Associations Thrive

How do you meet the needs of small and large firm members? How do you work alongside your state or national association to benefit your members, and remain distinct and relevant to members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Julie Kresge, Executive Director of the Erie County Bar Association (ECBA). Julie discusses:

• Her unique and winding path to becoming an Executive Director.
• How the Erie County Bar Association promotes the rule of law, does a lot of good in the community, and creates a vibrant community of attorneys.
• How the Bar Foundation raises money for law school scholarships and education support for homeless students.
• The Bar’s new strategic plan, which lays out 34 recommendations for improving the association. 
• The Bar’s new, non-attorney membership type that is meant to expand membership and support all the legal staff at law firms.
• The Bar’s weekly journal, which reports on all legal activities in the community. This journal is a HUGE member benefit and revenue generator.
• The Bar’s signature events: Law Day and the Bench Bar Conference.
• How lawyers are in high demand in Erie County right now.

References:

• Erie County, PA Bar Association website

How do you evolve an organization that’s been around for over 100 years? How do you help members adapt to changing technology and industry conditions?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jimmy Williams, Jr., General President of The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Jimmy discusses:

• His background in the trades as a fourth generation tradesman.
• Leading an organization during the pandemic when there was little guidance from the government about how to keep workers safe.
• Supporting workers during periods of economic turmoil.
• The enduring value and importance of registered apprentice programs, which have a curriculum approved by the federal government.
• How the IUPAT’s membership will be over 50% minority within the next year or two.
• How the largest segment of membership growth is coming from women.
• How equity is baked into the union’s structure, but inclusion is a feeling and it’s what makes members feel welcome.
• How IUPAT is advocating on issues of importance to members, including social issues.
• How technology and AI are changing the profession, and IUPAT is recognizing that their training and work have to adapt accordingly.
• How the union is growing in membership again, after years of stagnant membership growth.

References:

• IUPAT website
• Finishing Trades Institute website

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How do you reimagine an organization so that its governance and culture are transformed to meet today’s needs? How do you further reinvent a conference to help your organization stand out in a crowded meetings field?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Tara Puckey, Executive Director of Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). Tara discusses:

• How she’s only ever worked for journalist associations.
• The crowded association space that RTDNA occupies because there are over 70 journalist associations!
• How RTDNA has changed over the years to include Internet journalists.
• The governance changes that RTDNA started about five years ago to expand committee membership, make the Board more strategic, and create a pipeline of new and upcoming leaders.
• The staff culture changes that Tara ushered in, including going fully remote, unlimited PTO, and creating a culture where staff show up for the people around them.
• How RTDNA completely revamped their conference: they reduced the number of attendees, eliminated panel discussions, made every session be more discussion than lecture, added white space to the schedule, and emphasized self care throughout the conference (think puppies and baby goats).
• How RTDNA partners with a local nonprofit in the city of their conference. Attendees participate in a service project, and instead of renting furniture and equipment, the association purchases and then donates everything to the local partner (often at a lower cost then renting!).
• How it’s really hard to be a journalist these days, especially when covering violence or war.

References:

• RTDNA website
• Baby goats at the 2023 conference

How do you convince organizations that they can accomplish more when they work together? How do you develop standards and practices that dozens of organizations agree to, adhere to, and train to? 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Amy Melnick, Executive Director, National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care. Amy discusses:

• The difference between hospice and palliative care.
• How the Coalition represents the many professions involved in hospice and palliative care, including doctors, nurses, chaplains, physical therapists, social workers, and many more.
• How the Coalition lets members “gang up on the problem” but not each other.
• The Coalition’s Clinical Practice Guidelines, which were developed with input from 50 organizations and creates a blueprint for providing gold-standard palliative care for all people living with serious illness.
• The Coalition’s Pediatric Palliative Care Division, which is working to make access to quality pediatric palliative care more available to children, and ensure that children who need hospice or palliative care can still receive curative treatment.
• Her pledge to transition the Coalition successfully to a new Executive Director through documentation, and co-working with Dr. Jessica Hausauer for one month.

References:

• NCHPC website
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Palliative Care

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How do you ensure that a school is serving students well and changing with the times?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bonnie Ricci, Executive Director from International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA). Bonnie discusses:

• How ICAISA is the accreditor of accrediting bodies for independent schools.
• What an independent school is.
• The value of accreditation is, how ICAISA standards are developed, and how these standards change to adapt to the changing learning environments of schools.
• How ICAISA helps accrediting bodies be better by taking their staff out of their comfort zones and introducing them to new ideas and practices that are often outside the education space.
• The impact of accreditation on student learning and success.
• A grant that ICAISA has received to study the impact of governance on independent schools.

