Associations Thrive
Business & Finance
About
This is Associations Thrive, the podcast celebrating successful associations and their leaders. Listen in as top association executives tell all, revealing the creative and innovative ways they’re increasing their bottom line, serving their members, and reimaging their organizations. The Associations Thrive podcast is hosted by Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International. Joanna’s personal mission and the mission of Matrix Group is to help associations and nonprofits increase membership, generate revenue and thrive in the digital space. We believe that every association has a unique mission and unique story in how they’re serving their members, impacting their industry, and ultimately changing the world. Guests include top trade association, professional society, and non profit executives. We’re here to help amplify their stories so all associations can learn and thrive, together.
Episodes
- 179. Whitley Richards, CEO of Cause Strategy Partners, on Nonprofit Board Placement, Governance Training, and Leadership Development
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Whitley Richards, CEO of Cause Strategy Partners, on Associations Thrive. The discussion covers nonprofit board placement, governance training, and leadership development, including Cause Strategy Partners' Bo…
- 178. Michael Coleman, General President of SMART, on Apprenticeships, Member-Centered Benefits, and Advocating for Families and Communities
Michael Coleman, General President of SMART, shares insights on apprenticeships, member-centered benefits, and advocacy for families and communities. The episode covers SMART's role in workforce development, mentorship, and addressing barr…
- 177. Pamela Silberman, Co-founder, Board Member, and Treasurer of STANA, on Smell and Taste Disorders, Patient Advocacy, and Public Health Awareness
This episode features Pamela Silberman of STANA discussing smell and taste disorders, their potential links to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and STANA's work in patient advocacy, education, and research funding.
- 176. Andrea Wood, President & CEO of ACCP, on the Business Case for CSR, Shared Value, and Building Member-Centric Community
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Andrea Wood, CEO of ACCP, on Associations Thrive about the business imperative of corporate social responsibility. They discuss linking CSR to business performance, meeting workforce expectations, shared value…
- 175. Eric Ellman, President of NCRA, on Building Trust, Turning Around an Association, and Elevating Member Value
Joanna Pineda interviews Eric Ellman, President of the National Consumer Reporting Association (NCRA), on Associations Thrive. Ellman details how he rebuilt a financially struggling association by focusing on stabilizing finances, improvin…
- 174. Gwyn Donohue, CAE, ED of ASAMW, on Small-Staff Leadership, Member Value, and Reinventing Governance
Gwyn Donohue, CAE, Executive Director of ASAMW, discusses leading an association with a small staff, focusing on member value, and reinventing governance. She shares her experience rebuilding the organization, managing the Subby Awards Gal…
- 173. Johnnie White, CEO of AACE, on the Endocrine Care Team, Patient Education, and Microlearning
Host Joanna Pineda interviews AACE CEO Johnnie White about addressing the shortage of endocrinologists by educating the broader endocrine care team. The discussion covers AACE's digital patient-first strategy, efforts to combat misinformat…
- 172. Bob London, FASAE, CAE, ED of Alpha Phi Omega, on Leadership Through Service, Capital Campaign Success, and Practicing Foresight
Bob London, ED of Alpha Phi Omega, shares insights on fostering leadership through service, the success of a $6.5 million capital campaign, and embedding foresight into the organization's board culture.
