Full Schedule

We all have a story on Board members gone amuck. This Family Feud-style game will not only bring the association community together, but also offer tips on how to navigate those out-of-scope, off-topic requests staff face. See how your peers answered these questions: 1) Name something tactical your Board focused on for more than the desired allotted time. 2) Name a question that’s been asking during a Board meeting that made you think, “Did you really just ask that?” 3) Lightning round: On average, what’s the number of decision-making layers before a recommendation reaches the Board to approve? Survey says?… Find out during this fun and interactive session.

Join us for this inspiring keynote session and kickoff to Holiday Showcase 2024.

Join us for a lunch including a celebration of the Forty Under 40 recipients and featuring live entertainment and behind the scenes access to music writing by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

This hands-on session will walk you through creating a Brand Kit using Canva's brand tools. You'll learn how to streamline your Canva design process, ensure brand consistency, and elevate your association's marketing materials. Perfect for beginners and seasoned Canva users alike, this session will empower you to confidently create brand assets.

In today's digital-first world, effective video communication is essential. Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to enhance your video presentation skills. Whether it's live meetings on Zoom/Teams or creating asynchronous content for social media or internal communications, this session will empower you to deliver your message with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. Through practical exercises and expert guidance, you'll learn the art of being articulate and authoritative on camera, ensuring your video content stands out.

A continuation of the morning session, this session will delve deeper into how to align an individual's core values with those of an organization to more powerfully amplify the imapct of both. Attendance at the morning session is not a requirement to attend the afternoon session.

What does the decision to stop publishing one of your association's journals have to do with the decision to stop selling antique fishing gear? What does the price of a new online coursehave to do with the price of a 1960s lounge chair? Sometimes we can feel stuck when deciding how to evolve our associations' product portfolios, and looking at the situation through the lens of a completely different business can spark some creative thinking.

By day (and some nights and weekends), the speaker has spent most of their 20+ year career growing the professional development portfolios of individual member associations. By night (and most weekends), the speaker has spent a decade as a dealer of vintage clothing, furniture and decor. You may be surprised at the number of successes and setbacks that apply toboth businesses.

Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave with new (and vintage) solutions.,
 

This workshop will explore AI's practical applications in transforming marketing strategies and operations. Attendees will learn how AI optimizes outreach and engagement and redefines traditional organizational management practices. We'll discuss real-world cases where AI has spurred marketing innovation and enhanced decision-making. We will also demonstrate AI tools that engage members through hypercustomization. Moreover, we'll explore why the goal of AI should be to augment teams, allowing them to focus more on creativity and strategy. This session is designed to provide actionable insights and frameworks that can be applied to leverage AI's potential today in your association.

An association conducted an in-depth analysis of its organizational culture, revealing challenges in cross-departmental collaboration and communication. Inconsistent involvement, varied tools, and poor communication were hindering multi-departmental projects. To address this, a dedicated team of staff, with guidance from a consultant, created and implemented a custom project management methodology tailored to their needs. This new approach prioritizes early communication and provides a forum for department heads to discuss projects before initiation, preventing conflicts and resource strains. The result has been a significant improvement in efficiency, collaboration, and organizational culture. Join us to learn about the practical steps taken and the positive impact on teamwork and project outcomes.

One of the biggest challenges facing association leaders is how to build a data-informed association. Building a data-informed association can be a long journey but you can get on the right path quickly if you know where to focus. After a quick primer in essential data language and concepts without all the buzzwords, we’ll learn how to:
     • Measure what Matters (and ignore what doesn’t): align your metrics and KPIs with your strategic plan
     • Find Key Insights: Know what is most impactful for association staff to analyze
     • Take Action: Apply data insights to make informed decisions and drive your association forward
     • Build a Winning Data Culture: Learn strategies to foster a data-first culture within your organization, ensuring long-term success
We’ll end with “Take it Home!” where you’ll learn a few key actions you can take tomorrow to start building your data-informed association.

In today's association environment, the reliance on membership dues to significantly fund an association’s budget is no longer sustainable. Fluctuating membership numbers and inconsistent dues payments can create financial uncertainty. However, the intrinsic value of the products and services that associations offer remains steadfast, deserving of strategic monetization. In this enlightening presentation, we delve into the imperative need for diversifying revenue streams. Beyond the traditional reliance on membership dues, we explore innovative pathways to sustainable financial stability and long-term success. Through insightful discussions, we’ll unveil strategies for leveraging non-dues revenue opportunities strategically. Whether it's sponsorship and advertising, sponsored content, educational programs, certification, strategic partnerships or more, this session will uncover untapped avenues that can drive revenue growth and ensure the resilience of your association in an ever-changing landscape.

Most people make the mistake of comparing their own insides to other people’s outsides. We think because other people look all put together, they must feel all put together. But I can confidently say, ‘Nobody is doing it all!" This session reveals how we can organize and manage ourselves to perform at our best. Just as a museum curator creates a beautiful and meaningful exhibit by selecting and arranging artifacts, we too need to “curate” our commitments and energies. When your energy, passion, and happiness are maximized there is an immediate impact on your work effectiveness . Topics will include dealing with the negative voice in your head, combating procrastination, leaving your comfort zone, understanding the bond between discipline and freedom, spending time in the “gray zone” and being a little bit bad, and re-curating throughout life.

Have you ever launched an AMAZING value for your members, but no one seemed to notice? Do you try to get them to participate but hear crickets? Does it seem like engaging members is more challenging than ever before? 478 Association Execs came together during the spring of 2024 to find answers to all of these problems and more. These answers are unconventional, exciting—and new! You will see these answers, experience engagement, and play with new concepts throughout this session. By the end of this exhilarating session, you might find that engagement isn’t what you thought it was, and this is excellent news because, with these new insights, you can transform engagement at your member organization. Join us, and together, let’s elevate engagement!

Attendees will discover new and innovative strategies for effectively managing and building trust with new teams. The session will follow the journey of a newly formed team as they work together towards transforming the annual meeting, while addressing challenges such as limited guidance and establishing trust. Key topics include effective communication techniques, trust-building practices, and collaboration tools. The objective is to provide leaders and team members with practical insights and actionable steps to ensure the successful execution of an annual meeting for a well-established group, with success measured over a three-year period.

Times change. Industries change. Organizations change. In as little as two to five years, your association’s brand can lose its potency for recruiting, engaging, and providing value to members—who also are changing. Today’s new power leaders don’t wait for that to happen. Now it’s your turn to embrace the imperative and assess and sharpen your brand to ensure you remain relevant and resonant. In this interactive session, you’ll learn a fast, effective framework for refreshing your association’s brand and delve into the process with our proprietary workbook. Immediately applicable to any branding effort, it provides guardrails for focusing on the essential elements of defining your association’s value and facilitates decision making. Use it to align your brand with the core identity you’ve worked so hard to build, while also clearly signaling to members, prospects, and partners that you are aware of their changing needs and adapting to meet them.

Embracing inclusion isn't just a buzzword – it's an essential strategy for success and innovation. Does your association tap into the expansive potential of diversity? The common approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI) often zeros in on talent acquisition and training. Yet, as pivotal as these strategies are, they only scratch the surface. Associations and organizations that are built for the future realize that success demands the seamless integration of equity and inclusion into the very fabric of the organization. In this session, bestselling author and speaker Bernadette Smith shows how associations can use purpose, strategy, and accountability (PSA) to become Inclusive 360 and truly reap the rewards of diversity.

Recognizing how conflict affects individuals mentally and physically (both with others and internally) sets the stage for understanding the importance of managing and de-escalating conflict effectively, which is key to proactive management. Providing concrete strategies for de-escalating tense situations empowers participants to navigate conflict effectively. Educating about the involuntary physiological responses to stress demystifies unexpected reactions, because stress hormones do not differentiate between real and perceived danger. A structured approach, called L.E.A.R.N., provides a practical framework for managing conflicts, serving as a roadmap to follow when faced with challenging situations. Overall, this well-rounded program addresses both the psychological and practical aspects of conflict management. It equips attendees with skills and understanding needed to navigate heated disagreements confidently and effectively.

When you think of "innovation" do you picture a scientific lab or fancy technology? Innovation means “to make changes to something established,” and often the best innovations are small, inexpensive, and low risk. Join us for a "think small" workshop on innovation. We’ll review a simple framework for identifying areas ripe for innovation, practice moving through the framework, and spend time ideating and refining small steps to shake up your processes or programs. You'll take away ideas to take back to your teams and volunteer leaderships that encourage an intraprenuership culture.

Two things will determine your success at work: your executive presence and your ability to present to others, including senior executives. Why then are so many work presentations boring, full of PowerPoint no one can read, and irrelevant to those listening? The reason is that most presenters focus on themselves instead of focusing on the audience. Join us for a dynamic workshop after which you will never ever be boring!

This is a fully interactive presentation where the star of the show is your organization! Bring your website URL and our accessibility and UX experts will do a live audit on stage so you can bring back actionable insights and improvements to your organization’s website. Learn the do’s and don’ts for website accessibility that improves both the overall member experience and enhances your SEO efforts. Bring back an immediate ROI when you return to the office after this can't-miss session.

In an increasingly anxious and overwhelmed marketplace, association executives are constantly navigating high-pressure environments and unprecedented challenges. This dynamic session offers innovative and practical solutions to stay ahead. Drawing on the latest insights from "Sell More Stress Less," participants will discover powerful techniques to enhance sales performance while managing stress effectively. Through interactive exercises, compelling case studies, and cutting-edge research, participants will gain the skills to excel in remote work settings, combat digital fatigue, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. This session is designed to empower participants with actionable strategies that ensure not only survival but true thriving in today's demanding world.

Discover effective strategies for overcoming the unique challenges faced by solo marketers and small teams in associations. This session will explore practical solutions for maximizing limited resources, leveraging technology, and prioritizing tasks to achieve impactful marketing results. In this roundtable format, you’ll gain insights from industry experts and peers who have successfully navigated these hurdles and learn actionable tips to enhance your marketing efforts.

This holiday season, spread joy and transformation within your organization by giving the gift of a strategic content audit. Of course, we’ll break down the audit pieces for you, so they’re easy to package up and deliver. In the spirit of intrapreneurship, learn how providing tailored insights can empower individuals on your content team, tech/digital team and leadership to do their best work. By giving the gift of a content audit this holiday season, you can bring valuable insights and improvements to your organization, making every department more effective and your overall strategy more robust. Spread holiday cheer with thoughtful, data-driven enhancements that everyone will appreciate.

Personalization is a double-edged sword for associations. On one hand, it promises highly targeted, effective member engagement. On the other, it raises difficult questions about data privacy and ethics. In this interactive session, we'll confront this challenge head-on. Industry experts will square off in a lively debate, arguing the pros and cons of data-driven personalization. Attendees will then roll up their sleeves for small group discussions, sharing their own successes, struggles, and strategies for navigating this complex terrain. C-suite leaders and marketing professionals alike will come away with a deeper understanding of the ethical implications of personalization, as well as practical insights for developing engagement strategies that prioritize both member trust and organizational impact. Don't miss this chance to join the conversation and shape the future of association engagement.

Igniting change and innovation successfully is a key competency for today’s association leaders. Conferences and meetings are facing disruption on multiple levels. This session explores how the American Library Association bravely re-imagined a legacy conference and developed an experience for the future. The journey began with a sunset in 2021, a scheduled launch in 2022, a global pandemic reset, and re-launch in 2023. The event was designed to provide attendees with world-class networking, connection, and learning experiences throughout the entire conference experience. This included navigating complex change and innovation dynamics among association members, employees, and executives. During this session, you will learn techniques to lead the transformation of conference learning experiences for your association. You will learn how to navigate complex situations faced by association leaders while casting a compelling vision for future conference learning experiences.

Join us for a dynamic session exploring the journey of stepping into the role of Association Executive Director for not one, but two organizations, inheriting the legacy of a long-serving predecessor. As a newcomer, you'll navigate the challenges of antiquated methods and entrenched mindsets while striving to understand and streamline the intricacies of each organization. Balancing multiple roles, you'll delve into the complexities of coordinating efforts between two distinct missions, all while aiming to revolutionize productivity, governance, and member engagement. Discover how to leverage your unique perspective as a catalyst for transformative change, driving both associations towards a brighter future. Gain insights into innovative strategies for fostering collaboration, inspiring innovation, and overcoming the hurdles of tradition. This session offers actionable advice and real-world experiences to empower you on your journey as a change agent in the association landscape.

Following up on the highly-rated presentation at the 2023 Holiday Showcase, this presentation expands on a book published by Gallup after the early phase of the pandemic. The session offers great insights about the five key wellbeing dimensions, strengths, and employee engagement.

To meet the changing needs of the global workplace, organizational leaders must build resilient and thriving teams. This session will explore recent changes disrupting the workplace and the risks to a thriving culture. We will explore research and actions to impact career, social, financial, physical, and community wellbeing. We will also review research and recommendations on how to create and engaging work culture and how to activate the unique talents and strengths of each team member. (Note: Session attendees will receive a copy of Gallup’s bestselling book, “Wellbeing at Work”, while supplies last.)

In today’s dynamic and interconnected world, as hybrid work blurs the line between personal and professional lives, and as AI challenges organizations to rethink their ethical framework, one element should remain as a compass to guide decision-making: our core values. This session will help you define, articulate, and embody your core values. It provides space to experience layers of bravery and explore your defining moments. The session will also deepen your understanding and awareness of your own patterns as you negotiate with yourself in decision-making, leading to personal growth. As an association leader, aligning core values with the team, organization, and members we serve is crucial, as misalignment can lead to low productivity, poor organizational outcomes, and ethical dilemmas. Through interactive discussions, live interviews, and culturally rich real-life examples, learn how to amplify your impact on your organizations and redefine success around what matters most to you and your communities.

This session is divided into two sessions. This morning session will explore the process of defining the core values; the afternoon session will delve deeper into how to align an individual's core values with those of an organization to more powerfully amplify the imapct of both. Attendance at the afternoon session is not a requirement to attend the morning session.