In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, recorded on the show floor at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Indianapolis, O&U’s Meghan Henning sits down with Gail R. Kulp, M.Ed., CAE, Executive Director of the Sea Tow Foundation, to talk about scaling programs, empowering partners and creating meaningful impact with a small team.

The Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program has grown to more than 1,500 loaner stations nationwide, and Gail shares the systems behind that growth – from making participation easy to using data and reporting to continually strengthen the program.

Key Highlights

Make It Easy to Participate: Sea Tow Foundation gives local partners everything from building plans and signage to talking points and marketing materials, removing barriers to participation.

Listen and Keep Improving: Recurring questions from partners help Gail identify where additional resources, templates or guidance are needed.

Build in Accountability: Reporting requirements help the Foundation understand how its resources are being used, measure impact and make smarter decisions about future support.

Use Data to Scale Smarter: In 2026, the Foundation awarded 9,990 life jackets to 224 organizations, using application and reporting data to help determine where resources could have the greatest impact.

Create Systems That Extend Your Team: Gail shares how templates, ready-to-use social content, media resources and outside partners allow a small staff to support a much larger network.

🎧 Tune in for practical ideas on scaling successful programs, empowering partners and helping a small team make a much bigger impact.

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Coming Soon: We’re continuing to share conversations with association leaders on the ideas and strategies shaping the future of the industry. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, to explore what it takes to build sustainable growth in today's association landscape.

Since becoming CEO in 2022, Phil has led USA Fencing through significant membership, club, and revenue growth while positioning the organization for the opportunities surrounding the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. But as Phil explains, lasting success isn't built around one marquee moment—it's built through member listening, strong local communities, creative partnerships, and a culture of trust.

🎧 Whether you're focused on growing membership, diversifying revenue, or strengthening member engagement, this episode is full of practical ideas association leaders can put to work.

Key Highlights

Listening Is a Leadership Strategy: Phil explains why treating members as your "bosses"—and acting on their feedback—creates stronger organizations and better long-term decisions.

Local Communities Fuel Growth: Learn how investing in USA Fencing's network of clubs has strengthened membership and created a more resilient organization.

Lead With Transparency: Phil shares how clear communication, accountability, and explaining the "why" behind decisions help build trust—even during difficult moments.

Think Beyond the Big Event: As LA28 approaches, USA Fencing is using the excitement to build long-term engagement—not just short-term visibility.

Rethinking Revenue Growth: Phil discusses how understanding members beyond their role in the association opens the door to stronger partnerships, sponsorships, and new revenue opportunities.

Tell Stories That Reach New Audiences: From creator collaborations to Comic-Con, Phil shares how creative storytelling helps USA Fencing connect with people beyond the sport.

Culture Drives Everything: Building a strong culture starts with leadership, accountability, and creating an environment where people feel they belong.

🎧 Tune in for an engaging conversation on membership growth, leadership, storytelling, and building associations that thrive for the long term.

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Coming Soon: We're continuing to feature association executives and industry leaders sharing practical insights on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned for more conversations designed to help association professionals grow, innovate, and lead with confidence.

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes Denny Lengkong, President of IntelliData, back to the podcast to explore one of the biggest challenges facing associations today: turning mountains of data into meaningful decisions.

While many organizations have more data than ever before, few are fully leveraging it to drive strategy. Denny shares practical advice on how association leaders can move beyond reporting, ask better questions, prepare their organizations for AI, and build a data culture that supports smarter decision-making—not just more dashboards.

🎧 Whether you're just beginning your data journey or looking to make AI work more effectively for your organization, this episode offers practical, actionable insights for association leaders at every stage.

Key Highlights

Why Associations Are "Data Rich but Insight Poor": Denny explains why so many organizations treat their AMS or CRM as a "glorified filing cabinet" instead of a strategic asset—and what prevents teams from turning data into action.

From Reporting to Decision Support: Learn why the most valuable data questions aren't "How many members do we have?" but "What actions will improve engagement, retention, and member value?"

