Successful Associations Today

Arlene Pietranton, PhD, CAE is CEO of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and recognized as a top association and non-profit innovator. We're talking about the most important aspects of creating an innovation culture for an association -- a culture that enables us to deliver the best value for members. It begins with a question ... how can we make this better? Sometimes it means we grow this or move that. Sometimes it's incremental and sometimes revolutionary when things need to transform. And sometimes it's an opportunity to be proactive -- to rethink, reformulate, reshape in response to disruption. Regardless, associations need to be an innovative, collaborative environment, able to navigate change across these different perspectives. Listen in to learn how ASHA has developed such a culture. Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes, and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Eboni Wall is the VP of Global Strategy and Innovation for the Produce Marketing Association who leads innovation conversations inviting all staff to get out of their ruts and out of their own way. Having an established innovation process encourages ideas from staff that will help membership and internal operations and culture. Part of that process is knowing that when you try new things, there will be failures -- and that is a great part of the innovation process. It's all about learning from those failures and adjusting based on what you've learned. Eboni shares how PMA developed their strategy and built an innovation welcoming culture that has allowed them to achieve some big wins along the way. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Amanda Kaiser is a membership engagement specialist who has personally interviewed over 470 members to better understand why human beings engage in communities online and during conferences. She is also a professional speaker, co-founder of the Incubator Series and author of the popular SmoothThePath.net blog. Earlier this year, Amanda teamed up with Matchbox Virtual Media to produce the Virtual Networking Incubator Roundtable — one part lab, one part tech testing ground and one part problem solving event — where over 150 association leaders met with one goal: to determine if virtual networking events could be meaningful. In this episode we will unpack strategies and tips from the Incubator to help you plan your next virtual or in-person networking event. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Celisa Steele and Jeff Cobb are co-founders of Tegoras and co-hosts of the Leading Learning podcast. Each has spent more than 20 years designing, developing, delivering, and marketing adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. At the forefront of learning technology trends, they have developed deep expertise in helping organizations grow and improve their continuing education and professional development. In this episode we explore the key trends in adult learning that associations should be considering as we think about a post-pandemic future and the educational strategies that will help the association capitalize on them. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Bruce Rosenthal is a strategic advisor and consultant to associations and not-for-profit organizations, creating successful corporate partnership programs that increase revenue, add member/constituent value and foster sustainability. He is convener of the Partnership Professionals Network a national sponsorship and partnership organization. Sponsorship was already under pressure and undergoing changes prior to COVID but the pandemic accelerated those changes. With sponsorships being part of the livelihood of many organizations, we're talking about what these changes are, how they have ramped up, how they are affecting associations, and what the future of sponsorship looks like. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Melynn Sight and her company nSight Marketing help associations win the battle for member attention, readership and engagement. It all begins with a compelling value proposition that conveys why the association matters. She is the author of the book Breakthrough Value which helps associations understand what a value proposition is and the 7 critical steps to discovering and backing up their own unique value message. What is the job of the value proposition? How do you discover what your members think is important, what they need? Once you have a compelling value proposition, what next? Discover all this and more in this value-packed episode. Learn more about Melynn and her book at https://breakthroughvalue.org Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Mark Engle, DM FASAE CAE is a principle with Association Management Center in their governance consulting practice. Participating in more than 400 board meetings and serving on five Boards of Directors translates to Mark's in-depth knowledge of board membership and governance. He has worked closely with William Brown at Texas A&M University to publish research findings on the Board Selection Process for the ASAE Foundation and is co-author of Recruit the Right Board. With the board recruitment process becoming more complex it's important that associations not leave board composition to chance. There is a greater appreciation for leadership development than simply a nominating function. We need to identify and give opportunities to emerging leaders, focusing on a market mindset and strategy as key competencies in the boardroom instead of longevity. Competition in the association space is more fierce than it has ever been and if we don't have that market mindset, the strategy cognition in the boardroom, we run the risk of being an also-ran and that could potentially put us out of business. