How do we prevent strategic plans from sitting on a shelf and instead embed them into an organization's DNA? How can associations become true communities of practice where learning and innovation are peer-led?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Mike Moss, President of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). Mike discusses:

• SCUP’s mission as a professional society focused on integrated planning in higher education.
• The difference between strategic planning and integrated planning—ensuring plans are continuously executed, aligned, and adjusted across departments.
• Why SCUP’s members are often responsible for planning, even when it’s not in their job titles.
• SCUP’s new strategic plan that emphasizes becoming a peer-led community of practice rather than an expert-driven organization.
• Major structural changes to governance, including a new set of flexible bylaws and reimagined committees to better support member collaboration.
• The transition of SCUP staff—via retirement and new hires—to reflect the new direction, along with upskilling existing staff.
• Enhancements to their annual conference to foster group-based learning and peer-driven sessions.
• The SCUP Exchange, a digital collaboration platform that empowers members to connect and lead discussions without top-down oversight.
• A new, simplified, and more affordable membership model designed to increase access and participation across campuses.

References:

• SCUP Website

What happens when your mission to support underrepresented communities in academia suddenly comes under political scrutiny? And how can your association stay true to its values while navigating legal and societal change?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alfonzo Alexander, President and CEO of The PhD Project. Alfonzo discusses:

• How The PhD Project recruits business professionals from diverse backgrounds to pursue PhDs and become business school faculty.
• The organization’s impact in increasing the number of underrepresented faculty from just 250 in 1994 to 1,600 today.
• Why the organization is still vital, as faculty of color make up less than 4% of all business school professors.
• The “mentor effect,” wherein representation among faculty encourages underrepresented students to pursue academic and business careers.
• The shift in application policies to remove demographic requirements in response to investigations under the Trump administration.
• The organization’s efforts to support members through mentorship, community-building, and guidance—not financial aid.
• Continued strength in the PhD pipeline and a highly attended 2025 conference, even amidst institutional pressures.
• New revenue diversification efforts, including partnerships, masterclasses, and showcasing thought leaders from within the PhD Project community.

References:

• The PhD Project Website
• Associations Thrive episode 69 with Blane Ruschak, former President of The PhD Project

How do associations stay resilient in times of personal and professional change? How can they remain a trusted space when trust is in short supply?

In this special episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda reconnects with fellow podcasters Dave Coriale and KiKi L’Italien. Dave and Kiki discuss:

• KiKi's Academy of Leaders Award from ASAE and how this award means so much to her.
• How DelCor is navigating the loss of co-founder Loretta DeLuca while staying grounded in its mission and values.
• The dual experience of grieving and moving forward, and how organizations can honor both emotions.
• The need for intentional leadership during times of transition and challenge.
• Joanna’s upcoming book about associations’ unsung contributions during the pandemic, featuring 25 chapters of inspiring stories.
• Their respective podcast themes: leadership, trust, technology, and relationships.
• The increasing pressure on associations to be safe, trusted places for differing viewpoints.
• How association IT leaders must evolve from order takers to strategic partners.
• The role of trust in the AI era and how associations must double down on protecting member data and trust.
• Personal stories of finding joy amidst challenges, from KiKi’s time with her daughter to Dave’s “walk and talk” calls and Joanna’s “no zero days” mantra in 2025.

References:

• Dave Coriale, DelCor Technology Solutions and host of Reboot IT
• KiKi L’Italien, Association Chat and host of Association Chat

What does responsible AI look like when managing vast amounts of unstructured data? How can associations remain relevant as AI reshapes content discovery and member expectations?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda welcomes back Tori Miller-Liu, President and CEO of the Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM). Tori discusses:

• How AIIM supports practitioners managing unstructured and semi-structured data like emails, contracts, and social posts, particularly in highly regulated industries.
• How AI has long been used in the industry, but the rise of generative AI has accelerated innovation and transformed data processing, governance, and compliance.
• The evolving roles within the profession, and how many AIIM members are now part of AI project teams and responsible for ensuring data accuracy and ethical implementation.
• Why it’s so important to have someone on any AI project team who is responsible for ensuring that data is accurate and data is safeguarded. 
• AIIM’s unique hybrid identity as both a professional society and a trade association, representing both practitioners and vendors.
• How AIIM is addressing changes in content discovery, since traditional search is increasingly being replaced by AI assistants, prompting new strategies for publishing and content visibility.
• The launch of AIIM’s own AI search assistant, named Aiden, and the implications for member experience and marketing.
• How Tori led AIIM through some challenging times by first stabilizing the association, rebuilding community, and making tough financial decisions.
• The association’s recent wins: a successful annual conference, the launch of an AI certificate, growing membership, and new educational offerings like regional events and book clubs.
• How leaders today must adapt to the hybrid world, the AI landscape, and the transformation of association activities, from conferences to certification.

