Association Tech Insider

In 2025, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) won an ASAE Gold Circle Award for its search-first digital strategy, developed to increase visibility and improve perceptions of the U.S. paper industry. In this episode of Association Tech Insider, ASAE Communications Council member Bridget Folliard Terrones sits down with Stacie Manger, AF&PA’s Director, Digital and UX Strategy, to discuss how she and her colleagues executed a groundbreaking search-driven content strategy for AF&PA’s blog, transforming it into a leading digital resource. Manger explains how digital touchpoints now shape advocacy and why that drove AF&PA to focus on being findable to advance key priorities, strengthen the online narrative, and simplify complex policy issues.

This episode of ASAE Technology Professional Advisory Council (TPAC) explores how associations should be thinking about BI (Business Intelligence) Tools, what many of the challenges are for associations looking to implement them, and what the future likely holds specifically with regards to AI.Hosted by Justin Burniske, Principal and Co-Owner of Meta-Dao and Outgoing Chair of TPAC, this episode features three data experts -Evan Reid, MPP, Senior Director of Analytics at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and current member of TPAC, Walker Mullin, Consultant at Wipfli. This podcast is part of a series hosted by the ASAE Technology Professionals Advisory Council. Follow TPAC on LinkedIn for more conversations like this: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asae-tpac/⁠ Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant and Co-Owner of Meta-Dao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jburniske/Evan Reid, MPP, Senior Director of Analytics at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-reid-mpp-0052128/Denny Lengkong, President, IntelliData, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denny-lengkong/Walker Mullin, Consultant at Wipfli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walker-mullin/ 

This episode of ASAE Technology Professional Advisory Council (TPAC) explores why AI momentum is stalling across associations — and why the root cause isn’t technology, but hesitation. Rather than focusing on tools or platforms, this conversation digs into the human, strategic, and governance conversations leaders often avoid, including staffing impacts, data privacy, bias, board readiness, and risk tolerance. Hosted by Laura Graham, Senior Solutions Consultant at Results Direct, this episode features 2 of the authors of The Association Leader’s Practical Guide to AI Conversations That Matter  -Alex Mouw, Executive Advisor for Nonprofits at Amazon Web Services and Chair of the ASAE Technology Council, alongside Tori Miller-Liu, President and CEO of Association for Intelligent Information Management. Together, they share practical guidance for association leaders looking to move forward with AI — without waiting for perfect answers or unanimous agreement. This podcast is part of a series hosted by the ASAE Technology Professionals Advisory Council. Follow TPAC on LinkedIn for more conversations like this: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asae-tpac/ Laura Graham, AAiP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-johnson-graham/  Alex Mouw, CAE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-mouw-cae/ Tori Miller Liu, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CIP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torimillerliu/   Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used in the editing of the podcast to remove "Umm"s and "Ahh"s, but all content was created by people! 

The podcast dives into the value of community, focused on the Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC). Featuring Rebecca Achurch, CEO of Achurch Consulting, Rhoni Rakos, Lead Consultant, Digital Strategy at Ellipsis Partners, and Reilly Moriarty, Event & Marketing Manager at UST Education, all members of AWTC who are at different stages of their career, and the value each of them derives from the community.Hosted by Justin Burniske, Co-Owner of Meta-Dao and Outgoing Chair of the ASAE Technology Professional Advisory Council, the conversation touched on the value each panelist gets from the community, the importance of safe spaces to learn, how volunteering has such a big impact, and so much more.To learn more about AWTC, make sure to visit their website at https://awtc.tech/Where to find them:Rebecca Achurch - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachurch/, [email protected] Rhoni Rakos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoni-rakos/, [email protected] Moriarty - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reilly-moriarty62/, [email protected] Burniske - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jburniske/, [email protected]

In this episode, host Justin Burniske (⁠Meta-Dao⁠), talks with Michael (Misha) Getter ( American Alliance of Museums), Tadu Yimam (National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)), and Ben Muscolino (Breezio, AMS Geek, Data Sangria) about the challenges and strategies of integrating technology systems within associations. The panel delves into the various types of integrations, from single sign-on to business process automation and customer data integrations. They offer practical advice on how small and mid-sized associations can approach integrations, emphasizing the importance of knowing your data, defining clear business requirements, and leveraging tools like Zapier and AI. Tune in to learn how to make your technology systems work together seamlessly to enhance member engagement and operational efficiency.00:00 Introduction to the Association Tech Insider Podcast00:48 Meet the Panelists03:47 Defining Integrations05:12 Challenges and Misconceptions of Integrations08:41 Approaches to Integration19:41 Leveraging AI and Automation30:51 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysFor more great content, make sure to follow the ASAE Tech Council on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asae-tpac/