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Hilary Marsh is president and chief strategist of Content Company, a content and digital strategy consultancy that helps associations get better results from their content by improving their practices. Content is more than just your magazine or newsletter or blog. From Hilary's perspective, content is everything an association does including event sessions you deliver, journals, clinical practice guidelines, advocacy position papers -- everything that comes back to words and pictures, audio and video that you share with the world. Content strategy is the practice of planning for the creation, delivery and governance of content that is useful, usable and effective. Many associations are missing the boat by not starting with what their audience needs and wants from them. What are the channels through which we can deliver content and how do we make sure we're doing it best? What is the CEO's role in understanding and demanding content strategy for an association? What are the obstacles associations face in developing and deploying a solid content strategy? We answer these questions and more in this fascinating episode. Please click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Rick Bawcum is the CEO / Founder of Cimatri, a professional services firm specializing in digital transformation for associations and non-profits. We're talking today about the benefits and challenges of embracing a digital first mindset along with some of the most impressive gains we've seen from associations who have engaged in digital transformation. With statistics that tell us we look at our phones around 96 times a day, we know we connect, we engage and we transact in the digital space. It's imperative that we take the association to the member, rather than always asking the member to come to the association. The pandemic has accelerated this trend but is also providing a tailwind for associations to move toward a digital first mindset. This is a necessary conversation -- not just a nice to have conversation -- about how we're going to do it and how we're going to resource it, whether it's expertise-wise or money-wise. I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Maddie Grant, CAE is co-founder of Propel and an expert culture designer and digital strategist who focuses on helping organizations prosper through culture change. She has specific expertise in digital transformation and generational differences in the workplace. Even though associations have been talking about digital transformation for years, the pandemic forced the topic to the forefront. Associations had the realization that they actually could think outside the box and use technology to continue serving their members and staff. It also provided a window of opportunity to think about the ultimate change, the transformation, more than the technology. With so much information and so many definitions out there, we're bringing it back to the basics of what associations really need to know right now to fully embrace the "digital first" concept -- including the difference between being digitized and being digital. I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Garth Jordan is CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association and we're talking about replacing a traditional mission and vision statement with a simplified version called a just cause. With a mission and vision statement that was close to 70 words and a values statement of another 120 words, no one could memorize either one and it was a challenge to align overall beliefs and roles. Simplifying AAHA's mission and vision to bring focus to their work in a just cause led them to distill everything into an eight word sentence about simplifying the journey toward excellence for veterinary medicine. Listen is as we talk about the characteristics of a "just cause" and the primary benefits to your members and your organization. I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Guests: Joe Skeel, Executive Director of the Indiana State Bar Association, Stephanie Mercado, CEO of the National Association of Healthcare Quality and Jackie Davis of Loyalty Research Center. Market research can help your board envision the future, determine where to focus and prioritize, and guide conversations and planning. It can also help you develop the relationships you have with your members - growing engagement, satisfaction, and top-line revenue. We're sharing conversation and case studies to illustrate the challenges and successes of associations who are using market research to develop strategy. I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Harrison Coerver is president of Harrison Coerver and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in strategy and planning for associations and other tax-exempt membership organizations. He is also co-author of Race for Relevance and Road to Relevance. With the release of the 10th anniversary edition of Race for Relevance, we reflect back on how the concepts in the original book have stood the test of time for associations and how trends we identified back then have accelerated as a result of the pandemic. The new edition has been updated with new research findings and relevant case studies along with some new conversation starters we're covering in this episode: Competency based boards Program and service evaluation Digital first strategy I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Seth Kahan is an executive strategy advisor on change and innovation who works with senior leaders and association executives. He is also the author of four books including business bestseller, Getting Change Right. Taking time for solo thinking is a habit we encourage all leaders to incorporate into their lives because if you're not pouring into yourself, then who is pouring into you? And if you're coming from a place of emptiness, how can you lead others with energy and enthusiasm? For Seth, solo thinking time happens while camping "off the grid" where he retreats when he feels the need to think clearly without