References:

• AIIM Website
• February 2023 Associations Thrive Interview with Tori Miller Liu

What happens to students when they don’t see themselves reflected in the teachers and administrators around them? How can associations foster belonging for members who often feel like the “only one” in their professional environment?

 In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Edgar Palacios, Founder and CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC). Edgar discusses:

• The founding vision of LEC: to dramatically increase Latino educator representation to better serve Latino students in Kansas City and beyond.
• How Edgar was inspired to start LEC after visiting a school that had 99.9% Latino students and zero educators of color.
• Why representation matters: students experience stronger identity, engagement, and academic performance when they see themselves in their educators.
• The challenges Latino educators face as often the sole representative of their community in a school, taking on unofficial roles like translator, cultural broker, and emotional support provider.
• The alarming gap between student and educator demographics: 25% of K-12 students are Latino, yet only about 2% of teachers are Latino nationally (and closer to 1% in Kansas City).
• LEC’s Expresión program, which helps Latino educators build identity-based storytelling skills to empower themselves and inspire their students.
• LEC’s Futuros initiative, aimed at bringing 50 new Latino educators to Kansas City by 2027 — a significant boost from the current ~300 educators.
• How LEC provides community and mental health affirmation for isolated educators who may be questioning whether they belong in the profession.
• The importance of collecting both quantitative data and qualitative stories to document impact and secure funding.
• Edgar’s strong belief in leaning into joy, identity, and authenticity even amid a challenging political climate.

References:

• LEC Website

What if your leadership style is deeply influenced by your cultural values, but you've never been taught to recognize it? How can an organization unlock hidden leadership potential across an entire community?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Linda Akutagawa, President and CEO of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP). Linda discusses:

• How LEAP was founded over 40 years ago to grow and develop leadership among the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.
• The classic origin story: leaders sitting around a kitchen table, wondering why the same people kept showing up in leadership roles.
• How LEAP’s signature workshop, Understanding and Leading from Your Cultural Values, helps participants recognize how culture shapes leadership styles.
• How Linda’s own journey with LEAP began as a volunteer, and how she intentionally pursued her CEO appointment by insisting on a formal, competitive search.
• The tension in Linda’s leadership style between the value of harmony and the need to engage in difficult conversations.
• LEAP’s cross-sector programs for students, early career professionals, mid-career leaders, and executives in corporate, nonprofit, and higher education sectors.
• The national (and growing international) reach of LEAP’s leadership programs.
• LEAP’s one-on-one executive coaching model and its impressive roster of Asian American certified coaches.
• LEAP’s annual fundraiser, the Leadership Experience and Celebration, which includes new learning and caucusing opportunities.
• LEAP’s vision to expand globally, bringing its cultural leadership model to diasporas in Australia, Europe, and beyond.

References:

• LEAP Website
• Leadership Experience and Celebration

Are our communities really prepared for modern public safety threats? And what role do accreditation and credentialing play in building resilient fire departments?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Preet Bassi, CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Preet discusses:

• The reasons fire departments pursue accreditation: to showcase excellence, correct operational failures, or continuously improve.
• Why CPSE’s model works best for medium to large fire departments — big enough to implement a structured management model but small enough to pivot strategically.
• The challenges faced by rural volunteer fire departments, including lack of resources, equity of service, and training gaps amid increasing environmental and societal threats.
• The growing importance of fire departments defining and meeting "standards of cover" — performance metrics for different emergency scenarios.
• CPSE’s internal commitment to strategic planning: transitioning from a “fix it” plan to their current “grow it” plan, with a people-first focus.
• How CPSE manages and celebrates its volunteers, and contractors, whose contributions amount to 28.5 full-time equivalents annually.
• The launch of the CPSE Center for Innovation, a new subsidiary to support evidence-based decision-making and broaden CPSE’s impact in the field.
• Creation of the CPSE Community Experience to keep departments and credentialed individuals engaged between accreditation cycles.
• The shift in public safety from public administration to public policy — requiring departments to address homelessness, addiction, mental health, and affordable housing.
• Preet’s Sikh heritage and how the value of seva (selfless service) influences both her career and personal life.

