Associations Thrive

Did you know that corporations that have diverse Board members have been shown to be more profitable and successful than those with less diverse Boards? So how do you get more women on these Boards?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Shawn Kaminski, Executive Director of DirectWomen. Shawn discusses:

• DirectWomen’s mission to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards.
• How DirectWomen prepares women lawyers for board service through an annual board institute.
• How DirectWomen serves as a resource for companies looking for diverse candidates for their Boards.
• How companies with more diverse boards are shown to be more profitable and successful than those without.
• How there's both a moral and business case for having diverse voices and representation in corporate boardrooms.
• Her personal journey, going from the American Bar Association, a large well supported organization, to DirectWomen, a smaller nonprofit.
• DirectWomen’s selective Board Institute program, which only accepts a small number of applicants each year. The small cohort size is intentional, so that DirectWomen can provide personalized attention to ensure participants' success.
• DirectWomen’s international expansion, starting with high attendance events in London.
• How DirectWomen will ring the New York Stock Exchange Bell on October 18th to celebrate reaching their 200th board seat milestone.

References:

• DirectWomen’s website

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus

License code: M2POPMBVFCE0RIPZ

What is foresight thinking, and how can it transform your association's future? Is your association prepared for what might happen?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor at Foresight First LLC. Jeff discusses:

• What foresight thinking is and what it is not.
• How foresight thinking differs from strategic planning.
• How foresight is not the same as a prediction or a forecast. Foresight represents anticipating and preparing for what could happen, not what will happen.
• Why association boards have the duty of foresight.
• How 5-7 years is the optimal window for foresight planning across industries, professions, and spaces.
• Foresight asks, “What could happen and how do we prepare the organization for it?”
• Foresight is not an initiative - it’s a way of thinking.

References:

• Foresight First website
• ASAE Foresight Article
• Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue Group

This special episode of the Associations Thrive podcast was recorded during the 2024 ASAE Annual Conference in Cleveland. Joanna had just finished moderating a session on open access for journals with Lyn Beamesderfer from ISPOR, Pam Harley of Clarke & Esposito, Dave Jackson of ASPET, and Sharon Kneebone of AAPM, and. After the session, Joanna had a chance to catch up with Sharon in the podcasting booth in the expo hall to continue the discussion about open access.

To learn more about how open access will affect the association world, catch the discussion live in Joanna’s upcoming webinar hosted by UST, on “How Open Access Will Affect Your Journal Strategy and Revenue.”

Sharon and Joanna discuss:

• What open access is and how it affect associations that have journals.
• How journals with research funded by the federal government are highly impacted by open access. 
• How AAPM is going hybrid with its open access: within each issue, some articles are open access, while others continue to be restricted.
• How journals need to focus on assessing their open access exposure.
• How associations needs to focus on author recruitment.

References:

• AAPM Website
• UST Open Access Webinar

How are you leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance the member experience? Are you prepared for the next wave of digital transformation? How do you handle resistance to change within your organization?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Rebecca Achurch, Founder & CEO, Achurch Consulting. Rebecca discusses:

• Achurch Consulting’s process for selecting technology that aligns with your association’s goals.
• Best practices for smooth integrations and minimizing disruption during adoption of new technology.
• How to train and support staff, ensuring that they are equipped and confident in using new technologies.
• How to utilize project management software, video conferencing, and collaboration platforms to keep teams connected, especially in this hybrid world.
• Strategies for addressing pushback from staff and leadership.
• How associations can stay ahead by continuously evolving their digital strategies.
• Using analytics and data to guide technology investments and measure success.
• How to enhance the member experience through digital platforms and personalized interactions.
• The top three things associations must do NOW to prepare for the future: address tech debt, budget for tech, hire for digital curiosity.
• Whether association CEOs need to be tech CEOs; Rebecca says no, but they do need to be tech-knowledgeable.