the demands of everyday life. For Mary, it's not quite so primitive and might be a cabin on a lake or a retreat center. For both, however, the benefits of checking in with themselves outside all of their different daily roles is a way to reconnect and refocus on what is most important. Solo thinking time doesn't have to be camping in the wilderness or a week away at a cabin. It can be one day or half a day or even an hour. The benefits and return on investment can still be profound. What are the benefits of taking intentional time away? How can you create rituals to start and end your thinking time or retreat? How can you set aside solo thinking time and stick to it? Why is it even more important for solo thinking time when you're too busy or overwhelmed? It's easy to be busy, but not necessarily busy doing the right things -- the things that really matter and make a difference. Listen in and learn how to fill yourself up! I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Karyn Greenstreet is a small business consultant, mastermind group expert and founder of The Success Alliance™ — a company devoted to helping individuals and organizations design and grow their own mastermind groups. What is a mastermind group? What are the benefits to your association? What are the benefits to members who join a mastermind? How should you decide if adding mastermind groups is right for your association? We're talking about all of this and more in this episode about the pros and cons when making a decision about whether to offer mastermind groups and how to design them to fit the goals of your association and your members. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Ebook - Boost Member Success: How to Add Mastermind Groups to Your Professional Association — https://www.thesuccessalliance.com/associations/ Member Mastermind Strategy Session — https://www.thesuccessalliance.com/member-mastermind/ I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Cynthia Mills is the President & CEO of The Leaders’ Haven™, a consultancy serving clients as business strategist, board consultant, business and executive coach, succession planning and change management guide, leadership development catalyst, speaker, and facilitator. In 2018 she was inducted into the Academy of Leaders, a highest individual honor from ASAE. Cynthia founded The Leaders’ Haven to help leaders and teams go beyond business as usual and continuously transform, so they can fulfill their true calling and exceed the expectations of the people they serve. Leaders often get caught up in the doing and the being of leadership, without making time to do the deeper work, both individually and as a group, that drives substantive change in associations. Cynthia shares her experience working with leaders to uncover the things that impact their own strategic thinking around the continuous design of their lives and to cultivate a willingness to focus on opportunity — because if you're staying strategic and focusing on opportunity it keeps you from becoming paralyzed and that is the key to successful leadership. I'd really appreciate it if you would click the like button above and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Arianna Rehak, CEO of Matchbox Virtual Media, and her team coined the term "tribrid" to describe the three distinct categories of experiences when offering an event both in person and virtually in order to meet the needs of each unique audience. Category 1 — Experiences designed exclusively for the face-to-face community Category 2 — Experiences exclusively for the virtual community Category 3 — Experiences strategically built for both the face-to-face and virtual audience to participate together which serves to build community among the entire set of attendees. When thinking about a "hybrid" event model we often assume the needs of each audience are the same and that is not true. Arianna shares why and how those planning and leading sessions must be flexible in order to meet the needs of two unique audiences at the same event. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Aaron Wolowiec, the founder and CEO of Event Guard, established the Healthy by Association community for people in stress-riddled association and hospitality industries to connect around a shared lifestyle, embrace self-care, and ultimately inspire each other to invest in their health and enjoy the journey along the way. Right after the holidays in 2017, Aaron began posting on his personal Facebook profile how he was dealing with the stress in his own life by going to the gym in the midst of the Michigan winter to run. As his runs got longer and more consistent he started to receive great feedback from others who were inspired and motivated by his posts. He realized the opportunity to build a community for those in similar industries who were health and wellness minded and created the Facebook community Healthy by Association. The typical travel schedule in the association and event space makes navigating healthy eating and workouts difficult when our schedules are off and we don't necessarily have the opportunities or equipment we might need. The Healthy by Association group supports its members with Motivation Mondays, sample workouts on Wednesday, and healthy recipes on Fridays. They acknowledge and celebrate successes with a challenge coin program, and even create new playlists each month around a theme. The group helps people be accountable, not necessarily to any particular game plan, but to the plan that works best for them. During the pandemic of 2020, moving from on-the-go to stay-at-home created new and different challenges which Aaron speaks to and how Healthy by Association is supporting its members' health and wellness in creative ways. Healthy by Association is an open Facebook community and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/742854905869919/ Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Paul