Ho ho hold onto your hats! "Father Quizmas" (aka Nathan Graham, IOM) has arrived to pit the Institute team against one another in the ultimate holiday trivia showdown. Join Senior Director Karyn MacRae, IOM, CAE, CMP, Senior Manager Cici Francisco, IOM, CDP, and the newest team member Sam Kolb as they face off in a competition of the mind.

From obscure Institute curriculum codes and volunteer organizations to Taylor Swift trivia and streaming service parent companies: no topic is safe. Will the team crumble under the pressure, or will they prove they know the program inside and out? Tune in for the laughs, the friendly rivalry, and to find out who takes home the title of Holiday Champion!

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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As Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations race to adopt new Artificial Intelligence tools, they face a critical question: How do we balance efficiency with the public trust we’ve spent decades building?

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Jim Johnson, IOM, CCE, President & CEO of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce and Institute faculty member on technology and ethics. Just in time for Thanksgiving, they discuss how to be thankful for the speed of AI while remaining vigilant about the "hallucinations" and ethical pitfalls that come with it.

You’ll learn:

The Trust Factor: Why relying on AI for unverified information can dismantle an organization's credibility.

Practical Use Cases: How the Pearland Chamber uses tools like Google AI Studio for voicemail updates and NotebookLM to summarize 5-hour City Council meetings.

Policy Drift: The danger of letting AI override established organizational policies (and how to handle AI bots invading your Zoom meetings).

The "Validation Loop": Why we love that AI agrees with our bad ideas, and how to push past it.

Next Gen Ethics: Navigating deepfakes and AI integrity with your team and your family.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of non-profit governance, leadership, and the art of sustaining your mission. We explore the delicate balance a board must strike between strategic oversight and operational management, discussing effective practices for cultivating a high-performing board that truly drives the organization forward.

Our guests, experienced leaders Joseph Jones, IOM and Kelle Marsalis, IOM, CCE, share their insightful perspectives from both the staff and board-member chairs, drawing on years of experience in the non-profit sector.

We discuss:

• The Critical Role of the Board: How to balance providing strategic direction without overstepping into the day-to-day management of the staff.
• Measuring True Success: Moving beyond the budget to identify effective KPIs and metrics that truly gauge an organization's health and progress toward long-term goals.
• Recruitment for Diversity of Thought: Strategies for actively seeking and integrating a wide array of perspectives to future-proof the board and avoid a "popularity contest."
• The CEO-Board Chair Partnership: Why open communication and mutual respect are non-negotiable for a healthy and productive organization.
• The Governance Challenge on the Horizon: Addressing issues like turnover, complacency, and generational shifts in leadership and membership.

This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in the leadership and management of non-profits, associations, and chambers seeking to build agile and effective governance structures that uphold their core values.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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What is the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) experience really like? In this special episode, Nathan sits down with four recent graduates who share a unique honor: they were all chosen to be the graduation speaker for their respective classes at the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast sites.

Join this candid conversation with:

Carla Young, IOM, from the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
Kyle Oppenhuizen, IOM, from the Greater Des Moines Partnership
Kyle Sheldon, IOM, from Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy
Sam Mashburn, IOM, from the Shoals Chamber of Commerce

Listen as they pull back the curtain on their #IOMJourney, discussing everything from what first inspired them to sign up to their most cherished memories. You'll hear about the deep connections, the powerful faculty members who shaped their careers, and the distinct culture of each site.

They also explore how IOM fundamentally changed their perspective on being an association and chamber professional and reveal what inspired them to accept the honor of speaking on behalf of their graduating class. Whether you're a prospective student, a current attendee, or a seasoned alum, this episode is a heartfelt look at the professional growth and lifelong friendships forged at Institute.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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In this episode of IOM, we delve into the crucial topic of non-dues revenue for associations and chambers. We explore why reliance on membership dues alone is becoming increasingly unsustainable and discuss effective strategies for diversifying revenue streams while staying true to an organization's mission. Our guest expert, Avi Olitzky, President and Principal Consultant of Olitzky Consulting Group, shares his insightful perspective, drawing parallels between the challenges faced by houses of worship and similar organizations. We discuss:

The shift from obligation to benefit-based membership: Why members are leaving and how to address it.

The importance of aligning non-dues revenue with mission: Avoiding the "business of being in business" trap.

Strategic vs. tactical approaches to non-dues revenue: Focus on long-term vision, not just quick fixes.

