In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Meghan Henning sits down with Marilena Vrana, Vice President of Public Affairs and EU Operations at the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), to explore what it takes to lead a global association strategy with unity, speed, and impact.

From Brussels to Washington, Marilena shares how her team navigates cultural, regulatory, and political complexity while keeping member needs and patient access front and center. With decades of experience in European health policy and a deep commitment to collaboration, she offers powerful lessons in stakeholder engagement, cross-border communication, and values-based leadership.

🎧 Whether you’re managing regional offices or rethinking your global footprint, this episode delivers clear, thoughtful insight into how associations can stay aligned across continents—and stay ahead of change.

Key Highlights:

Anticipating Change, Not Just Reacting: Marilena explains how PPTA stayed ahead of new EU legislation on substances of human origin—mobilizing early, preparing members, and showing up as a trusted, expert voice.

Stakeholder Listening with Empathy and Intent: Why true advocacy starts with active listening—not just to members and partners, but to policymakers too. Marilena shares how building human-centered relationships helps advance shared goals.

Transatlantic Alignment in Practice: From messaging consistency to cultural fluency, Marilena breaks down how her team collaborates across European and American offices—and why diversity is their greatest strength.

What Makes PPTA a Model for Global Associations: Learn how PPTA evolved from fragmented entities into one global voice—driven by strategic planning, agile operations, and a shared mission of patient access to life-saving plasma-derived therapies.

Mission-Led Strategy for 2025 and Beyond: Hear PPTA’s three priorities for the next two years: raising awareness of plasma therapies, ensuring policies work in practice, and building trust through transparency, evidence, and partnership.

Leadership Lessons from Lived Experience: From navigating uncertainty to leading with empathy, Marilena shares deeply personal reflections on how her experience as a patient shaped her leadership philosophy—and why authenticity is her greatest asset.

🎧 Tune in for a global perspective on association leadership that’s grounded, strategic, and refreshingly human.

Stay Connected:Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with top association leaders for real-world insights on what’s working, what’s changing, and how they’re navigating the challenges—and opportunities—ahead. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we wrap up our August series on artificial intelligence with a standout example of AI in action. Host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Dave Dellin, Chief Executive Officer of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), to explore how a tech-forward mindset is transforming a legacy association. 

From reducing call volume to enhancing 24/7 member support, Dave shares how APHA’s AI-powered chatbot, BeccaBot, is making life easier for both members and staff—and what’s next as they plan to use AI across their digital ecosystem.

🎧 Whether you're leading a small staff or managing a large membership base, this episode offers smart, grounded insights into how associations can implement AI with intentionality, purpose, and clear member value.

Key Highlights:

Why AI, Why Now?: Dave shares what drove his team to explore AI in the first place—and how curiosity, peer learning, and strategic pain points led to a practical use case that delivered results.

Meet BeccaBot: Named in honor of APHA’s founder, BeccaBot is an AI-powered chatbot trained on 400+ pages of complex rulebooks and website content—offering clear, accurate answers to more than 1,000 member questions each month.

Staff Impact: 36% Fewer Calls: With over 4,000–6,000 member calls per month, BeccaBot has helped reduce call volume by more than a third—giving staff more time to focus on meaningful member support.

Better Insights, Better Service: From flagging confusing processes to identifying member pain points in real time, Dave explains how BeccaBot is also helping APHA streamline operations and improve service design.

What Makes a Good Chatbot?: Dave breaks down the key lessons from months of training, testing, and refining BeccaBot—and why not all chatbots are created equal.

Beyond the Bot: What’s Next for AI at APHA: From personalized content to smarter classifieds, Dave offers a peek into how APHA is exploring AI to strengthen member engagement and create new digital experiences.

Advice for Association Leaders: If you're still on the fence about AI, Dave shares candid, practical advice for getting started—including how to identify use cases, vet vendors, and build internal buy-in.

🎧 Tune in for a real-world look at how one association is embracing AI with clear goals, thoughtful implementation, and a deep commitment to its members.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

  
  

Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with top association leaders for real-world insights on what’s working, what’s changing, and how they’re navigating the challenges—and opportunities—ahead. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our August series on artificial intelligence with a thoughtful conversation about voice, values, and the real-world applications of generative AI.

Host Meghan Henning sits down with Preeti Vasishtha, Director of Content and Editor in Chief at the American Academy of Actuaries, to explore how she’s using AI as both an intern and a strategic partner—from onboarding to a highly technical industry to developing smarter content workflows that save time without sacrificing authenticity.