Weintraub, CAE and Shelly Trent, CAE started the group Fridays@4 Society to help association and nonprofit professionals with job searches offering sessions on interviewing, resume writing, and building a LinkedIn profile. That focus on job search has expanded to offer leadership development training that goes beyond job search tips. They are currently working to offer CAE certification credits for their programs. At currently over 200 members, Fridays@4 programs serve individuals through three pillars: peer support, expertise-infused learning and a virtual network. The group's volunteer driven programming is inclusive of all ages and career stages with something for everyone. Fridays@4 at its core runs on a free membership model but accepts donations based on the value members get from the association. Find more at https://www.fridaysat4.org and https://www.linkedin.com/company/fridaysat4 Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Jeanne Dee, CPA, CGMA is the Audit and Assurance Practice Leader for the not-for-profit group at Anders CPAs + Advisors where she specializes in audits of financial statements for not-for-profit organizations, government entities, employee benefit plans and closely held businesses. We're talking about the financial side of what's happening for associations during the pandemic in 2020, 2021 and beyond and what we can do to stabilize our financial future. With updates to the Cares Act, a lot of new opportunities for increased funding to associations have become accessible — employee retention tax credits and PPP loans, for example — which offer some optimism, but Jeanne suggests we still tread carefully as things begin to shift and move closer to our "next normal". Jeanne reveals the most important financial aspects association leaders should be thinking about as we move forward, including how to find revenue for things like cybersecurity as we transition to more online and hybrid events. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Thom Singer is an executive search consultant with Stanton Chase International, a professional speaker and master of ceremonies who works with associations and companies to help them maximize the human connection side of business. Building your network -- your connections to people -- is crucial because nearly all opportunities in life and work come from people. With the massive changes and challenges in 2020, many associations are reflecting on how those were handled and thinking maybe it's time to grow with new leadership. Association members are looking for safety, they want to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel because many industries are facing economic hardship; they're looking for change, that human connection, and if you're not providing it they will look elsewhere for it. Connections from the past will be vastly different than connections moving forward with new technology tools, apps, software and virtual events playing a major role. During a pandemic of isolation and loneliness, associations have to be proactive in bringing people together digitally and physically — they need to take ownership of that and show their membership what they can do. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Dr. Michael Tatonetti is the founder of Pricing for Associations -- a training and consulting firm on a mission to advance associations in their pricing models for financial stability. We're talking about the biggest mistakes associations make in pricing. Pushed by the pandemic, associations are starting to have real conversations about the value they provide and what their sponsors, members, and attendees value. It's really a conversation about innovation — sun-setting things that aren't working and starting new things that can work. Many associations, when they really dig into their pricing, find out they're actually losing money on products and service for which they thought they were making money. The right way to use free as a strategy Taking incremental steps to improve what we offer and then capture the price so we're not pricing out of fear or worry that no one will pay for it How to be deliberate and intentional about pricing How to come from a position of strength in pricing to create excellence Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Thomas Altman and Dray McFarlane are co-founders of Tasio, an organization using cutting edge AI technology in the association arena to predict who will renew a membership and who will not. Using the same tools that give us targeted ads on Facebook, suggested purchases on Amazon, recommended movies on Netflix and even predictive text on your phone, Tasio uses machine learning to target the challenges associations face by leveraging the data that is already being collected. This technology allows associations to create effective, low-cost engagement strategies for boosting membership renewal, retention and revenue. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Keith Chamberlain is Director of Membership & Experience at the Healthcare Financial Management Association who co-led a digital business model transformation with a Netflix-inspired, all-access structure. The 3-prong project included a new business model, new technology platform and realigning staff to support the new initiative -- all of which put HFMA in a great position when the 2020 pandemic occurred in the U.S. We're talking about the human-centered design thinking process they used to conduct a unique strategic planning process in which hundreds of members were interviewed to develop themes and priorities that led to the 3-prong transformation to deliver what those members said they needed and wanted from the association. The new all-access membership offering includes a number of digitally delivered benefits that used to require ala carte purchases including online education, certifications, a new online community and unlimited web content. Within one year HFMA experienced a 36% growth in new individual members and retention rates improved by 4.5%. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2021 Mary Byers