Building a cross-functional discovery team: The power of diverse perspectives.

Balancing innovation and risk management: The "Three B's" of non-dues revenue: Bonus, Balance, and Basis.

Ethical considerations in non-dues revenue: Avoiding conflicts of interest and ensuring transparency.

Future trends in non-dues revenue: Including the emergence of incubation and equity sharing models.

This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in the leadership and management of associations, chambers, and similar organizations seeking to build sustainable financial models that reflect their core values.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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This week on the show, we're getting to know Judd Wilson, IOM, from the Community Development Foundation in Mississippi. Judd shares his unique journey from pharmaceutical sales to non-profit work, revealing the surprising path that led him to his current role. He discusses the challenges and rewards of his work, the importance of servant leadership, and how he brings his authentic self to the job. We also delve into his passion for music, his impressive bow tie collection (yes, really!), and his advice for young professionals. Hear an inspiring story of career change and a glimpse into the personality behind the bow tie!

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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Time for some background knowledge. There is a lot that goes into making Institute well…Institute. 

It can be like planning a conference and a small college all at the same time. However, we on the Institute team are not alone in our endeavor to educate in nonprofit management. 

One of the most vital components to the whole system is an often unsung group of volunteers who help develop the curriculum being taught in the classroom. It is their job to stay apprised of industry shifts not only for the survival of their organization, but the continuation of Institute as well. 

So, today we are going to do something a little bit different, and that is to air the first part in our #MyIOMJourney series. We have posted some these clips on our social media over the past couple of days, but here are the full interviews that my colleague Cici Francisco, IOM, CDP did with some members of the Institute Curriculum Committee. First up will be Christine Kennedy, IOM, CCE , then we will go to Allison Walden, IOM, CCE after that is Bob Rohrlack, IOM, CCE and we will finish up Zach Giglio 

We will be doing more of these episodes with some of our other volunteers in the weeks and months to come. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy…or really do what ever you want. It’s your IOM journey.  Im Nathan Graham, and This Is IOM. 

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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Every time I mention the name of this series in a staff meeting, I always get a laugh or an eye roll. Why? Is it because typically calling someone a personality hire  is an insult. Probably…but I’m sure no one will forget the name. So. Who really wins here... That’s right. It’s me.

So, who is the winner of the personality hire crown this time? It would be Kathy Duck, IOM from the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Missouri. When going through the list of available people, I saw Kathy and immediately realized I had not taken the time to get to know her and her story properly. So, this is not only a podcast episode, but a way to make up for my lack of manners.

So, let’s get to my apology tour and get started. I’m Nathan Graham and this is IOM.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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The term personality hire is commonly used in a negative context. Typically used to describe someone who was hired because they are really nice, or funny, or have great hair (like myself) Wait….

I’ll save the existential crisis for later, but for this series: I’m highlighting our volunteers that we want to get to know because they are great volunteers. I am just one for thought provoking marketing.

So, who did I get to interview, who is the personality hire this time? It is Ashley Walton, IOM, Operations Director for the Greater Washington Society of CPAs. I wanna know what makes Ashley… well Ashley.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


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What do you define as a disaster? 

And…what disasters has your community faced? 

We’ve all become accustomed to the images of different disasters impacting our country and the world at large. Wildfires out west, tornados in the plains, and hurricanes in the Deep South, plus many others. The last one is what I want to stay on, hurricanes in the Deep South. Now, as someone who grew up in Georgia. We are always aware of the next hurricane, not as much as our neighbors in Florida, but just enough to keep us on our toes.

However, inland Tennessee is not a place where you talk about severe hurricanes as much. But last year, Tennessee and North Carolina became a heavy topic of discussion when Hurricane Helene tore through the Deep South and left behind a path of destruction. 

That’s where I want to start with my interview today with Vanessa Bennett, IOM, TNCCE, Chief Operations Officer for the Kingsport Chamber in you guessed it, Tennessee. I wanna see how the Kingsport Chamber’s role blossomed during a not so common disaster and how they are learning for the future.

If you wanna learn more about how to help those facing different disasters, feel free to head over to https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/disasters.

If you like what you heard and want to get some more, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get them. Also, come to Institute and meet more chamber/association/ nonprofit professionals.  You can find more information about Institute at our website: Institute for Organization Management – A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com)

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].


Socials:
Facebook: Institute for Organization Management - Home | Facebook
Instagram: Institute for Organization Management (IOM) (@iomeducates) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: Institute for Organization Management | LinkedIn

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