🎧 Whether you’re building your first AI policy, experimenting with tools, or just trying to wrap your head around the potential, this episode offers honest perspective and practical insights from someone who’s learning by doing—and doing it thoughtfully.

Key Highlights:

AI as Intern and Ally – Why Preeti sees GenAI as both a time-saving assistant and a powerful partner—and how she uses it to accelerate learning, streamline research, and support strategic storytelling.

How to Write a Better Prompt – The importance of framing, values, and specificity when prompting—and why your vision matters more than the tool itself.

Repurpose, Reuse, Rethink – From condensing 100-page reports to surfacing hidden gems in your knowledge library, Preeti shares how associations can use AI to unlock more value from existing content.

Finding—and Keeping—Your Voice – Preeti explains how to maintain authenticity in AI-generated content, why she still starts with a messy first draft, and how to recognize a “too-polished” AI tone.

Where Associations Stand – What she’s seeing across the sector, including common barriers to adoption, examples of smart implementation, and the growing gap between member expectations and association readiness.

Data, Policy, and Trust – Why good data governance is the backbone of ethical AI use—and how associations can start small while building guardrails for the future.

🎧 Tune in for a candid, thoughtful conversation on how associations can approach AI not just as a tool—but as a strategic decision rooted in mission, member value, and clear-eyed curiosity.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

  
  

Coming Soon: We’re continuing our August series on AI with more conversations featuring association leaders who are experimenting with tools, testing use cases, and working through the policy, people, and purpose of AI adoption. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we kick off our August series on artificial intelligence with a powerful real-world example of how small-staff associations can lead with strategy, innovation—and confidence.

Host Meghan Henning sits down with Cathy Lada, D.Sc., CAE, Chief Marketing & Membership Officer at the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE), to explore how her team is thoughtfully integrating AI to enhance member experience, streamline operations, and unlock time-saving value across the organization.

🎧 Whether you’re just starting to explore AI tools or ready to build your first custom GPT, this episode offers clear, practical insights from someone who’s been there—and is doing the work every day.

Key Highlights:

The First Prompt is the Hardest – How Cathy moved from AI skeptic to strategic champion—and why a $24 prompt engineering course changed everything.

Build a Policy Before You Build a Bot – Why a clear AI policy was AAOE’s starting point—and how they keep it updated as tools evolve.

Real-Time Use, Real-Time Impact – From custom GPTs to job aid generation, Cathy shares how her team is saving hours each week through smart AI applications.

Confidence Through Crowdsourcing – How AAOE involved staff from day one and built trust by aligning use cases with values, confidentiality, and member benefit.

Tested by Humans, Trusted by Members – Why Cathy insists on human vetting for all AI-generated outputs—and how her team validates ideas with both members and industry partners.

What’s Next: Vendor-Facing AI – Learn how AAOE is exploring the possibility of piloting a custom chatbot to support exhibitors, advertisers, and sponsors—aiming to deliver better service and saving time along the way.

🎧 Tune in for a candid, encouraging conversation about how associations of any size can embrace AI—without losing what makes them human.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

  
  

Coming Soon: We’re continuing our August series on AI with more leaders who are testing, learning, and finding real-world value—from custom tools to smarter content strategies. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we wrap up our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue with a candid conversation about the human side of corporate engagement.

Host Meghan Henning sits down with Cindy Simpson, M.Ed., CAE, Corporate Relations Manager at the Urgent Care Association (UCA), who brings decades of experience across membership, meetings, and business development. With over 100 corporate partners in her portfolio, Cindy offers grounded, real-world advice on building trust, qualifying fit, and creating long-term value for both members and sponsors.

🎧 Whether you’re refining your sales approach or rethinking your entire partner strategy, this episode delivers fresh ideas and proven tactics you can apply right away.

Key Highlights:

Start with Listening – Cindy shares why every partnership starts with understanding—not pitching—and how asking the right questions early helps set the stage for long-term success.

It’s Not Just About the Check – Why treating corporate members as partners, not piggy banks, is essential—and how UCA encourages “test drive” involvement before deeper investment.

Beyond the Exhibit Hall – From regional events to strategic think tanks, learn how UCA builds year-round visibility and engagement for partners beyond their sold-out convention floor.

Up the Ladder, Not Out the Door – Cindy breaks down her approach to evolving sponsor relationships over time—moving partners from basic brand awareness to trusted thought leadership roles.

Member Experience First – Hear how thoughtful partnership strategy directly supports UCA’s member experience—from connecting them to solutions that help with tight margins to curating meaningful education.