- 171. Sherry Budziak, Founder & CEO, and Kevin Ordonez, President & Managing Director of .orgSource, on their new book, the RUG metaphor, the HEART framework, Leadership, and Culture
In this episode of Associations Thrive, Sherry Budziak and Kevin Ordonez, authors of "RUG: How to Move What You're Tripping Over and Lead with Heart," explore their book's central metaphor and the HEART framework. They discuss how associat…
- 170. Rebecca Achurch, Kelli Baxter, Carlos Cardenas, and Diana Lee Tucker, on the Continuing Importance of Community Groups
Leaders of four distinct, identity-based association communities share insights on the ongoing importance of their groups. They discuss the formation of their organizations, the power of representation, allyship, and the critical need to s…
- 169. Leakhena Swett, President of ILTA, on M&A Disruption, Strategic Flexibility, and Building Community During Conferences
Joanna Pineda interviews ILTA President Leakhena Swett about managing industry M&A, maintaining strategic flexibility, and building community. Swett details ILTA's diverse membership, its approach to industry changes, and upcoming conferen…
- 168. Matrix Group International, Inc. Staff on Turbocharging with AI, Storytelling, and Personalization
Host Joanna Pineda and Matrix Group International colleagues delve into industry trends, focusing on AI's role in content production, personalization, and modernizing association content. They also touch upon storytelling, budget constrain…
- 167. Hank Dearden, ED of ForestPlanet, on Planting Trees, Community Impact, and Scalable Environmental Models
Hank Dearden discusses ForestPlanet's cost-effective tree-planting methods through partnerships, focusing on community-led initiatives in developing countries. The episode explores how tree planting revitalizes ecosystems, improves livelih…
- 166. Richard Roberson, President & CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association, on the Changing Healthcare Landscape, Members Working Together, and Telling the Hospital Story
Richard Roberson of the Mississippi Hospital Association joins Associations Thrive to discuss the changing healthcare landscape. Topics include member collaboration, advocacy efforts, the IntelliTrue health information exchange, the TrueCa…
- 165. Alissa McKinney, ED of Above + Beyond Cancer, on Survivorship, Transformational Journeys, and Building Community
Joanna Pineda interviews Alissa McKinney, Executive Director of Above + Beyond Cancer, about their programs supporting cancer survivors and caregivers. The discussion covers Iowa's cancer statistics, the organization's mind-body-spirit app…
- 164. Rebecca Achurch, Gretchen Steenstra, Jill Treby, and Joanna Pineda talk about Championing Women and AWTC Advance 2025
This episode features Rebecca Achurch, Gretchen Steenstra, and Jill Treby discussing the Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC) and its Advance 2025 initiatives. They cover AWTC's founding, growth, inclusive membership, and commitme…
- 163. Addy Kujawa, CEO of AAOE, on Going Independent, the Entrepreneurial Operating System, and a Culture of Innovation
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Addy Kujawa, CEO of AAOE, about the association's transition to independence, its implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for enhanced accountability and innovation, and the development of…
- 162. Eric Rossen, ED of NASP, on School Psychologist Shortages, Advocacy, and a Culture of Empowerment
Eric Rossen, ED of NASP, discusses the national shortage of school psychologists, NASP's advocacy for federal funding, and strategies for member empowerment. The episode also touches on the distinction between school psychologists and coun…
- 161. Nathan Victoria, ED of SPA, on Clinical Personality Assessments, International Partnerships, and Being Filipino-American
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Nathan Victoria, Executive Director of the Society for Personality Assessment (SPA), about clinical personality assessments, differentiating them from pop tests. They discuss SPA's history, its efforts to rede…
- 160. David Murillo, CEO of Compass Management Solutions and ED of WCA, on Private Equity, Rebranding an Association, and Creating Superior Experiences
Host Joanna Pineda interviews David Murillo, CEO of Compass Management Solutions and ED of the Western Carwash Association (WCA). David shares insights on managing associations, rebranding WCA, navigating industry changes, and creating sup…
- 159. Bart Watson, President & CEO of the Brewers Association, on the Mature Craft Beer Market, Consumer Education, and Supporting Small Brewers Amid Tariff Pressures
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. Watson discusses the mature craft beer market, competition from new beverage types, the importance of consumer…
- 158. Joanna, Dave C, KiKi, Ben and Dave W, on Staying Energized and Reinventing Ourselves
Host Joanna Pineda talks with association podcasters Dave Coriale, KiKi L’Italien, Ben Muscolino, and Dave Will about how they stay energized, reinvent themselves, and find purpose in their work. They share personal stories, discuss inspir…