References:

• Achurch Consulting

How do you provide member benefits during a pandemic when your value proposition is built on in-person meetings? And how do you take the helm of an organization when you can’t meet your staff face to face?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Mike Copps, President & CEO, of the Analytical, Life Science & Diagnostics Association (ALDA). Mike discusses:

• The different sectors of the healthcare industry that ALDA members are involved with: Analytical, Life Science, and Diagnostics.
• How ALDA evolved to match the evolution of the member companies.
• How involvement in ALDA is by the senior executives of member companies, usually the CEO.
• How he has been working for associations since graduating from college.
• His experience working for the largest AMC (association management company) 15 years ago and how different it is to work for a self standing organization. He relies on his small team and outsourced partners to run the organization.
• How ALDA’s value proposition is built on their in-person events and the networking available there.
• How ALDA had to pivot very quickly when the pandemic happened, including setting up a zoom account, because they had never even held a webinar before 2020.
• How ALDA created “collaboratives” for executives running different departments within member organizations, e.g., HR, operations, etc.
• How ALDA holds two major conferences a year, one in Boston and one in San Francisco, the two major biotech hubs. They also host regional dinners throughout the year.
• How the organization is at a crossroads because their events are becoming very popular. ALDA is questioning how to expand the events while keeping them intimate.
• How ALDA provides a quarterly market assessment, compensation survey, and a D&I survey. These reports are key to member value.
• ALDA’s diversity initiative to attract more women and people of color into the membership and their conferences.
• How he’s headed to Japan to attend an international conference for a partner association which aligns with ALD’s strategy to hold a meeting, breakfast or reception within the confines of a partner organization conference.

References:

• ALDA Website
• Japan Analytical Instrument Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA) Website
• ALDA Market Data

How do you ensure that your organization is forward facing? How do you inspire Board members to be involved in recruiting new members? How do you make sure that the next set of leaders will be well trained and focused on the strategic plan?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Hudson Garrett, ED & EVP and Karen Niven, President of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP). Dr. Hudson and Karen discuss:

• How healthcare value analysis professionals work to improve the overall patient experience, reduce costs within the system, and make healthcare affordable and available for all.
• How Karen is a nurse by training and how she found a home and her people in the AHVAP community.
• How Karen was motivated to become a board member because through her training as a nurse, she learned that you always leave organizations and places better than how you found it.
• How good relations between the chief staff executive and the board really power associations to success.
• How these good relations are the result of trust and dedication towards a shared goal.
• How AHVAP recently held a Future Summit that brought together people from all organization types, levels, and functions in healthcare to talk about clinical innovations and making healthcare better.
• How they reached out to an academic partner to help them document what they discussed during the summit to hopefully encourage more research.
• How a lot of innovation is coming from the industry partners, so they can’t be excluded from the conversation just because they aren’t doctors, nurses, or working in hospitals.
• How the board has a very active role to play in the recruiting of new member. Karen, as board chair, expects board members to post about what AHVAP is doing, as well as post about AHVAP membership to their networks. AHVAP provides toolkits for board members to use, including graphics and messaging.
• How Karen and Hudson are working together to ensure that when the next set of leaders come in, they will be well trained and laser focused on the AHVAP mission.

References:

• AHVAP Website
• AHVAP Annual Conference and Industry Partner Expo

What are nontraditional methods for raising funds and awareness? Could your fundraising strategy benefit from working with corporate and individual influencers?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews James Thorne, CEO of Vehicle for Good Inc. James discusses:

• The idea that sparked the creation of Vehicle for Good.
• How Vehicle for Good runs sweepstakes programs that raise money for nonprofits that have limited fundraising resources.
• How before starting Vehicle for Good, James worked in communication for two very large churches.
• How Vehicle for Good’s selection parameters ensure that a worthy nonprofit is selected.
• How Vehicle for Good has utilized corporate and individual influencers to promote its sweepstakes.
• His tips for working with influencers for mutual benefit.
• How vehicle sweepstakes entries are tax deductible.

