In our season 2 finale, Dr. Michelle Smith joins hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert to explore strategies for associations ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Smith highlights the critical need for associations to engage with newly elected legislators, craft clear messaging strategies, and mobilize grassroots advocates. She also shares insights on navigating advocacy challenges, such as aligning internal priorities, leveraging storytelling, and using creative approaches to communicate effectively with decision-makers.   This episode is sponsored by Higher Logic. Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.   Show notes Dr. Michelle Smith is a leading advocacy and legislative expert who has dedicated her career to advancing public policy and empowering communities to engage with their elected officials. Before founding Smith Advocacy in 2024, Dr Smith served as the executive director of Raise Your Hand Texas, a statewide advocacy organization focused on improving public education for over five million Texas students. Dr. Smith also worked with HillCo Partners for eight years, focusing on public education issues such as public school finance and school choice, as well as facilities funding, government transparency, and elections. During her tenure at HillCo Partners, Dr. Smith also served as the executive director of the Fast Growth School Coalition (FGSC) for five years. She adeptly combines and connects advocacy expertise, a deep knowledge of Texas politics, and practical experience to offer innovative approaches to today’s advocacy and policy challenges. Her work in and around the Texas Capitol garnered accolades and awards, including recognition as Capitol Inside’s Top 100 Hired Guns lobby list (2017, 2019) and Friend of the Year by Friends of Texas Public Schools (2018).