- 157. Sharon Eubank, ED of the Latter-day Saints Charities, on Doing Small Things with Great Love, Local Action, and Global Impact
Sharon Eubank discusses the humanitarian mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasizing local leadership, global child welfare initiatives, and responding to intensifying disasters. She shares insights from her boo…
- 156. Josie Hernandez, ED of Casting Society, on the Oscars, Onboarding and Professionalizing an Association, and Imposter Syndrome
Josie Hernandez, ED of Casting Society, shares insights on professionalizing the association, advocating for a new Oscar category, and supporting members through education and events. The episode also touches on Association Latinos and its…
- 155. Larry Paska, ED of ACTFL, on Advocacy, Standards, Assessments that Fund the Mission, and AI as a Classroom Ally
Host Joanna Pineda talks with Larry Paska, Executive Director of ACTFL, about the value of language learning in the age of AI and instant translation. They discuss ACTFL's role in promoting language proficiency, assessment, teacher support…
- 154. Howie Berman, ED of National PTA, on Volunteerism, Advocacy, and Belonging in School Communities
Howie Berman, Executive Director of the National PTA, discusses the organization's mission, the importance of community advocacy in education, and efforts to professionalize volunteerism. He also covers strategies for membership growth, eq…
- 153. Steve Pacheco, President and CEO of AAF, on Inspiring the Next Generation, Advocacy, and Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
Steve Pacheco, President and CEO of the AAF, discusses the organization's mission, including education, advocacy, and DEI through initiatives like the Mosaic Center. He highlights AAF's efforts in student engagement, workforce development,…
- 152. Pete Sepp, President, National Taxpayers Union, on Taxpayer Rights, IRS Reform, and Building Cross-Partisan Alliances
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Pete Sepp, President of the National Taxpayers Union, on Associations Thrive. They discuss taxpayer rights, IRS reform as a human rights issue, and building cross-partisan alliances, citing examples like the A…
- 151. Matrix Group International, Inc. Staff on the Mood of the Association Community, Lessons Learned from Recent Projects, and CEO Transitions
Associations are facing cautious optimism regarding 2025 outlooks, focusing on technology integrations and cautious AI implementation. Key trends include website storytelling and preparing content for AI, with many associations navigating…
- 150. Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of CUR, on Strategic Planning, Board Coaching, and Broadening Participation
Joanna Pineda interviews Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of CUR, about the organization's strategic plan, CUR 2030, focusing on broadening participation and sustainability. They also discuss board development, enhancing inclusivity, and…
- 149. Kyung Yoon, President & CEO of KACF, on Disrupting Philanthropy, Funding Grassroots Solutions, and Building Economic Security
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Kyung Yoon, President and CEO of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), on Associations Thrive. They discuss KACF's origins, its grassroots "Dollar a Day" campaign, and its distribution of over $17 m…
- 148. Rob Wenger, CEO of Higher Logic, on Online Communities, AI, and Associations as the Future of Knowledge Creation
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Rob Wenger, CEO of Higher Logic, about how associations can maintain relevance amidst AI advancements. They explore the importance of human connection, community platforms, and associations becoming the "secon…
- 147. Alan DeYoung, CEO of WEMSA, on Free EMS Education, Advocacy, and In Person Membership Visits
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Alan DeYoung, CEO of the Wisconsin EMS Association. They discuss the challenges facing EMS, a new program for free EMS education in Wisconsin, WEMSA's advocacy efforts, and innovative strategies for associatio…
- 146. Dr. Celia Zamora, ED of ACAPT, on Member Engagement, Global Expansion, and Building a New Vision
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Celia Zamora, Executive Director of ACAPT, about engaging members, expanding globally, and navigating leadership transitions. Dr. Zamora shares insights on ACAPT's role, the growth of physical therapy, and…
- 145. Mike Moss, President of SCUP, on Integrated Planning, Member-Led Learning, and Strategic Transformation
Associations Thrive features Mike Moss, President of SCUP, discussing integrated planning, member-led learning, and strategic transformation in higher education. The episode covers SCUP's mission, structural changes, and a new membership m…
- 144. Alfonzo Alexander, President & CEO of The PhD Project, on Representation in Academia, Compliance Challenges, and Expanding Programming
Alfonzo Alexander, President and CEO of The PhD Project, joins Associations Thrive to discuss the organization's work in increasing underrepresented faculty in business schools. The episode covers the "mentor effect," challenges navigating…
