Association Executive to Consultant to Non-profit Founder with Norma Castrejon, CAE

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we have special guest Justin Bieganek, Creative Director & Founder of Mercury Creative Group. We discuss the journey and strategic work involved in brand building and management, especially for associations. Justin shares his experiences building Mercury Creative Group and also shares insights into the value of developing a singular brand focus, the client-side perspective, decision-making issues, maintaining brand relevance, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing brand design and communications. We also get into the contrast between working with for-profit and non-profit organizations.

On this episode of The Association Podcase, we welcome Christine Nogal, Chief Operations & Business Development Officer at the Arthroscopy Association of North America. We discuss her unconventional path from music to association management, AANA's Think Tank for innovation, and the successful implementation of a Netflix-style subscription model for AANA's online learning. We also talk about the importance of simplicity in user experience and decision-making, the value of team input, and the surprising diversity of their subscription model's user base. Special thanks to Lauren Janik from Impexium for stepping in for Gretchen as our guest host!www.impexium.com

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Rob Barnes, MBA, CAE, and the CEO of BettyBot. We discuss how his company's AI product enhances the accessibility and utility of knowledge repositories maintained by associations. We learn how BettyBot can ingest an entire knowledge base to provide precise, verified information to users instead of forcing them to navigate through traditional search results. We also get into the importance of associations considering their digital strategies, emphasizing how artificial intelligence technology allows for a more efficient, responsive service that addresses users' immediate needs. Finally, we touch on the changing paradigms in decision-making within associations and advocate for a user-based approach.

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome seasoned venture capitalist, Tim McLoughlin, Managing Partner at Cofounders Capital to share his insights on software investment, particularly in the association market. We discuss the differences and resemblances between Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC). Tim explains the concept of 'fund size' and its implication in investment decisions and walks through his fundraising experience. We go on to address the surge in AI applications in business solutions and Tim's advice to entrepreneurs to focus on solving real-world problems and making a difference. Finally, we talk about trends in software procurement, investment cycles, and the importance of nurturing relationships.

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome repeat guest, Patrick Dorsey, Senior VP of Marketing at Impexium. We explore the transforming landscape of association technology. Discussions range from Impexium's significant growth and the role of AI, to customer service, marketing, and the importance of good client relationships. We get some insights into the company's journey from a startup to a mature organization, its management of acquisitions and resources, and highlight the ways they anticipate client needs. www.impexium.com

On this episode of The Association Podcast, our own Ben Muscolino, CEO of Breezio and Founder & CEO of AssociationWire, which includes AMS Geek, Data Sangria, and other industry brands, joins other Association Podcasters and industry thought leaders to discuss each other’s approach to their own association industry podcast, why they do it and much more. Stories of past episodes, past guests, and different podcast formats make this episode a little bit of a peak behind the mic of some of your favorite association industry podcasts and personalities. The episode is led by Dave Coriale, CAE and President at DelCor Technology Solutions, and joined by Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO of PropFuel, Joanna Pineda, Founder, CEO and Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International and last but certainly not least, the “OG” of association podcasting, KiKi L’Italien, VP of Marketing & Community at Big Red M and Editor-In-Chief for the well-known brand, Association Chat.The Association Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-association-podcast/id1553363203            Ben Muscolino, CEO of Breezio and Founder & CEO of AssociationWire which includes AMS Geek, Data Sangria            www.breezio.comwww.associationwire.comAssociation Chat Podcast: 

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Alex Mouw, CAE, Principal Strategic Advisor at AWS for Nonprofits. We discuss Alex's background, getting into the association market when she was six years old and the work she is doing at AWS. After learning about the onboarding and interview process at Amazon, we chat about the challenges of siloed organizations and data in associations and how to best centralize data for better engagement. We also cover the importance of diversifying revenue in the association space, the impact of AI and machine learning, and the use of voice technology in exhibits. AWS for Nonprofitswww.aws.amazon.com/npoAWS IMAGINE Grant Programwww.aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/aws-imagine-grant-program    

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we talk with Rob Katchen, Senior Vice President of Information Technology at the American Academy of Pediatrics. We get Rob's perspective on the role of technology in associations, focusing on the continuous journey that is digital transformation. We discuss why he advocates for honesty and open communication with stakeholders, emphasizing trust and accountability. We also discuss his insights on the transition from the for-profit world to the non-profit world, how that shapes his role at the Academy and his expectations for vendors and partners.www.aap.orgwww.healthychildren.org

On this episode of The Association Podcast, Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D., a disability rights advocate and ADA compliance consultant, shares her insights on creating accessible environments. She discusses her work in disability inclusion, her experiences consulting on ADA compliance for large tradeshows, and the importance of attention to detail in planning accessible events. We also talk about the balance between security and usability in design, the significance of seemingly simple things like ramps, and the need for respectful language when interacting with individuals with disabilities. Rosemarie's Website with Free Resourceswww.rosemariespeaks.comUniversal Design Laboratorywww.udll.com

On this episode of The Association Podcast, Co-founder and CEO of PropFuel, Dave Will, joins us to discuss enhancing association communication by listening to member needs and personalizing messaging. We highlight the importance of understanding member needs and expectations and the value of data collection in achieving this. The conversation also covers the challenges associations face in utilizing data and the role of automation. We also debate the complexity of associations, the importance of user experience, and the potential for associations to learn from other industries.