In this episode, host Justin Burniske (Meta-Dao), sits down with Elizabeth Engel (Spark Consulting), Jamie Notter (Culture Scientist), and Adam Savino (ASIS International) to explore how the Lean Startup methodology can help associations innovate smarter, faster, and with greater impact.The group discusses how associations can apply Lean principles—like rapid experimentation, the build–measure–learn cycle, and data-driven decision-making—to test new ideas and develop non-dues revenue streams without wasting limited resources. They also dive into the cultural side of innovation: how to create space for change, embrace learning from failure, and move beyond the “loudest voice in the room.”From overcoming internal resistance to exploring how AI can accelerate learning, this conversation offers practical advice and real-world examples for any association ready to adapt and grow.🎧 Listen to learn:How Lean Startup principles translate to the association worldWhy culture can make or break innovationThe importance of measuring what truly mattersWays AI can enhance experimentation and learningInspired by the recently released white paper “Lean at 10” (https://bit.ly/LeanAt10), this episode is a must-listen for association leaders looking to turn smart ideas into sustainable action.

In the final episode of the I want to be a CXO series, how do I get there? series, Gabrielle Elahimjian Sroor (member of ASAE’s Young Professional Advisory Council) sits down with Brianne Wheeler, Founder & CEO of Levitate Marketing, to talk about unconventional career paths, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the association space. Brianne shares how diverse experiences shaped her career, why people and networks open unexpected doors, and what it really takes to step into the C-suite—or launch your own business. From lessons on resilience, metrics, and mentorship to candid stories of navigating challenges, this conversation is full of practical takeaways for anyone looking to grow as a leader in associations. 

In this episode, "When One System Isn’t Enough: Rethinking Association Tech for Agility and Growth," we explore a challenge many associations face: relying solely on their AMS to manage everything from member management to communications. As member expectations grow and digital strategies become more complex, a single system often can’t keep up—resulting in workarounds, data silos, and stalled innovation.Discover how a more flexible, integrated approach to technology can help. We dive into how associations are rethinking their tech stacks by combining specialized platforms that work seamlessly together. This approach doesn’t replace the AMS but expands its impact, delivering greater agility, richer data insights, and a more personalized member experience.Whether you’re feeling limited by your current system or just curious about what’s next, this episode offers practical insights for building a smarter, more adaptive technology foundation to support growth.Moderator:Vinnu Deshetty, Event ROI CoachSpeakers:Reggie Henry, ASAE’s Chief Information & Performance Excellence OfficerJeff Horne, Founder & CEO of WicketRon McGrath, Founder & CEO of HighRoad SolutionsMake sure to follow TPAC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asae-tpac/ 

In this episode of Decoding Membership, host Michael Skiados, MBA, CAE, CEO of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, leads a conversation on what really drives membership retention after renewal. Alongside expert panelists Nathan Chamberlain, CAE, Heather Harris, Ph.D., and Brittany Lancor, the discussion focuses on post-renewal engagement, behavioral signals, and how associations can use data, psychology, and smart design to keep members connected.Topics include behavioral segmentation, onboarding after renewal, recognizing early signs of disengagement, and using both high-touch and low-touch strategies effectively. This episode offers associations a fresh, actionable perspective on how to move beyond transactional renewals and build deeper member loyalty.

This episode explores video content strategies for associations, including best practices for creating engaging and accessible videos, tools and platforms to simplify production, and how to decide between outsourcing and building an in-house team.Hosted by Jenny Daigle, MS, Director of Communications, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), she speaks with Emily O’Connor, Content Production Manager, Society for Neuroscience & Taylor Johnson, Senior Manager of Multimedia, Society for Neuroscience.Podcast was created by the ASAE Communications Professionals Advisory Council: https://www.asaecenter.org/membership/rosters/communication-section-council