, Lowell Aplebaum from Vista Cova on the keys to aligning strategy to value and engagement.

Driving Innovation Through Asking Your Members

A great speaker said, "Information is power.  But the "feeling is the fuel."  Find the feeling of your members and they will buy.  Do you take the step to actually ask your members what they want... what their pain points are?  This is where the greatest value exist... in asking.  Or do you rely on your board to determine the value proposition with no member input.

In this week's podcast, Tom and Dave interview Garth Jordan from the American Animal Hospital Association to unpack how Garth led his board through the process of asking their members what they need and using a process like design thinking to help them to see the ideas and move forward with action that will drive your value proposition.  

Driving Value Through Innovative Thinking

Wouldn't it be great if your association actually discovered that innovative piece of technology or service that transformed how your members get to do business?  Think about if the taxi association had discovered the Uber technology or if the hospitality association had discovered AirBnB.  Those industry associations would have sky rocketed in value to their members providing them new ways to do business.  In today's podcast Tom and Dave interview an association who discovered the industry changing technology that transformed their industry and the association.  Listen in as Tom and Dave talk connecting your members needs to innovative thinking with Brent McClendon, CEO of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association.

Communication Strategy That Maximizes Engagement

With members being bombarded by content and associations having an unlimited supply of avenues to connect with members, having the right balance can be a huge challenge.  To maximize your engagement, you need to clearly communicate your value proposition in a way that members hear it, feel it and act on it.  In this episode of Association Strong, Tom and Dave interview Beth Arritt, Social Evangelist for Higher Logic to work through the keys to an effective communication strategy so you members hear your value proposition clearly, feel it and act on it.

In Person Events & Meaningful Relationships

In this week's episode of the Association Strong Podcast, Dave and Tom are joined by Jessica Levin, President of Seven Degrees and author of Perfect Pairings: The Art of Connecting People and Everyone Has Sh*t: Unsolicited Advice for Being Human. This week they're talking about getting back to in-person events and really taking networking from small talk to building true, meaningful connections.

Driving Value by Finding Your Uber

On this week's episode of Association Strong, Dave and Tom are joined by Mark Dorsey, CEO of the Construction Specification Institute. From the ski slopes with the Professional Ski Instructors of American and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors to leading CSI in innovative new ways, Mark challenges association professionals to find your Uber, that thing that puts you ahead of the curve and sets you up for a future of innovation within your organization. 

Greatest Hits From the First 20 Episodes

In this week's edition of the Association Strong Podcast, Dave and Tom discuss their greatest hits and favorite hot topics from the past 20 episodes as well as some exciting new topics coming up for the podcast. 

Where are the People

This week, Dave and Tom talk to Ron Hetrick, a published a renowned labor economist on the current (and future) labor shortages in the American workforce. With a growing number of Baby Boomers exiting the workforce, and a lack of adequate replacement from subsequent generations to follow in their footsteps, this is a can't miss conversation for associations and their members that will allow you to learn how to strategize moving forward through this labor shortage issue. 

Building Your Association's Sale Value

This week, Tom and Dave are joined by author of renowned book, Built to Sell; John Warrillow. He breaks down 8 helpful considerations in building your association just like an entrepreneur would build a business that they hope to sell and how the "build to sell" strategy can correlate to a stronger association as well. 

Work Life Balance in a Remote Work Environment

In this week's episode of the Association Strong podcast, Tom and Dave are joined by Amy Hemphill with ASAE to discuss how to help find that work-life balance especially in this post-COVID era where many people are still working remotely. While many people enjoy the flexibility that remote work brings, it also comes with it's own set of challenges such as defining the lines between your work life and your home life.