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What happens when seasoned industry leaders become first-time association CEOs? In this episode, we sit down with Sandy Moore (Pet Advocacy Network) and Melissa Loner (National Society of Compliance Professionals), two executives who’ve made the bold leap from the private sector into nonprofit leadership.

From boardroom dynamics to member engagement, advocacy strategy to financial stewardship, they unpack the challenges, surprises, and superpowers that come from leading an association after serving as a member and board member, with perspective from the industry side of things.

🎤 Featuring candid reflections on:

• CEO expectations in nonprofit vs. industry
• Transitioning from peer to boss
• Building the right team for mission success
• Why passion and perspective matter

➡️ Tune in to hear how they're navigating the early days of the CEO role, and redefining what it means to be “qualified” to lead.

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Trust is under attack; from misinformation, disinformation, and even unchecked AI “truths.” In this powerful new episode of Association Transformation, Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain revisit their white paper Restoring Trust in Expertise and discuss how associations can become the custodians of credibility that our fractured world needs. With ASAE’s new Trust in Associations campaign making headlines, the duo explores what it means to practice radical transparency, verify what’s real, and bring people together across divides. Listen in for a candid conversation about how associations can reassert their public purpose and rebuild confidence in expertise; one fact, one member, and one mission at a time.

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What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott, Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association, to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional executives and freelancers to advocacy for independent professionals, the conversation dives into mental health, startup governance, and the stigma still attached to the “gig economy.” This is association innovation in real time. Don’t miss it!

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Dying for Relevance, Zombie Members, Toxic Boards & Other Association Nightmares

From members who vanish into thin air, to boards behaving monstrously, to the creeping dread of dying for relevance, this year’s fright fest uncovers the real terrors haunting associations. 👻🧟‍♀️ Whether it’s zombie members shuffling along, toxic leaders spreading their curse, or the sector itself gasping for life, the horrors are all too real.

Tune in if you dare as Association Transformation pulls back the cobwebs, resurrects bone-chilling stories from the field, and arms you with stakes, garlic, and just enough survival strategies to keep your mission alive. 💀🦇

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What really drives leadership decisions? Data, ethics, or a good hard look in the mirror? 🤔 In our latest episode, we dive into the Institute of Leadership’s new Leading into the Future report and wrestle with change fatigue, the “talent tightrope,” and whether “business as usual” is really dead (spoiler: it’s not. We still need to keep the lights on💡). We even debate the perils of “keeping up with the tech Joneses” and forced innovation burnout.

Plenty of laughs, a few eye-rolls at survey design, and some very real takeaways for association leaders navigating 2026. Tune in. You’ll feel seen, challenged, and hopefully a little entertained. 🎙️

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In Episode 157 of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain tackle one of the most uncomfortable, but increasingly urgent, realities in association life: the mistreatment of volunteers and staff by volunteers, board members, and even peers. From midnight phone calls and casual abuse to gossip, blurred boundaries, and outright boardroom bullying, this candid conversation unpacks why such behavior persists and what leaders can do about it. With practical insights on codes of conduct, whistleblower policies, staff training, and the courage to say “no,” this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the complex intersection of volunteerism and professionalism.

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Is your digital content reaching everyone? In Episode 156 of Association Transformation, Elisa Pratt goes solo to tackle a vital and often overlooked conversation on digital accessibility and ADA Section 508 compliance, with special guests Elisa Cohen and Prudhvi Mandava of Schatz Strategy Group. Together, we unpack how compliance is more than a legal requirement but a strategic advantage for associations and nonprofits. From avoiding common digital barriers to embedding inclusive design in content strategy, this episode reframes accessibility as an opportunity to boost engagement, SEO, and overall user experience. And don’t miss the exclusive Accessibility Roadmap resource from Schatz, a practical guide to help your organization move from compliance to connection and build digital spaces where all communities can thrive.

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In Episode 155 of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain welcome Mark Athitakis, Contributing Editor at Associations Now, the flagship digital publication of ASAE.

Mark pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the stories, sharing:

✅ How he translates complex topics like governance, membership, technology, and events into accessible insights for association leaders
✅ The tension between print versus digital and what associations risk losing when abandoning tangible member connections
✅ Why governance challenges are really crises of alignment (and why we keep revisiting the same issues)
✅ His candid take on AI in content generation and why “human in the loop” creativity still matters most

If you’ve ever read Associations Now and wondered about the mind behind the byline, this is your chance to hear from Mark directly.

🎧 Listen now!

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Join us for Episode 154 of Association Transformation, where co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Beth Eagle, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), to unpack what it really takes to juggle CFO and COO responsibilities in today’s association landscape.

Beth shares candid insights on:

✅ Balancing financial stewardship with operational strategy
✅ Revenue diversification beyond dues—including trade shows and acquisitions
✅ Building trust with boards and CEOs through transparency and scenario planning
✅ Why CFO/COO roles are often the “jack of all trades” that make associations thrive

Whether you’re a CEO dreaming of more strategic bandwidth, a finance pro navigating operations, or a board member seeking perspective, this episode is packed with lessons you can apply right away.

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Recorded live from their Autumn 2025 leadership retreat, Elisa and Andrew tackle a big question: are membership dues dead? They unpack the flaws of the annual renewal model, the pull of subscription-style approaches, and the tension between value, belonging, and revenue. In the context of declining memberships and contemporary economic realities, they argue for bold scenario planning toward 2030 and beyond, plus share plans for a new white paper and even a “fake association” case study.

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