Features

• Cover Story: Young Association CEOs on a Fast Track to the Top
  By: Tim Ebner
  There's a new generation of leaders entering the C-suite, and they're bringing fresh ideas, talent, and experience to the job. But taking the express elevator to the top comes with unique challenges. We talked to three young association CEOs who are making their leadership mark.
• Check Your Budget Blind Spots
  By: Mark Athitakis
  If you only look directly ahead while planning next year's expenses and revenue, you'll miss what's running alongside you or gaining from behind. And staffers sometimes ignore red flags. Being candid about the numbers and setting up guardrails can improve the process and the outcome.
• Three Ways to Support Chapter Leaders
  By: Alex Beall
  Chapters provide the help associations need to reach members locally. But to keep things running smoothly, associations must find solutions to make sure components have the help they need to fulfill that purpose.

Departments

The A List

• Ask the CEO: DallasHR’s Brad Shanklin
  Brad Shanklin, executive director, Dallas HR Management Association, answers questions from DallasHR member Dustin A. Paschal.
• A Musical Remix on Team Building
  By: Alex Beall
  Partners in Association Management built team camaraderie with an organization-wide lip sync battle.
• Engineering Group Customizes its Courses
  By: Emily Bratcher
  The American Society of Mechanical Engineers tailored its training courses to better serve its European customers.
• Comings & Goings: July/August 2017
  A roundup of new hires and other personnel moves in the association industry.

Leadership

• A Renewed Focus on Leadership Following a Merger
  By: Tim Ebner
  Following an association merger, the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association developed a new and revitalized strategic plan that served both members and the industry, as well as a board evolution initiative and task force to grow new leadership opportunities.
• CEO to CEO: Helpful Leadership Skills
  Four association CEOs discuss which leadership skills they would like to obtain in order to better lead their organizations.
• 3 Lessons: Lead Through Change
  Ken Zielske, CAE, never says no to an opportunity. He shares how embracing change, being curious, and trusting your team can lead to leadership success. .

Money & Business

• A Broader E-Newsletter Audience Brings Major Returns
  By: Emily Bratcher
  When the Edison Electric Institute launched its Energy Talk e-newsletter, it casted a wider net of readers, which has brought in major returns.
• Give Your Governing Documents a Checkup
  By: Dawn Crowell Murphy
  Make sure your articles of incorporation and bylaws are in line with law and practice.
• Idea Bank: Day Pass Makes Conference Education Affordable
  By: Alex Beall
  A Pay As You Wish day pass helps starving artists and broke college students afford the College Art Association's conference.
• Aligning Workspace With Work Styles
  Jim Reidy, senior managing director at Savills Studley, a provider of commercial real estate solutions, explains why it's smart to align office space with staff work styles.
• Data: Associations Are Facing Workforce Gaps
  A recent Association Laboratory study shows that associations are experiencing a number of workforce challenges.

Technology

• Site Helps Architects Create A Career Blueprint
  By: Alex Beall
  The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards is using data to help aspiring architects design their path to licensure.
• Providing E-Learning Using Content Delivery Networks
  Members want to be able to quickly access your content anytime and anywhere. Scitent eLearning CEO Deb McMahon and Director of IT and Product Development Laurent Jean-Marius explain how content delivery networks can make that happen.

Membership

• How Member Surveys Can Lead to Campaign Action
  By: Tim Ebner
  Member surveys are essential, and can tell you a lot about retention and engagement tactics. But, membership teams can often overcomplicate the questionnaire or fail to put the data into action.
• Embrace the Emoji to Make Online Communities Collaborative and Fun
  By: Tim Ebner
  The American Staffing Association's manager for sections and member engagement explains how to keep online conversations casual, fun, and relatable.
• Data: The ‘Saving Grace’ of Membership: Grace Periods
  Grace period can be a great way to catch members who forget to renew. While many associations use this type of membership extensions, a new report says that the length of time can vary.

Meetings

• Offer Your Attendees VIP Status
  By: Samantha Whitehorne
  A look at how a few associations are providing exclusive benefits to a select group of VIP attendees, leading to extra nondues revenue and better attendee engagement.
• Destination: Knoxville
  Tennessee's third-largest city offers meeting attendees history, convenience, and an experience rooted in genuine Southern hospitality.

Brain Power

• Books: Create a Unified HR Function
  By: Kristin Clarke, CAE
  Three books look at how to win the war for talent, leveraging high-performance leadership, and staying resilient in times of grief.
• Finding Strength in Your Weaknesses
  Nyle DiMarco, the first and only deaf contestant on America’s Next Top Model, says learning to embrace his identity led to greater success.
• How I Got Here: Paul Leahy
  It's unusual for people to graduate from college and head right into the association world. But that's the case for the current associate director of membership and component relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

ASAE @ Work

• Security Proposals Pose Challenges for Meetings
  By: Chris Vest, CAE
  With the administration introducing new security proposals that hinders business travel, association meetings may feel the strain.

Supplements: Guide to Association Management Companies

• The Association of the Future Is Diligent
  By: Karla Taylor
  Working with numerous associations gives association management companies the ability to spot trends and anticipate future change. Here's how associations are leveraging AMCs to prepare for the future with in-depth expertise.
• The Association of the Future Is Connected
  By: Karla Taylor
  AMCs have for decades epitomized the sharing economy. Being part of it can bring your association significant purchasing power and economies of scale. Here's how.
• The Association of the Future Is Sustainable
  By: Christine Umbrell
  Given an increased focus on corporate social responsibility in many workplace settings, today’s associations are stepping up their game to ensure that organizations are a force for good.