Paul Bellantone, President and CEO of the Promotional Products Association International, is one of the few association professionals I know who has actually taken a sabbatical -- something we often associate with clergy and professors. After 20 years working for PPAI (over 7 years in his current role) Paul presented his board with the idea of a 3 month unpaid respite from traveling and running the organization. The board offered him 2 months off with pay instead and his adventure began. We talk about ... What he did with his time off (you might be surprised!) The elements that had to be in place in order for him to step away The relationship of trust that allowed his board to be receptive and him to be comfortable leaving for an extended period of time The boundaries he put in place while away How knowing he's replaceable relieved the pressure he had imposed on himself Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Dave Will is a long time association professional who works with associations as a technology entrepreneur. His first company, Peach New Media, developed a learning management system called Freestone and he's currently working on new technology called Prop Fuel that helps associations capture the voice of the member to improve member engagement with feedback and sentiment analysis. While member engagement is far from new to the market, feedback automation strategy is a new and innovative approach that captures the sentiment around a member at a given point along the member journey. Most associations focus on transactional behavioral data, but that tells us nothing about why somebody is doing what they're doing. Dave shares why it's so important to incorporate sentiment data into our decision making. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Jay Daughtry, Chief Communications Officer/Owner of CQbd, is an independent consultant working directly with associations and technology companies that provide products and services to associations. In the summer of 2020 he launched the Association Initiative on Small Improvement. He started the initiative after finding that during the pandemic associations seemed to be paralyzed in making decisions and moving forward. The Initiative's mission is to help associations focus on smaller kinds of things -- things they can control -- over the big picture things that cannot be controlled. Starting with a diverse group of five associations, Jay lead them through a guided process to focus on specific areas like websites, member support, constituent support and programs, making decisions more manageable. All of these small improvements together help organizations identify cost savings, increase revenue, improving efficiencies and member experience. Listen in as Jay shares what he's been learning that could be helpful to your organization. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Jamie Notter is an author and Culture Designer at Prosper (formerly Human Workplaces) where he helps leaders drive growth and engagement by aligning workplace culture with success. In this episode we're talking about culture and innovation and the role that culture plays in innovation because while a lot of organizations love the ideas behind innovation — creativity and future focus — they don't know how to support the practices like taking risks, running experiments on a scale we can learn from and allowing permission to hack. One of the first culture patterns he noticed in looking at the aggregate data was around innovation where he found that while the concepts are valued, the practices are not. So we must start with having real conversations about creating an organization where experimentation is expected and valued. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Morag Barrett is the author of Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships and The Future-Proof Workplace and a sought after keynote speaker. She is also the founder of Skye Team, an international executive development company that has supported the development of more than 7,000 leaders in 20 countries across 6 continents. Her secret to success is that business is personal and relationships matter. Morag shares her advice for professionals who are managing a remote team in the era of COVID-19. It's more than connecting on the business side, we also need to connect on the human side or the business side will never become a reality. She has identified four critical questions we're asking ourselves -- consciously or unconsciously -- in every interaction. And when we're not paying attention to those four questions, the gaps are going to widen and those cracks and fissures will undermine all of our success if we're not feeling a sense of team and that we're in this together. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

JT Forbes is the executive director of the Alumni Association at Indiana University. At the start of his tenure some referred to their membership as a "leaky bucket" -- retention rates were not what they expected them to be compared to the actual alumni population. JT took on the challenge of going out and listening to alumni, trying to understand what wasn't working so the association could improve the member experience. Doing some empathy research and design thinking exercises led to a new way of framing membership at Indiana University's Alumni Association. The result? Members now have a shared cause of making the university stronger and helping other alumni, and now the Alumni Association can focus on proud members, building those relationships and creating journeys for them. Listen in as Mary talks with JT about how he led this initiative and the new membership model they created. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Garth Jordan is the CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association and in this episode we're talking about business models and revenue for associations, something that is certainly top of mind for today's association professionals. -- What should we be thinking about when it comes to replacing lost revenue right now? -- Why do associations need to start thinking and acting more holistically about their business model? -- As associations pivot and change their focus, what challenges or obstacles often come up? -- How can we take what we've learned over the last 4 months, take the best of that, and make it part of our culture? Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Robbie Kellman Baxter, author of The Forever Transaction, joins Mary for a discussion about subscription memberships, including identifying your value proposition and testing the refining the offer. They cover aligning organizational goals and membership goals; what associations are uniquely qualified to offer that others aren't and why experimenting is such an integral aspect of associations today. Robbie is also the author of The Membership Economy and she shares what she's learned from Silicon Valley that it beneficial to associations today. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Stephen Shapiro has presented his perspectives on innovation to audiences in over 50 countries and is the author of six books including his latest title "Invisible Solutions: 25 Lenses that Reframe and Help Solve Difficult Business Problems". He says the biggest mistake an organization can make when it comes to innovation is believing they need to come up with lots and lots of ideas — but all that does is create wasted energy. What we really need to do is spend more time thinking about the problem. What's the question? What's the opportunity? What's the issue? That's the challenge. We talk about "challenge centered innovation" as opposed to "idea centered innovation" and how associations can use well-framed questions to create the greatest level of value for their organization. Stephen also shares his five step process for harnessing and even capitalizing on what's happening now with virtual events and meetings, and the opportunity to transform how we gather people, how we connect them and how we help them do their best work without being face-to-face in the same room or location. Visit https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Joe Calloway is a leading performance expert who helps great companies get even better. He is the author of six books including "Be the Best at What Matters Most". In this episode we're talking about how organizations can create value in the midst of chaos and welcome innovation. Joe says 90% of all truly useful innovation is adaptive innovation and everybody can do this. He shares how we can listen better, pay attention and then adapt—letting members lead the association where it needs to go or pivot. The goal of innovation should always be creating value, staying relevant by being the best at what you do. We also talked about the biggest mistakes organization make when it comes to innovation and how innovation has changed in the last decade. So much good information here as we move forward in 2020! Visit: https://www.marybyers.com/contact/ for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Andy Bailey is founder and head coach at Petra Coach, where he and his team of entrepreneurial business coaches deploy their no BS approach to inspire, transform and scale organizations. Andy shares some of the same strategies he has used to transform his own businesses and those of his clients which can help associations as they plan for the future ahead. Innovation, iteration and evolution - always be 18 months ahead Recurring revenue models "Brute force" leadership will only get you so far Define your battlefield so you can move from where you are to where you want to be - offense and defense Don't drag the past into the future For free access to a variety of tools including content, workshops and webinars visit https://petracoach.com/the-vault Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Chris West is CEO of Video Narrative, a company that specializes in helping organizations grow through an effective brand story In this episode he is sharing his vision for what association meetings can look like in the next normal we are all creating together. This year can be a great case study experiment in creating and monetizing virtual meetings and events if organizations use the current situation as an opportunity to transform the way they've always done things -- not just for this year, but in years ahead. Chris shares the best models for moving to virtual events this year and how those can morph into a hybrid event next year with live and virtual attendance -- and the benefits of doing that. Also, how to monetize virtual content with a subscription model for non-members that can provide revenue to help build a stronger value proposition for members. Listen in for some innovative ideas and case studies to help your organization be successful as we move through the rest of 2020 and beyond. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