Preparing Your Data for AI Success: AI isn't a magic fix for poor data. Denny shares why clean data, shared definitions, and organizational context are essential before AI can deliver meaningful results.

The Small Data Points That Predict Big Outcomes: Discover how seemingly minor patterns—like changes in a member contact or recurring attendance trends—can reveal valuable insights into member behavior and retention.

Creating a Single Source of Truth: Breaking down silos starts with shared definitions. Denny explains why agreeing on something as simple as what qualifies as a "member" lays the foundation for better reporting, analytics, and AI adoption.

Resources: Sign up for IntelliData’s monthly newsletter, The Slice: https://intellidata.tech/#newsletter-signup 

🎧 Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with practical advice on building a stronger data strategy, embracing AI thoughtfully, and helping your association make better decisions with the information it already has.

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Coming Soon

We're continuing to sit down with association professionals and industry leaders to share practical perspectives on the trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned for more conversations designed to help you strengthen your organization, engage your members, and lead with confidence.

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Candice Warltier, CEO & Founding Partner of CS-Effect, to explore how associations can use trusted voices to combat misinformation, educate new audiences, and strengthen their credibility in an increasingly noisy digital landscape.

Drawing from CS-Effect's award-winning work with the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), Candice shares how a strategic influencer campaign helped counter myths about root canals by partnering with respected physicians, pediatricians, and healthcare content creators—not to promote products, but to deliver science-based education people could trust.

🎧 Whether you're leading communications, marketing, membership, or advocacy, this episode offers practical insights into how associations can thoughtfully incorporate influencer marketing to expand their reach, build trust, and engage the next generation.

Key Highlights

Why Influencer Marketing Belongs in the Association Toolkit: Candice explains how member concerns about online misinformation sparked a campaign that reached audiences traditional communications couldn't.

Trust Starts with the Right Voices: Learn why AAE intentionally partnered with physicians and healthcare educators outside dentistry—and how third-party credibility helped strengthen the campaign.

The Vetting Process Matters: From audience engagement and brand alignment to years of past content, Candice shares the rigorous process associations should use before partnering with any content creator.

Authenticity Beats Scripts: Discover why giving creators messaging guidance—not word-for-word scripts—results in content that feels genuine and resonates with audiences.

Measuring Success Beyond Likes: The campaign generated thousands of saves and shares while driving users to AAE's educational resources and Find My Endodontist locator, proving meaningful engagement goes far beyond impressions.

🎧 Tune in for a practical conversation on building trust through credible voices, combating misinformation with confidence, and using influencer partnerships to help your association reach new audiences with authenticity.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd 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 association professionals and industry leaders to explore the top trends, innovative strategies, and practical insights helping associations strengthen member engagement, navigate change, and prepare for what's next. Stay tuned!

In this special episode of the Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher shares a live panel discussion from Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) on how associations can use strategic storytelling to build trust, strengthen member engagement, and drive organizational results.

Joining Colleen are:

• Courtney Rhodes, Head of News Media Relations, U.S. Travel Association

• Jeanne Metzger, Vice President, Membership, Marketing & Analytics, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)

• Alexandra Bradley, Director of Communications & Marketing, American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)

Together, they share practical strategies for helping associations move beyond promoting programs to becoming trusted, strategic voices during times of uncertainty, rapid technological change, and shifting member expectations.

🎧 Whether you lead communications, marketing, membership, or strategy, this episode offers actionable ideas for building trust, creating stories that resonate, and positioning communications as a driver of organizational success.

Key Highlights

Communications as a Business Driver: Why communications deserves a seat at the leadership table—and how it supports membership, revenue, advocacy, and reputation.

Leading Through Uncertainty: How associations can communicate with confidence, avoid reactive messaging, and build trust during challenging moments.

Tell Better Stories, Not More Stories: Why audience segmentation, member insights, and authentic storytelling outperform constant promotion.

Putting Members at the Center: Learn how member experiences, volunteer voices, and community stories create stronger engagement than organizational messaging alone.