References:

• ICAISA website
• List of ICAISA members

How do you change life outcomes for promising students who aren’t necessarily college-bound and desperately need a chance? What’s really working to help students navigate high school and college successfully?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jeffery Beckham Jr., CEO, Chicago Scholars. Jeffery discusses:

• In Chicago, there can be up to a 30% life expectancy gap between zip codes. Chicago Scholars believes that your zip code should not determine your life’s outcomes.
• Chicago Scholars’ 7-year model that pairs students with mentors starting in their junior year, until they finish college and land their first job.
• How Chicago Scholars currently serves over 5,000 students in their program (550 juniors join every year), with the help of 200 mentors, 50 staff, 400 volunteers, 25 part-time counselors, 30 Board members, 30 associate Board members, and alumni.
• How Jeffery had to develop the skills he needed to be an effective CEO, including fundraising and storytelling.
• How Chicago Scholars accepts 550 juniors each year, but there are close to 5,000 college-ready students who could be/should be scholars.
• On October 24, Chicago Scholar is holding its 6th Annual Onsite College and Leadership Forum, during which 140 colleges will interview Chicago Scholars for admission into their programs. Last year, they conducted over 3,300 interviews, which resulted in 1500 admittances and $85M in aid given.
• Jeffery’s alter ego as a renowned artist, and how his art gives him time to think creatively about problems at work, as well as celebrate his students.

References:

• Chicago Scholars website
• Onsite College and Leadership Forum
• Art by Jeffery Beckham website

How do you create a culture that moves lightning fast to respond to member needs? How do you get your Board to make decisions quickly? How do you convey to potential members that they are stronger when they are part of your organization?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Tom Morrison, CEO of the Metal Treating Institute. Tom discusses:

• The importance of his members, both captive and commercial metal heat treaters.
• How you create ongoing energy and passion in an organization by innovating quickly and doing new stuff.
• How MTI rebranded to be MTI Strong in 2009. Tom wants companies to know that they are weaker without MTI.
• How Tom has organized MTI around his members to be able to respond quickly to member needs.
• How Tom meets with his Executive Committee once a month in order to keep them updated and make decisions quickly.
• When presenting the MTI Board with decisions to make, he presents them with the information, options, and the cost of doing nothing.
• Tom’s formula for success at MTI is ALIVE: Ask the right questions. Listen intently. Innovate. Value Creation. Executive excellently.
• MTI’s Industry Support Team, which adds huge value to members AND industry consultants.
• How MTI is spicing up their upcoming annual meeting with theme nights and engaging sponsors through a sponsored timeline. 
• How MTI measures member engagement and focuses on the at risk members.
• Membership is strong, non-dues revenue is very strong, and association reserves are very strong!

References:

• MTI website
• MTI Industry Support Team
• Association Strong podcast

What does it take to be an association CEO these days? When was the last time your organization performed an assessment of your board and board members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Richard Yep, Interim Executive Director/CEO, The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). Rich discusses:

• When and how a chief executive should decide that it’s time to leave an association.
• The skills and experiences that association chief executives need, that are relevant to the job, regardless of industry or profession.
• How to get to know an association and its members fast, especially when you’re an interim CEO.
• The importance of doing an annual assessment of the Board and each Board member.
• The increased attention being paid to DEI when looking for association staff and board members.
• How everyone at an organization – staff and volunteers – should get unconscious bias training.
• How CEOs need to check their egos at the door when working with appointed and elected boards.
• The value of getting the CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation.
• What’s next for Rich - consulting, travel, and so much more!

References:

• SWANA website
• ACA website
• CAE certification

Every organization has DEI targets and goals; where do they find promising members, staff and leaders? How do we create structures and programs that truly uplift members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Josie Hernandez, Board President, Association Latinos. Josie discusses:

• How and why Associations Latinos was born.
• The significance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
• The association’s Latina Equal Pay Event coming up on October 5.
• The association’s awards program coming up on October 12.
• How Association Latinos aims to create a community that uplifts members, creates leadership opportunities, and makes it easier for employers to find quality DEI candidates for top jobs.

References:

• Association Latinos website
• Latinx Treasures
• Awards Ceremony on October 12, 2023
• Association Latinos on LinkedIn

Why do so many nonprofit executives leave the sector within five years? Hint: fundraising and boards. 

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Founder at Helping People Help, Author, and former Executive Director of the Craigslist Foundation and the NUMI Foundation. Darian discusses:

• Why so many nonprofit executives leave the sector and how executive coaching is the most cost-effective way to address executive burnout.
• How Darian used six-month sabbaticals after each significant career pivot to reflect on his life and career, open his heart and mind to the universe, and decide on his next.
• How organizations can manage the transition from a working board to a fundraising board.
• The best way to cultivate potential donors to ensure fundraising success. The key is getting donors to invite your organization to apply.
• How to make Board meetings more effective and move the organization’s mission forward.
• Darian’s best-selling books on nonprofit management and fundraising.

Listeners of Associations Thrive can contact Darian on his website and request a free 15-minute coaching call on fundraising or governance. Be sure to mention this podcast!

References:

• Helping People Help website
• Nonprofit Management 101
• Nonprofit Fundraising 101