- 143. Joanna Pineda, Dave Coriale and KiKi L’Italien Talk About Grief, Trust, Community and Technology
Associations Thrive episode 143 features Joanna Pineda, Dave Coriale, and KiKi L’Italien discussing how associations can remain resilient during times of change and scarcity of trust. They cover topics including leadership, technology, and…
- 142. Tori Miller Liu, President & CEO of AIIM, on AI's Impact on Information Management, Rebuilding an Association, and the Future of Content Discovery
Tori Miller Liu, President & CEO of AIIM, joins Associations Thrive to discuss the impact of AI on information management, particularly with unstructured data and generative AI. The episode covers AIIM's evolving role, ethical AI implement…
- 141. Edgar Palacios, Founder & CEO of LEC, on Latino Educator Representation, Community Building, and Advocacy
This episode features Edgar Palacios, Founder and CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC), discussing the critical need for Latino educator representation. Palacios shares LEC's vision, the challenges faced by Latino educators, and…
- 140. Linda Akutagawa, President & CEO of LEAP, on Leadership Training Within a Cultural Context, Learning Cohorts, and Celebrations
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Linda Akutagawa, CEO of LEAP, on Associations Thrive. They discuss how LEAP develops leadership within Asian and Pacific Islander communities by recognizing cultural influences on leadership styles and the org…
- 139. Preet Bassi, CEO of CPSE, on Fire Department Accreditation, Igniting Volunteerism, and Innovation Through Evidence-Based Practices
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Preet Bassi, CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), discussing fire department accreditation, challenges for rural volunteer departments, and the shift in public safety towards public policy. B…
- 138. Chris Mohr, President of SIIA, on Data Ecosystems, Policy Advocacy, and Driving Member Engagement
Chris Mohr, President of SIIA, shares insights on representing major data-driven companies, navigating policy advocacy, and fostering member engagement. The episode covers SIIA's structure, its work on data dissemination, best practices fo…
- 137. Special Episode with Lindsay Currie, Adam Levy, and Tara Puckey, Talking About Sustaining Mental and Physical Health as a Chief Staff Exec
This episode features a discussion with Lindsay Currie, Adam Levy, and Tara Puckey about the mental and physical health of Chief Staff Executives in associations. They cover the reasons for their survey, the gap between private struggles a…
- 136. Drew Holmgreen, President & CEO of PPAI, on Leading with Joy, Elevating an Industry, and Reimagining Branded Merch
Drew Holmgreen, President and CEO of PPAI, shares insights on the promotional products industry, highlighting its ecosystem, global reach, and the unique power of branded merchandise. The episode also covers PPAI's advocacy, innovations li…
- 135. Debra Wilson, President of NAIS, on Reinventing the Conference, Reimagining Office Space, and Rebranding the Association
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Debra Wilson, President of NAIS. Debra discusses NAIS's transformation of its annual conference into "Thrive," its reimagined office space, and its recent rebrand, all f…
- 134. Jena Stack, ED of SIO, on Interventional Oncology as the Fourth Pillar of Cancer Care, Running Clinical Trials, and Explosive Growth
Jena Stack, Executive Director of the Society of Interventional Oncology, explains how interventional oncology is becoming the fourth pillar of cancer care. The episode covers SIO's rapid membership growth, its clinical trial efforts, and…
- 133. Trevor Mitchell, President & CEO of IAVM, on Membership Growth, Engagement, and the Future of Live Events
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Trevor Mitchell, President and CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). They discuss IAVM's expanded definition of live events, shifts in membership structure, creating engagement metrics…
- 132. Amy Lestition Burke, CEO of SWANA, on Prioritizing Safety, Rebuilding Trust, and Launching a New Event
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Amy Lestition Burke, CEO of SWANA. They discuss SWANA’s mission, the complexities of waste management, Amy’s transition to CEO, and how SWANA is prioritizing safety, reb…
- 131. Julia Herz, ED of AHA, on Homebrewing and Becoming an Independent Association
Julia Herz, Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association, explains how the AHA has supported homebrewers since 1978 and discusses the association's upcoming independence in 2025. She highlights homebrewing's accessibility, th…
- 130. Jennifer Briggs, EVP & CEO of TxA, on Change Management, Advocacy, and Elevating the Profession
Host Joanna Pineda interviews Jennifer Briggs, EVP & CEO of the Texas Society of Architects (TxA). They discuss TxA's representation of 8,000 architects, advocacy efforts, leadership development, and initiatives like the redesigned Texas A…