References:

• Vehicle For Good
• Nonprofit Application
• Forrest’s Auto Reviews
• Americanmusclehd

Note: Be sure to listen until the very end, after the outro, for the bloopers. :-)

For the 100th episode of Associations Thrive, CEO Joanna Pineda sat down with fellow association podcasters:

• Dave Coriale, Delcor Technology Solutions and host of Reboot IT
• Kiki L’Italien, Association Chat and host of Association Chat
• Ben Muscolino, Breezio and AMSGeek and host of The Association Podcast
• Dave Will, PropFuel and host of Association Strong

They talked about:

• What's new about their podcasts.
• Association statistics and demographics.
• Kiki’s new association podcast directory.
• Market fit when developing new products and how associations need to develop an entrepreneurial mindset when developing new products.
• The looming membership cliff.
• A few of their favorite episodes and the key themes of governance, reinvention and entrepreneurship that keep popping up during the podcast interviews.
• Their crazy predictions for the future of associations.

References:

• Delcor
• Reboot IT
• Association Chat
• Association Chat Podcast
• Breezio
• AMSGeek
• The Association Podcast
• PropFuel
• Association Strong

How do you tell the story of your industry? How do you gain the trust of your members so that they have confidence in your advocacy and services?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews David Chavern, President & CEO, of the Consumer Brands Association (CBA). 

David discusses:

• How CBA members are the makers of almost everything that you buy in the grocery store and the drug store.
• How even though it’s a mature industry, there are new CPG (consumer packaged goods) start-ups and new products coming out every day.
• How David became introduced to trade associations through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he spent many years working; at one point he was Chief Operating Officer.
• How as CEO of a trade association, you strive to get to a point where CEOs of your member companies trust that you understand what they worry about.
• How David loves touring factory floors.
• The importance of getting a depth of engagement from staff at all levels of member companies, so when the dues bill comes in, the membership renewal is a given.
• How CBA membership is growing, thanks in part to their successful public policy work and their events.
• How they hold a CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) Summit every year, this is the premier summit for executives from the top companies in the industry.
• One of the biggest challenges for CBA is telling the story of the industry, including sharing how they are the biggest manufacturing industry in the U.S.
• How one of CBA’s goals is to pick out the hardest challenges that their industry is facing and then “run at those very hardest things.”
• How the trade association business has changed because of the explosion of media.
• How associations need to revamp their events and conferences every year or risk having stale events that people stop attending.
• How members want authentic communications from their trade association.

References:

• CBA Website
• CPG Summit

How do you measure value in healthcare to benefit both patients and healthcare professionals in the sourcing of goods and services? How do you demonstrate to industry partners that they are valued in the profession?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Hudson Garrett, Executive Director & Executive Vice President of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP). Hudson discusses:

• What healthcare value analysis professionals do, and how they strive for exceptional value for patients and healthcare professionals; it’s about more than just price.
• How the profession has become multi-disciplinary and now includes nurses, doctors, laboratory professionals, infection preventionists, supply chain professionals, pharmacists, professors, and more.
• How AHVAP created a way to measure competency in the profession through its board certification.
• How value analysis professionals focus on patient and healthcare safety through the sourcing of proper equipment and supplies.
• How he just become a CAE (Certified Association Executive)
• How Hudson wears two hats; He is ED of AHVAP and also owns a consulting practice.
• How AHVAP is doing interesting things through industry partner collaborations because a lot of innovation of products and technologies come from across the industry.
• How industry partners can now vote and receive the same benefits that healthcare professionals get.
• How AHVAP created a code of conduct for industry partners to prevent conflicts of interest.
• How AHVAP has a board certification for value analysis professionals.
• How AHVAP is creating microcredentials so that members can develop expertise in very specific topics and mature members can continue to learn and grow.
• How AHVAP is creating customized development plans for teams within an organization.
• How membership has tripled in the last 18 months.
• AHVAP has a future summit coming up this summer where the entire profession will be looking at what's next for analysis value professionals.

References:

• AHVAP Website
• Industry Partner Expo