Advice for Associations – Cindy offers practical guidance on retaining high-dollar sponsors, managing churn at lower tiers, and having the honest conversations that build trust, not just transactions.

🎧 This conversation is packed with insights for any association professional looking to deepen industry relationships, align partnerships with mission, and build sustainable non-dues revenue.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

  
  

Coming Soon: In August, we’re diving into one of the most talked-about topics in associations today: AI. Our next podcast series will explore how associations are experimenting with, implementing, and scaling AI tools—from personalization engines to member support and content creation. Tune in for real-world examples, practical insights, and conversations that cut through the hype to focus on what AI can actually do for your organization. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue with a fresh perspective from the higher education space. Host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Leah Lang, Senior Director of Partnerships and Corporate Engagement at EDUCAUSE, to explore how the organization moved beyond transactional sponsorships and built a high-impact partnership model that aligns with their mission—and delivers real value to both members and industry.

🎧 Whether you’re building a sponsor program from scratch or looking to deepen your existing relationships, this episode offers powerful takeaways on strategy, structure, and sustained success.

Key Highlights:

From A La Carte to All In – Why EDUCAUSE moved away from one-off offerings and built bundled, relationship-based partnerships—and how that shift improved satisfaction for both sides.

Let the Data Guide You – How EDUCAUSE used stakeholder feedback and internal analysis to reshape their program—and how your association can do the same.

The Power of Fit – Why not every sponsor becomes a partner—and how EDUCAUSE curates its partner roster to ensure community alignment and long-term value.

Mission at the Core – How Leah’s member-first mindset ensures industry engagement supports the broader mission of advancing higher ed through technology.

Advice for Associations – From creative bundling to thoughtful onboarding, Leah shares tactical advice for associations looking to reimagine their approach to non-dues revenue.

What’s Next – Learn how EDUCAUSE’s Annual Partner Summit is evolving into a year-round innovation program—and why convening diverse stakeholders is a powerful way to co-create solutions.

🎧 Tune in for a candid, practical conversation on how thoughtful strategy and member-first thinking can turn sponsor relationships into something deeper—and far more impactful.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon: We’ll wrap up our July series with one more real-world example of how associations are rethinking value, impact, and what partnership really means. Stay tuned!

In this special encore episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back David Whited, Principal of Design Research & Strategy at Highland, to walk us through fresh insights from the newly released 2025 Young Professional Membership Index (YPMI)—dropping the same day this episode airs.

Earlier this year, David helped us kick off our Gen Z series with data-backed insights and practical frameworks for attracting and retaining younger members. That episode sparked major interest—and now he’s back to unpack what’s shifted, what’s holding steady, and how associations can take the next step in their engagement strategy for Gen Zs and young Millennials.

🎧 Whether you’re leading a young professionals committee or setting strategy at the board level, this episode will help you benchmark your efforts, spot gaps, and find your next move.

Key Highlights:

Leadership Focus Still Leads – Why leadership alignment remains the single most important driver of young professional retention.

What Tier Are You In? – How Highland’s four-tier maturity model helps associations understand where they stand—and what to do next.

The Power of Bridge Experiences – Only 19% of associations are using them, yet they can drive up to a 50% boost in first-year retention.

Getting Unstuck – Why most organizations stall between good intentions and meaningful action, and how to move from talk to traction.

AI & Innovation Readiness – What the 2025 data reveals about AI experimentation in associations, and where the biggest gaps remain.

One Priority to Focus On – Why prototyping, not perfection, is the best path forward for associations ready to engage the next generation.

🎧 Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that blends reflection, real data, and practical next steps for associations of all sizes.

Resources:

📊 Download the 2025 Young Professional Membership Index (YPMI) National Report: https://www.highlandsolutions.com/member-index/national-report-2025 

🧠 Learn more about Highland: www.highlandsolutions.com

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon: We’re heading back into our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue—featuring fresh perspectives and bold new models that are helping associations unlock value beyond dues. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue with a behind-the-scenes look at how one major association is building long-term value through strategic partnerships and innovative fulfillment models.

Host Meghan Henning sits down with John Buckley, Senior Director of Business Partnerships and Expo Operations at the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), to explore how IDWeek has evolved into a flagship experience that delivers for both members and industry partners.

With nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit event strategy, John shares how trust, creativity, and a long-game mindset have transformed IDSA’s non-dues revenue approach—from tailored sponsorships to citywide visibility campaigns.

🎧 Whether you’re managing a massive expo floor or just getting started with industry partnerships, this episode offers tactical takeaways and real-world ideas to scale your success.