In this episode I'm joined by Arianna Rehak, CEO of Matchbox Virtual Media and Amanda Kaiser, Member Engagement Specialist at Kaiser Insights and we're talking about how you can hit it out of the park with your virtual engagements and events during the COVID-19 situation and beyond. Virtual is very different than in-person and creating a space that's engaging, interactive, intentional and easy to access by members is crucial. Here are a just a few of the topics we cover: Using chat effectively to encourage meaningful conversation How and why to use breakout sessions What it means to use "intentional design" Clever ways to monetize virtual programs How to pivot a multi-day meeting into a virtual event This episode is packed with so many great ideas, you won't want to miss it! Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Velvet Chainsaw Consulting helps associations and others improve annual meetings, conferences and education. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they're helping their clients pivot as in-person meetings are being canceled and rescheduled or moved to a virtual format. In part two of my interview with Dave Lutz, Managing Director and Sarah Michel, CSP, VP of Connexity, we're talking about creative ways to keep registration numbers up and develop virtual events that provide value, interaction and engagement for participants. The content and options that work in-person don't necessarily transfer to the virtual space, so the pivot must also include re-working things to encourage connection and participation. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Velvet Chainsaw Consulting helps associations and others improve annual meetings, conferences and education. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they're helping their clients pivot as in-person meetings are being canceled and rescheduled or moved to a virtual format. In this episode I'm joined by Dave Lutz, Managing Director and Sarah Michel, CSP, VP of Connexity, who share with us what associations need to be thinking about when cancellation decisions have to be made, how to keep members up-to-date, and how to navigate negotiations with meeting partners. And as many associations consider moving to virtual events, Dave and Sarah share insights on how to best make that transition, the opportunities of going virtual, and how to plan memorable, engaging virtual meetings on a reduced budget. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

No grief is insignificant. Grief is grief. Large losses leave us wondering how we’ll make it. But small losses add up, too. And continual small losses, such as what we’re experiencing as a result of COVID-19,have a cumulative impact. Don’t minimize any grief you feel. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve shed tears over the last month. I’ve cried for people I don’t know who are dying alone. I’ve wept for the healthcare workers who care for them, often without the protective gear they need to keep themselves safe. I’ve shed tears over both uncertainty…and the certainty that things will be different moving forward. I despise the words “new normal,” even as I grasp how achingly accurate and descriptive they are. Yes, we’re in a new normal. But no, we don’t have to pretend we’re not sad about what’s happening, what’s changed, and what might not be. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

This episode is a love letter to associations and the work they do on behalf of members on a daily basis. As I work with association professionals who are making tough decisions and pivoting daily, what I see is that members are grateful for leadership and guidance. Once members look to you for advice and support in difficult times, they will look to you again. The result is that even as you navigate these rough waters internally, you have the opportunity to enhance your value proposition for your members externally. In addition to hearing about what associations are doing for members, I’m also hearing wonderful things about the staff members who are pivoting, innovating, and scrambling. Your work is not going unnoticed. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

I usually have a guest discussing something noteworthy his or her association is doing. Not this time. I’m recording today in the midst of the Corona Virus. “Community” is a word we often hear in connection to associations. Frankly, that’s what associations are. Communities of commonality—accountants, engineers, researchers, physicians, and chemical distributors. There’s a word we don’t hear as often, however, and I’ve always wondered why we don’t. The word is “resilient.” Since the beginning of associating, associations have helped their members weather economic storms, market changes, technological challenges, regulatory burdens and unexpected crisis that upend business as usual. Yes, associations are about community. But they also contribute to resilience. I’ve long said that an association’s strongest value proposition comes from helping members do together what they can’t do alone. In this time of turmoil, I invite you to lean into this by asking four essential questions. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Ed Wojcicki, Executive Director, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and I talked about the counter-intuitive strategy of running toward difficult conversations rather than away from them, a concept his association has embraced in the face of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Instead of refusing to talk, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police has reached out to organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Ed shares what’s resulted—including the valuable concept of developing shared principles. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association joins me for a discussion about the process they are using to help diversify revenue. The PMA relies heavily on two big annual events, and while those continue to grow, what if something happened out of the blue to affect participation and attendance at those events? They wanted to be able to protect the association for the long-term, but also create other value that could generate revenue for the organization. The first step was a collaboration between the board, volunteer leaders and staff to brainstorm potential opportunities and ideas. Listen in as we talk about the number of ideas that were generated, how they narrowed them down, and the process they used to turn the innovative ideas into new revenue streams for the association. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association caught my attention when I heard that Courage was one of the organization's core values. We don't typically hear values discussed within the association space, and I certainly haven't heard courage being identified as one, so my ears perked up right away. In this episode Cathy shares the genesis of the PMA's core values and how they are impacting every part of the organization. Leadership requires not only doing brave things, it means speaking the unspeakable sometimes. By identifying courage as a value PMA has given staff and volunteer leaders permission to do things and talk about things that are sometimes hard. It has also lead the PMA to be more innovative and reach into spaces where they may not have gone in the past. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

