How do you redefine a field that’s widely misunderstood, even among its own professionals? And how can associations become essential hubs for interdisciplinary collaboration in such a space?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Nathan Victoria, Executive Director of the Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) and Vice President at NextGen Association Management. Nathan discusses:

• Why “personality assessment” doesn’t mean pop personality tests like Myers-Briggs or StrengthsFinder, but instead refers to integrated and multi-method clinical assessments used by psychologists.
• The clinical and legal applications of personality assessment, including for law enforcement, immigration, air traffic controllers, and reality TV casting.
• SPA’s historical roots as the Rorschach Institute, Inc., and how it’s evolving to reclaim and redefine personality assessment.
• The effort to define personality assessment within the organization and clarify its public perception.
• SPA’s reinvestment in infrastructure: website, branding, database, and strategic plan.
• The organization’s shift to AMC management through NextGen, and the benefits of a more efficient staffing model.
• How SPA supports international engagement with its first-ever conference outside the U.S., despite visa and travel challenges.
• SPA’s unique conference partnerships with smaller psychology organizations to share resources and cross-pollinate ideas.
• Nathan’s broader role in managing multiple associations simultaneously through NextGen and how technology and transparency enable success.

References:

• SPA Website
• NextGen AMC Website
• 2025 Expert Insights on Personality Assessment Virtual Conference
• 2026 SPA Convention

How do you lead when your industry is undergoing rapid transformation? How does an association respond when traditional revenue streams like trade shows are no longer viable?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews David Murillo, CEO of Compass Management Solutions and Executive Director of the Western Carwash Association (WCA). David discusses:

• How Compass Management Solutions serves nearly a dozen associations with full-scale and à la carte management services.
• The diversity of the car wash industry, which mom-and-pop operations, full service car washes, express models, and self-serve stations.
• How the Western Carwash Association (WCA) represents 900–1,000 car wash locations across 12 Western states.
• Why members join WCA today, especially for advocacy in highly regulated states like California and Arizona.
• The decision to integrate WCA’s once-thriving trade show into The Car Wash Show and how they planned for the post-trade show future.
• How WCA doubled down on regional advocacy and launched targeted education for underserved segments like self-serve and in-bay automatic operators.
• WCA’s recent rebrand to “Wash, Connect, Achieve” to reflect a more national and values-driven identity.
• Compass Management’s internal framework of “Superior Experience Engineering,” which emphasizes empathy and intentionality in everything from board meetings to signage at events.
• David’s approach to cultivating association talent, including hiring for leadership traits and supporting professional development and volunteer engagement.
• His experience as a DELP scholar and the profound impact it’s had on his leadership journey and network.

References:

• Compass Management Solutions Website
• WCA Website
• The Car Wash Show

Craft beer transformed American tastes—so how does the industry stay relevant in a crowded, flavor-filled beverage market? How can associations support their members during a time of economic uncertainty and competition from larger players?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. Bart discusses:

• How the Brewers Association represents over 5,000 small and independent craft brewers across the U.S.
• The evolving landscape of the craft beer industry as it enters a mature, stable phase
• The impact of competing beverage innovations like hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and THC beverages on market share and consumer attention.
• The recent spin-off of the American Homebrewers Association and how both organizations benefit from their independence.
• The importance of renewed consumer education to engage new generations and promote local craft breweries.
• Why the Brewers Association continues to invest in consumer-facing platforms like CraftBeer.com and large-scale events like the Great American Beer Festival.
• How the association is rethinking its convention (Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®) to focus more on business acumen, total beverage strategies, and meaningful networking.
• The significant challenges small brewers face with supply chain inflation, especially with aluminum and barley, and the association’s advocacy work on tariffs.
• Why gathering and analyzing data is a key member benefit, and how it helps level the playing field for smaller breweries.
• The role of local breweries in community life, especially during events like Oktoberfest, and how fresh hop beers are a seasonal must-try.