Using AI with Intention: Practical ways AI can improve efficiency while preserving the authenticity that only people can provide.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon: More conversations with association professionals sharing the trends, insights, and strategies helping associations navigate change, engage members, and lead with confidence. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Meghan Henning sits down with Tara Puckey, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CMP, President & CEO of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), for a thoughtful conversation on trust, leadership, organizational culture, and the evolving information landscape.

Drawing on her unique background in both journalism and association leadership, Tara explores why trust has become one of the defining challenges of our time—and what association leaders can do to build resilient organizations in an era of rapid technological change, increasing polarization, and rising expectations around transparency and wellbeing.

🎧 Whether you're leading through uncertainty, strengthening organizational culture, or preparing your association for what's next, this episode offers timely insights into the leadership skills today's association executives need most.

Key Highlights

Trust Is Every Association's Business: Tara explains how declining trust—once primarily a challenge for journalism—has expanded across industries, creating new expectations for associations to demonstrate credibility, transparency, and value to both members and the public.

Leading Through Polarization Without Losing Your Mission: As social and political issues increasingly intersect with organizational leadership, Tara shares why associations should proactively define their values and discuss potential response strategies before difficult moments arise.

Building Cultures Where People Thrive: Strong organizational cultures don't happen by accident. Tara discusses why trust, empathy, and authentic relationships are foundational to high-performing teams—and why putting people first ultimately leads to stronger organizational outcomes.

Why Leadership Can Feel Lonely: Even in collaborative organizations, CEOs often carry challenges they can't always share internally. Tara highlights the importance of peer networks, mentorship, and professional communities that provide support, perspective, and practical advice.

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leading with purpose, building trust in uncertain times, and creating organizations that are prepared for the future—not just reacting to it.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon We're continuing to sit down with association leaders from across industries to explore the trends, leadership lessons, and innovative strategies shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned for more conversations designed to help your organization stay resilient, relevant, and ready for what's next.

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Stuart Broadley, CEO of the Energy Industries Council (EIC), for a conversation about leading one of the world's largest trade associations serving the energy supply chain.

Representing more than 950 member companies across 120+ countries, EIC has built its reputation by helping organizations navigate global markets through market intelligence, advocacy, networking, and strategic insights. 

🎧 Whether you're leading a global association, thinking about member value, or looking for new ways to innovate, this episode offers practical lessons on leadership, strategy, and building an organization that stays relevant through disruption.

Key Highlights

Leading with Mission, Not Market Trends: Why EIC's "energy agnostic" approach has allowed the association to support members across the full energy supply chain while staying true to its mission.

Turning Data into Member Value: How EIC uses proprietary market intelligence to strengthen advocacy, uncover business opportunities, and help members make more informed decisions.

Building Global Value for Local Members: With members in more than 120 countries, Stuart shares how EIC balances global resources with the flexibility members need to pursue their own strategies.

Leadership Lessons from 700+ CEOs: Drawing on a decade of Survive and Thrive research, Stuart explains why resilience, adaptability, and passionate leadership matter more than any single business strategy.

Listening Before Investing: How independent member research helps EIC identify shifting priorities—and why networking has become just as valuable as market intelligence.

🎧 Tune in for an insightful conversation on leadership, innovation, global member engagement, and what associations can learn from one organization's commitment to data, mission, and continuous evolution.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon: We're continuing to sit down with association professionals and industry leaders to explore the top trends, emerging ideas, and practical insights shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Kara Dickerson, Founder of Content With Impact, LLC, to explore how associations can transform keynote programs into powerful storytelling platforms that create value before, during, and long after an event.

Drawing on her experience leading the keynote strategy for InfoComm 2026 and previously curating executive stages for CES, Kara shares practical strategies for designing keynote experiences that inspire attendees, strengthen industry leadership, and extend far beyond the conference stage.

🎧 Whether you're planning a conference, refreshing your keynote program, or looking to create greater value for attendees and sponsors, this episode offers actionable insights for building keynote experiences with lasting impact.