Questions are how we change the world one conversation at a time. And sometimes, that means putting something in between two people that gives them permission to connect with each other. In this episode, I interview Chad Littlefield, co-founder and chief experience officer at We and Me, Inc. an organization whose mission is to create conversations that matter. Forbes calls Chad a global expert on asking questions that build trust and connection in teams. Chad developed "We! Connect" and "We! Engage" cards which act as a "conversation mid-wife" giving birth to new ideas. Sometimes the barrier between connection and separation is the smallest social risk and the cards assume that social risk for people. It's amazing how learning just one or two small things about somebody creates connection and a sense of teamwork. It's a very simple but powerful concept for strategic planning retreats, conferences, and other groups both small and large. Find out more about We! Connect and We! Engage cards on the We and Me website. Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites.  © 2020 Mary Byers

Building a compelling case for giving is crucial to effective results for your organization or foundation. It's not enough to have an earnest desire to make a difference. Elizabeth Bailey, founder and CEO of 2B Communications, talks about the important questions we need to be asking in order to build a true fundraising infrastructure. When we understand what we're raising money for and we're passionate about the mission and the cause, making connections to people and organizations who share that passion and could be potential donors becomes easier. Do you need a foundation or is a fiduciary agent for one-off projects a better fit? Why should you exist as a foundation? How can you take a strategic thinking approach to fundraising? Listen in to find out! Visit: MaryByers.com for links to join the conversation on our social sites. © 2020 Mary Byers

What do you know about your membership today? The days of assuming someone joins your association and stays through retirement are gone. Learn why it's crucial to have a deep understanding of who your members are and where they are in their life in order to develop your best strategy. Elizabeth Bailey, founder and CEO of 2B Communications, helps associations when membership has plateaued, is declining, or they are missing opportunities to connect with their members in a meaningful way. Looking at things like trends in attendance at conferences, uptake in professional development and other performance activities helps lead to actionable strategy. What do you really need to know about your members? What research is necessary? And what is "return on engagement"? Listen in to find out! © 2019 Mary Byers Find out more at MaryByers.com Join the conversation on our social sites: @MaryByers on Twitter Mary on Facebook Mary on LinkedIn Produced by Podcast Prowess

In part two of my conversation with member engagement specialist Amanda Kaiser, we talk about the two elements that are critical for improving new member recruitment and retention -- Value and Member Experience. You'll learn what a "culture of hospitality" is and why it's important to be intentional about creating this for members. Learn why you may need a mindset shift about including member experience in your on-boarding process, and the biggest barriers to engagement and how to overcome them. © 2019 Mary Byers Find out more at MaryByers.com Join the conversation on our social sites: @MaryByers on Twitter Mary on Facebook Mary on LinkedIn Produced by Podcast Prowess

Want to learn how you can boost new member renewal rates by as much as 10% or what associations with high new member retention do that others don't? If so, join me for this episode with member engagement specialist Amanda Kaiser. We discuss why some associations focus on new members for months rather than just the first 30 days and small on-boarding changes you can make that have a big impact. You'll look at new member on-boarding in a whole new way after listening to this episode! © 2019 Mary Byers Find out more at MaryByers.com Join the conversation on our social sites: @MaryByers on Twitter Mary on Facebook Mary on LinkedIn Produced by Podcast Prowess

Where is society moving that you and your members need to move? It’s a powerful question and one that your leaders should be asking regularly. Though members may not like what they hear, part of your value to them is inviting (and sometimes forcing) them to be flexible and mobile and to help them navigate a changing environment. Navigating change is what Jeff Hurt, EVP of Education and Engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, helps clients do. Jeff advocates for transformation in association meetings, noting, “people are tired of pageantry, performance and production.” Instead they are looking for community and participation in meetings. Many associations have governance that’s holding back meetings, and tollbooths that keep progress from happening. Listen to this episode and challenge your thinking in in just eight minutes! © 2019 Mary Byers Find out more at MaryByers.com Join the conversation on our social sites: @MaryByers on Twitter Mary on Facebook Mary on LinkedIn Produced by Podcast Prowess