Key Highlights:

• Relationships First – Why IDSA calls sponsors “industry partners” and how ongoing dialogue helps drive alignment and renewal.
  

• Beyond the Booth – How one full-access exhibitor registration created new value for partners—and enhanced the attendee experience.
  

• Fulfillment That Works – The case for outsourcing logistics and how it freed up IDSA’s team to get more creative and strategic.
  

• Location, Location, Location – Using citywide marketing and hotel-based placements to elevate brand visibility across every touchpoint.
  

• The ID Exchange – A live, NFL-draft-style experience that brings partners together to claim high-impact sponsorship opportunities—months before the show.
  

• Creativity in Action – From puppy lounges to Amazon Prime Day-style flash sales, John shares innovative ideas that keep IDWeek fresh and fun.
  

• Start Small, Scale Smart – Advice for associations with limited resources on how to test, adapt, and grow their non-dues revenue programs over time.
  

🎧 This episode is a must-listen for any association looking to build stronger sponsor relationships, streamline operations, and rethink what’s possible in partnership strategy.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon:We’ll continue our July series with even more examples of how associations are moving beyond traditional sponsor models to unlock new revenue—and new value. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we kick off our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue with a powerful conversation featuring Edessa Polzin, PCM, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the American Marketing Association (AMA).

Host Meghan Henning sits down with Edessa to explore how AMA is transforming partnerships from transactional to transformational. With a background in B2B growth strategy and partner-led innovation, Edessa shares a bold, mission-centered approach to corporate engagement—one that prioritizes impact, alignment, and long-term value over one-off logos and short-term dollars.

🎧 Whether you're rethinking your sponsor packages or looking to deepen your existing partner relationships, this episode offers practical frameworks and fresh inspiration.

Key Highlights:

Beyond the Booth – Why AMA moved away from transactional sponsorships—and how mission alignment led to deeper value for members and partners alike.

Bigger, Better, Faster – Edessa’s go-to framework for evaluating partnerships—and how associations can apply it to scale smarter and move faster.

The Enterprise Shift – How AMA is designing bundled, multi-touchpoint partnerships that deliver year-round engagement and sustained revenue.

Breaking the Silos – Why cross-functional collaboration has been critical to AMA’s success—and how one biweekly meeting changed everything.

Stretching the Mission – A real-world case study in partnering outside your traditional audience to expand impact (and build a future pipeline).

Saying No with Strategy – What Edessa looks for before saying yes—and why “dollars without depth” isn’t worth the trade.

Testing, Quietly – How a “start small and validate” approach has helped AMA experiment, learn, and grow without institutional friction.

🎧 This episode is a must-listen for associations looking to elevate their partner strategy, build meaningful relationships, and drive non-dues revenue that actually advances the mission.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon: This July, we’re spotlighting how associations are innovating in sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue—from bold new models to tactical lessons that will help you get unstuck. Tune in weekly for fresh insights and real-world stories from leaders making it work.

In this short solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher delivers a high-energy dose of practical advice for busy association leaders—one quick-hit insight at a time.

With more than a dozen rapid-fire questions, Colleen tackles everything from member engagement and strategic planning to board dynamics, advocacy messaging, and internal communication. If you’ve ever wished for a pocket-sized playbook of smart, actionable association strategies—you’re in the right place.

🎧 Whether you're running a team, advising a board, or just trying to get your next member email out the door, this episode is packed with ideas you can implement right away.

Key Highlights:

🔥 Messaging Mistakes – Why starting with your members is the fix you’ve been looking for.

📞 Dashboard Drop-Off? – The first thing to do when engagement tanks—and it’s not another email.

🎉 Retention That Works – Why milestone celebrations can matter more than discounts.

📣 Advocacy That Moves People – How to make policy feel personal—and mobilize support.

🧠 Board Strategy – One small agenda item that keeps meetings focused and mission-aligned.

✍️ Smart Comms Tip – How one great message can live a dozen lives across your channels.

🚨 When It’s Political – Why values-based communication matters more than ever.

📊 Talk to the Quiet Ones – Why your “sometimes show” members may have your smartest insights.

🎯 The Pilot Mindset – How associations can innovate without blowing up the budget.

🌱 Burnout Tip – What to do when it all feels like too much.

🎧 Tune in now for a fast-paced, no-fluff episode full of real-world advice—and the kind of encouragement association pros need right now.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

• Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.

Coming Soon: In July, we’re diving deep into sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue—from new models to internal collaboration, to what top associations are doing to create lasting value. Don't miss the ideas (and case studies) that could help future-proof your bottom line.