Key Highlights

Start with Strategy, Not Speakers: Define the trends shaping your industry first, then build keynote programming around the conversations your audience needs most.

Balance Vision with Action: Great keynotes inspire while giving attendees practical ideas they can apply immediately—not just big-picture predictions.

Measure More Than Attendance: The real impact often happens after the event through media coverage, social sharing, on-demand views, and continued audience engagement.

Turn Keynotes into a Content Engine: Extend the value of every keynote through strategic promotion, highlight clips, post-event content, and year-round storytelling.

Create Shared Value with Industry Partners: The strongest keynote programs are collaborative partnerships that elevate both the event and participating organizations.

Use Your Stage to Shape the Industry: A thoughtfully curated keynote program positions your association as a leader while helping members prepare for what's next.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon: More conversations with association leaders and industry experts on the ideas and strategies shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned!

In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher explores a simple but often overlooked truth: effective association communications don't start with content—they start with organizational goals.

Too often, communications teams get caught in a cycle of emails, social media posts, event promotions, and campaign execution without stepping back to ask what those efforts are actually meant to achieve. Whether the goal is member retention, event attendance, sponsorship growth, advocacy impact, or industry awareness, communications should serve as a strategic driver—not just a tactical function.

Colleen shares how association communicators can move beyond measuring activity and start demonstrating impact by aligning campaigns, messaging, and metrics with broader organizational priorities.

Key Highlights

Communications Is a Vehicle, Not the Destination: Why successful associations start by identifying organizational goals before choosing tactics, channels, or content.

Moving Beyond Activity Metrics: Open rates, impressions, and followers matter—but leadership increasingly wants to understand how communications contributes to growth, engagement, and strategic priorities.

From Reactive to Strategic: How communications teams can avoid becoming an internal service department and instead position themselves as partners in achieving organizational outcomes.

Event Marketing With Purpose: Why understanding the business importance of attendance leads to stronger messaging, better audience targeting, and more meaningful measurement.

Member Retention Through Value Reinforcement: How communications can help members understand the value, relevance, and impact of association membership throughout the year.

Supporting Sponsorship and Non-Dues Revenue: Why sponsors are looking for outcomes—not just visibility—and how strategic storytelling can strengthen partnerships.

🎧 Tune in for practical insights on turning communications into a strategic asset that supports growth, engagement, and organizational success.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon: We're continuing to explore the ideas, trends, and strategies shaping the future of associations—from communications and membership to leadership, engagement, and growth. Stay tuned!

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Lerro Gallagher sits down with Mark Fernando, Director of Governance and Administration at the American Sociological Association (ASA), to explore what it takes to build trust, transparency, and engagement within a complex member-driven organization.

Managing governance, elections, volunteer leadership, and organizational operations, Mark shares practical lessons on balancing structure with member voice, creating inclusive leadership pathways, and preparing associations for the challenges ahead.

🎧 Whether you're modernizing governance, strengthening member trust, or thinking about the future of association leadership, this conversation offers valuable insights for association professionals.

Key Highlights

Governance as the Foundation: Mark shares his "association as a house" analogy to explain how bylaws, policies, members, and staff work together to create strong, adaptable organizations.

Building Trust Through Transparency: Effective governance requires clear processes, member feedback, and consistent communication that helps members understand how decisions are made.

Running Elections at Scale: From managing dozens of ballots to navigating unexpected technology challenges, Mark discusses what it takes to maintain fair, trusted election processes.

Representation Requires Intention: Leadership development and volunteer recruitment should reflect the diversity of the membership across backgrounds, perspectives, institution types, and geography.

Communication Is a Two-Way Street: Associations often focus on messaging but overlook feedback. Mark explains why listening is just as important as communicating.

Balancing Agility and Governance: Strong governance systems create the guardrails associations need to respond thoughtfully to emerging issues without losing focus.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on governance, leadership, and the strategies associations can use to remain trusted, responsive, and member-focused in a changing environment.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

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Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association professionals, industry leaders, and changemakers to explore the top trends, challenges, and ideas shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned!