Send us a text What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott, Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association, to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional executives and freelancers to advocacy for independent professionals, the conversation dives into me...
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Send us a text What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott, Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association, to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional executives and freelancers to advocacy for independent professionals, the conversation dives into me...
Send us a text What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott, Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association, to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional executives and freelancers to advocacy for independent professionals, the conversation dives into me...
Send us a text Dying for Relevance, Zombie Members, Toxic Boards & Other Association Nightmares From members who vanish into thin air, to boards behaving monstrously, to the creeping dread of dying for relevance, this year’s fright fest uncovers the real terrors haunting associations. 👻🧟♀️ Whether it’s zombie members shuffling along, toxic leaders spreading their curse, or the sector itself gasping for life, the horrors are all too real. Tune in if you dare as Association Transforma...
Send us a text What really drives leadership decisions? Data, ethics, or a good hard look in the mirror? 🤔 In our latest episode, we dive into the Institute of Leadership’s new Leading into the Future report and wrestle with change fatigue, the “talent tightrope,” and whether “business as usual” is really dead (spoiler: it’s not. We still need to keep the lights on💡). We even debate the perils of “keeping up with the tech Joneses” and forced innovation burnout. Plenty of laughs, a few eye-rol...
Send us a text In Episode 157 of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain tackle one of the most uncomfortable, but increasingly urgent, realities in association life: the mistreatment of volunteers and staff by volunteers, board members, and even peers. From midnight phone calls and casual abuse to gossip, blurred boundaries, and outright boardroom bullying, this candid conversation unpacks why such behavior persists and what leaders can do about it. With pract...
Send us a text Is your digital content reaching everyone? In Episode 156 of Association Transformation, Elisa Pratt goes solo to tackle a vital and often overlooked conversation on digital accessibility and ADA Section 508 compliance, with special guests Elisa Cohen and Prudhvi Mandava of Schatz Strategy Group. Together, we unpack how compliance is more than a legal requirement but a strategic advantage for associations and nonprofits. From avoiding common digital barriers to embedding inclus...
Send us a text In Episode 155 of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain welcome Mark Athitakis, Contributing Editor at Associations Now, the flagship digital publication of ASAE. Mark pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the stories, sharing: ✅ How he translates complex topics like governance, membership, technology, and events into accessible insights for association leaders ✅ The tension between print versus digital and what associations risk losing ...
Send us a text Join us for Episode 154 of Association Transformation, where co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Beth Eagle, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), to unpack what it really takes to juggle CFO and COO responsibilities in today’s association landscape. Beth shares candid insights on: ✅ Balancing financial stewardship with operational strategy ✅ Revenue diversification beyond dues—including trade shows and acquisi...
Send us a text Recorded live from their Autumn 2025 leadership retreat, Elisa and Andrew tackle a big question: are membership dues dead? They unpack the flaws of the annual renewal model, the pull of subscription-style approaches, and the tension between value, belonging, and revenue. In the context of declining memberships and contemporary economic realities, they argue for bold scenario planning toward 2030 and beyond, plus share plans for a new white paper and even a “fake association” ca...
Send us a text In this special episode of Association Transformation, Andrew and Elisa reflect on their very first Governance as Leadership Retreat. Over two days, CEOs, board chairs, and senior leaders came together to dig deep into the realities of governance: the horror stories, the successes, and the uncomfortable truths about what really drives board performance. We unpack the recurring themes: why relationships matter more than structures, how ego undermines purpose, the challenge of ac...
Send us a text Welcome back!! In this episode Elisa and Andrew sit down with guest Jane Zaretskie, CAE to unpack the essential strategies behind real, lasting membership growth. Forget the flashy trends, Jane takes us back to the foundations of recruitment and retention with practical insights from her award-winning work and recent transition to an AMC environment. From simplifying the join process to prioritizing data integrity and real value for all (not just new) members, we explore what t...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 123 from November 2024. In Episode 123 of the Association Transformation podcast, we explore the power of constructive conflict. Of course, not all conflict is created equal: Learn about task-driven, destructive, and process-driven conflicts. Turns out trust just mi...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 111 from this time last year. Join Elisa and Andrew as they welcome podcasting guru Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Discover how podcasts can revolutionize member engagement, provide value, and become a powerful tool for your association. From cont...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 4, Episode 73 from April 2023. Maddie Grant, Culture Designer with Propel, joins the Association Transformation family for a deep dive into culture with Elisa and Andrew. A commitment to maintaining a strong, positive organizational culture is no longer an optional soft s...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 118 from October 2024. Elisa and Andrew sit down with renowned reputation management expert Anthony Huey, CEO and Founder of Reputation Management and Communicate Clearly. Learn about the critical importance of verbal communication in the age of AI, the art of build...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 3, Episode 63 from September 2022. Constructive relationships amongst association leadership are fundamental to an organisation's success but too often we've seen tensions emerge between volunteer leaders and association professionals. Unless we invest in our relationships, it...
Send us a text We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 4, Episode 70 from February 2023. You’ve heard the debate: Association CEOs should come from industry. Others insist the chief staff executive should be a tested nonprofit leader. Well, we found a unicorn who breaks all the stereotypes. Elisa and Andrew are joined by Terry Bak...
Send us a text 🎉 150 episodes and still surviving! In our milestone episode, Surviving Nonprofits, we’re joined by Survivor winner and nonprofit leader Ethan Zohn to talk scaling global impact, building better boards, and leading through challenge and change. From grassroots to governance, this episode brings the best of what Association Transformation has delivered for 150 episodes: real talk, tough questions, and transformational ideas for association and nonprofit leaders. 🎙️ Tune in, cele...
Send us a text 🎧 The Credibility Crisis: Can Associations Rebuild Trust in a Post-Truth World? 📄 New White Paper Alert: Restoring Trust in Expertise In a world drowning in misinformation, eroding trust, and self-declared "experts," can membership organizations reclaim their role as guardians of truth and professional integrity? In our latest episode of Association Transformation, we unveil our new white paper and explore the historical, societal, and strategic role associations must play to r...
Send us a text Join us for a hot mid-year conversation as we take the temperature on where associations really stand in 2025. We dive into the reality of AI adoption—why the gap is widening between early adopters and everyone else, and how technical discussions are keeping members from getting started with AI basics. We also tackle the mounting pressure on associations to constantly innovate and the artificial narrative that "everyone else is doing amazing things." Plus, we discuss the ongoin...
Send us a text Elisa and Andrew are on the road this week but we don't want you to go without your weekly dose of AT!! So here's a Season 4 episode we released back in November 2023. We'll be back soon but until then, put your members and your mission first!! We’re thankful for our #boardofdirectors . . . aren’t we?? Let’s talk about the challenges and complexities of board culture in #associations. Join Andrew and Elisa for this real and necessary Association Transformation episode where the...
Send us a text What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott, Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association, to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional executives and freelancers to advocacy for independent professionals, the conversation dives into me...