References:

• Brewers Association Website
• Great American Beer Festival
• CraftBeer.com
• Episode 131 with Julia Herz

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda sat down with fellow association podcasters:

• Dave Coriale, President of Delcor Technology Solutions and host of Reboot IT
• KiKi L’Italien, Founder of Amplified Growth and former host of Association Chat
• Ben Muscolino, CEO of Breezio and AMS Geek and host of The Association Podcast
• Dave Will, CEO of PropFuel and host of Association Strong

They discuss:

• Their first concerts and how music shaped their identities.
• The books and podcasts that recently inspired them and sparked deep reflection.
• How they stay fresh and energized in an industry where many burn out.
• Personal stories of reinvention, introspection, and professional purpose.
• How slowing down, exercising, or leaning into purpose keeps them going.
• What they're working on now — from AI projects to book writing to redefining legacies.
• What they’re proud of in their association work.
• How connecting with others can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the work.
• Their love for the association community and the power of genuine conversations.

References:

• Change Your Story, Change Your Life
• The Annotated Alice by Lewis Carroll
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
• The Telepathy Tapes podcast

How can humanitarian organizations respond more effectively to both natural disasters and systemic inequities around the globe? What is the role of empathy, listening, and local leadership in disaster response?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Sharon Eubank, Executive Director of Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sharon discusses:

• How the Church’s humanitarian mission is an outward expression of faith, guided by the principle of loving all people regardless of geography, faith, or politics.
• The global priority of supporting children under five, including maternal health, vaccinations, nutrition, clean water, and early development.
• How public health leadership from women in the 1800s shaped their modern initiatives.
• Why development efforts must be locally led and how assumptions from outside can lead to ineffective or even harmful aid.
• The impact of intensifying global disasters and responding to seven “100-year” disasters in just one year.
• The scale of their work: over 3,800 projects, $1.45 billion spent, and 6.6 million volunteer hours across 192 countries.
• Her new book, Doing Small Things with Great Love, and the key principle that “money is only half the answer.”
• Her leadership principle: “My solution to your problem will always be wrong. The answer is inside you.”
• How anyone can start helping by simply visiting their local school or city council and asking, “What do you need?”

References:

• LDS Humanitarian Services Website
• Get Sharon’s brand new book!

How do you lead a volunteer-run organization into its next phase of growth without losing its identity and heart? And how can associations support members who are often behind the scenes but shape what the world sees?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with returning guest Josie Hernandez, Executive Director of Casting Society (CSA) and President of Association Latinos. Josie discusses:

• How Casting Society represents global casting professionals working in film, TV, theater, reality, commercials, and new media.
• The Society’s advocacy that led to a new Academy Award category for casting, debuting at the 2026 Oscars, a monumental achievement for the profession.
• How Josie led CSA’s transition from a volunteer-run structure to professional management through her firm, Bostrom.
• The business processes, governance practices, and SOPs that helped Casting Society grow revenue, membership, and influence.
• How CSA supports its diverse membership through its Training and Education Program , delivered by Casting Society Cares, which helps casting assistants advance their careers.
• The unique Artios Awards, held simultaneously in three cities, Los Angeles, New York, and London, to honor excellence in casting across media.
• Association Latinos’ signature event, Conexiones, a one-day summit designed around cultural leadership and lived experience, taking place October 10 in Chicago.
• How Association Latinos has grown organically, yet intentionally, with a volunteer base that now helps lead programming and strategy.

References:

• CSA Website
• Artios Awards Events
• Association Latinos Website
• Conexiones Event
• Josie Hernandez on episode 59 of Associations Thrive about Association Latinos
• Josie Hernandez on episode 109 of Associations Thrive on the Workforce Trends Survey

If instant translation is in everyone’s pocket, why learn another language? How do associations continue to provide value in the face of thriving social networks, AI,and challenges to traditional membership programs?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Larry Paska, Executive Director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages or ACTFL. Larry discusses:

• ACTFL as the “original social network” for world language educators.
• A field-wide focus on quality and proficiency: standards, teacher-prep guidance (via accreditation partnerships), and research that maps what languages are taught and where.
• Language proficiency assessments developed by ACTFL and administered via an exclusive licensee that drives important revenue for the association. 
• The Language Connects Foundation’s scholarships for teachers and students, micro-grants for research, and initiatives that raise the profile of language learning.
• How AI in language learning isn’t a replacement for teachers, but a tool to support personalization and deepen learning.
• Dual-language immersion as a compelling model because it builds true proficiency and deepens cultural understanding.
• How ACTFL has maintained DEI as a strategic pillar because you can’t have multilingual and multicultural without DEI.
• How employers need staff who can communicate across languages.

References:

• ACTFL website

How do we support children in school and beyond, especially during a time of cultural, political, and economic fragmentation? What role can associations play in elevating the power of families and communities in education?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Howie Berman, Executive Director of the National PTA. Howie discusses:

• The mission and reach of the National PTA as the oldest child advocacy organization in the U.S.
• Why membership is open to all—not just parents—and the importance of shared community responsibility.
• The unique challenges of leading a professional association whose members are not tied by a single profession.
• How National PTA is professionalizing volunteerism by offering structured training and envisioning certification tracks.
• Howie’s first 90 days as Executive Director, which included a “listen and learn” tour across state PTAs, and conversations with past presidents and partners.
• The importance of amplifying student voices, reimagining events, and removing barriers to leadership in traditional organizational structures.
• Challenges in federated membership structures and how National PTA is working to improve visibility and communication.
• National PTA’s commitment to equity, including multilingual resources and engagement of families in Title I districts.

References:

• National PTA Website

How do associations support an industry as fast-changing and influential as advertising? How can associations nurture the next generation of professionals while advocating for policy that protects the industry?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Steve Pacheco, President and CEO of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Steve discusses:

• The four pillars of AAF’s mission: education and lifelong learning, events and recognition, advocacy and government affairs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• The Mosaic Center and its 30-year commitment to DEI in the advertising space.
• The strength of AAF’s multilevel membership: students, professionals, and corporate members like Google, Meta, and TikTok.
• AAF’s student engagement efforts, including the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) and the Most Promising Multicultural Students program.
• How AAF pivoted during the pandemic, replacing 33% of live event-driven revenue with virtual programs and strengthening club communications.
• AAF’s strong focus on workforce development and real-world student education to address industry recruitment gaps.
• The AAF's leadership in government affairs, including opposition to ad taxes and engagement with lawmakers on AI, privacy, data usage, and advertising to children.
• AAF’s advocacy in a fragmented policy environment—federal, state, and international—where lawmakers often lack understanding of the advertising ecosystem.
• Why Steve believes the advertising industry is undergoing the most dynamic transformation in 50 years, and how AAF is helping members adapt and thrive.

References:

• AAF Website

What does it mean to advocate for taxpayer rights in an increasingly polarized political landscape? Can alliances between the left and right yield real reform in tax policy?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Pete Sepp, President of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). Pete discusses:

• How NTU, founded in 1969, is a nonpartisan organization focused on simpler, fairer, lower taxes, less wasteful spending, and taxpayer rights.
• NTU’s mission to fill gaps in the tax policy advocacy space, working on issues that other organizations ignore or overlook.
• Why NTU identified IRS reform as a key issue — and how they view it as a human rights concern, not just a policy issue.
• How NTU built a diverse coalition — including organizations like the ACLU and La Raza — to push for taxpayer rights reforms.
• NTU’s creation of the Taxpayer Defense Center to pursue public interest litigation in precedent-setting tax cases.
• How the NTU Foundation’s “Tax Basics” provides factual, accessible answers to common taxpayer questions.
• The internal practices that earned NTU a spot on Washingtonian’s “Best Places to Work” list, including entrepreneurship and low internal politics.
• Pete’s philosophy that association CEOs must focus on the “Four M’s” — Money, Money, Money, and Money — to lead effectively.
• His success in working across ideological lines by reading opposing viewpoints, reaching out, and finding common ground.

References:

• NTU Website
• Which States are Best for Remote Workers? 2025 Remote Obligations and Mobility (ROAM) Index - Foundation - National Taxpayers Union
• NTU’s Taxpayer Defense Center
• Inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Major Tax Provisions and Their Impact - Foundation - National Taxpayers Union
• NTU’s Taxpayers for IRS Transformation
• 18 Great Places to Work in the DC Area