References:

• CPSE Website
• What is Seva?

What happens when your members are some of the world’s most powerful data-driven companies, and they rely on you to protect their interests, guide policy, and create best practices across vastly different industries? How do you unite and serve these members while remaining agile in a fast-changing digital landscape?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Chris Mohr, President of the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA). Chris discusses:

• How SIIA represents 360 companies, including major players like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Thomson Reuters, all involved in data and information services.
• How SIIA is organized into verticals (market data, B2B media, and policy) to focus advocacy and engagement around shared interests.
• How information has shifted from being sold “by the copy” to being sold as a service, necessitating new regulations and best practices.
• The advocacy work SIIA undertakes to ensure the protection of the First Amendment, protects the dissemination of lawfully procured data, even as global privacy laws tighten.
• SIIA’s work in creating best practices for “alt data”—non-public data used in trading, including web scraping and sentiment analysis.
• The importance of one-on-one conversations with members to understand sensitive policy positions and emerging issues.
• SIIA’s role in guiding members through today’s rapidly changing policy landscapes, including artificial intelligence and federal procurement thresholds.
• How SIIA’s Market Insights initiative gathers industry data to deliver valuable research requested directly by members.

References:

• SIIA Website

Are associations doing enough to take care of their chief staff executives? What happens to an organization when its leader is burned out?

In this special episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda sat down with Lindsay Currie, Adam Levy, and Tara Puckey, the association leaders behind the Sustaining Mental and Physical Health as a Chief Staff Exec survey. They discuss:

• Why they created a mental and physical health survey for association chief staff executives (CSEs).
• The stark gap between private conversations about leadership struggles and the public “everything is fine” narrative that chief staff execs face every day.
• How 85% of surveyed executives reported negative impacts on their health from their role, 60% reported sleep struggles, and nearly 25% reported depression.
• Why boards need to care about their chief executive's health and how organizations should recognize CSEs as critical investments.
• The importance of building a trusted CEO peer network early in a leadership journey.
• Ways to transform association culture to better support the mental health and physical wellbeing of leaders and staff.
• How leadership vulnerability and destigmatizing mental health conversations can actually  strengthen an organization’s culture.
• Practical ideas for safeguarding CEO wellness, from better vacation policies to board coaching and sabbatical programs

References:

• Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
• CUR Website
• Adam Levy, Executive Director of The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA)
• ACPA Website
• Tara Puckey, Executive Director of The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)
• RTDNA Website
• Silvia Quevedo, Executive Director of Lamaze International
• Lamaze Website
• Sustaining Mental and Physical Health as a Chief Staff Exec survey
• Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
• License code: M2POPMBVFCE0RIPZ

How can a simple giveaway at a trade show create lasting emotional impact and brand loyalty? In an age where digital impressions dominate, can a physical product still create a meaningful connection? In such an environment, how can associations help members understand and elevate the true power and value of their work? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Drew Holmgreen, President and CEO of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). Drew discusses:

• The vast promotional products industry ecosystem—from manufacturers to decorators.
• PPAI’s global membership of over 15,000 corporate members, reaching into the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, and beyond.
• Why branded merch is unique in its ability to create an active relationship with consumers.
• PPAI’s work on a new economic impact study, to quantify the industry's reach and influence.
• The importance of advocacy at both the federal policy level and in educating the public and brands about the promotional products industry.
• PPAI’s massive Expo, attracting 16,000+ attendees annually in Las Vegas, featuring a tradeshow, education, and a Shark Tank-style innovation showcase.
• Innovations in the industry, including digital-embedded merch and sustainability-forward products that can be recycled.
• PPAI's end-user advocacy campaign to elevate the perception of promotional products and underscore their emotional impact.
• The Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), which has awarded over $4 million in scholarships to industry members and their families.
• Creating a culture of joy at the office—through space redesign, fun events, and leading with positivity.

References:

• PPAI Website