UST Education

Building a Culture of Inclusion Through Budgets, Financial Reporting and Communication
2026-09-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | zoom.us/j/92190428486
Course Description:
In this presentation we will discuss actions and tactics you can use to better connect project managers and staff with budget planning and budget building processes including adding an annual budget process assessment, engaging staff with rolling projections and looking forward, budgeting for revenue and support, special tactics for budgeting for salaries, and how decentralizing the budget building process and documenting budget assumptions is key to success. We will also discuss how creating an inclusive culture about the budgeting process is critical to the above.

Learning Objectives:

Employ tactics to better connect project managers and staff with the budgeting process.

Create an inclusive culture to facilitate a better budgeting process

Develop and document more accurate budget projections.

Communication Killers: Why Smart C-Suite Leaders Lose Their Jobs—And How Not to Be Next
2026-06-24 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/94675406323
Course Description:
You didn’t get to the top because you lack skills. But what takes down even the best association CEOs and C-suite leaders isn’t performance—it’s communication. Misread your board or misjudge your staff dynamics, and your credibility can erode fast, taking your reputation and role down with it.
This one-hour, high-intensity webinar pulls back the curtain on the silent career derailers that sideline association executives. You’ll get a candid look at how subtle missteps in messaging, tone, or alignment can turn collaboration into confrontation, and what you can do today to stop it.
Walk away with a clearer sense of how your leadership voice is heard, where it might be misfiring, and how mastering this one skill may be the reason you keep your job… or start planning your next move.

Learning Objectives:
Decode board and staff dynamics before they blow up your leadership credibility.
Adapt your communication style to defuse conflict and build trust.
Spot early warning signs that your leadership message isn’t landing—and fix it before it’s too late.

Making Volunteer Selection Objective - Building Thoughtful Criteria
2026-06-10 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/97734637107
Course Description:
Volunteers are an associations most engaged members. They regularly find the most value in their membership. Yet many associations obfuscate the process to becoming a volunteer, either relying on who they know, or creating a process that is difficult to navigate. This session will focus on how associations can better outline their process for volunteer selection to help engage more members, providing more value to both members and the association.

Learning Objectives:
Understand the value of creating volunteer selection criteria
Create potential evaluation criteria for volunteers
Develop criteria outlining both skills and competencies for volunteer roles.
Identify opportunities to remove subjective steps from their own selection process

CFO Financial Communications and Interactions With Boards
2026-05-21 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/91665921432
Course Description:
The relationship between a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a nonprofit’s Board of Directors is critical to the organization’s success, stability, and mission achievement. This session is designed to equip CFOs and senior finance leaders with the essential communication skills and strategic insights needed to effectively partner with, educate, and influence the board. We will explore how to move beyond basic reporting to deliver financial information that is strategic, clear, and action-oriented, helping board members fulfill their fiduciary duties. Topics will include translating complex financial statements into key organizational narratives, managing the budget process with board oversight, communicating about risk and reserves, and handling challenging questions from diverse board member backgrounds

Learning Objectives:
Adapt financial reports and presentations to meet the distinct information needs of different board committees (e.g., Finance, Audit, Investment).

Translate complex financial data into clear, concise, and compelling narratives that directly connect financial performance to the organization’s mission and strategic goals.

Facilitate productive board discussions on the annual budget, presenting it not just as a spending plan, but as a roadmap for executing strategy.

Employ best practices for anticipating and responding to challenging or technical financial questions from board members with non-financial backgrounds.

Cybersecurity in a Nutshell: A High-Level Guide for Executives
2026-05-07 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/91992885484
Course Description:
When you’re running an association, you don’t have time to get into the weeds of how every cyberattack works or why one detection tool is better than another.

All you need to know is what you’re susceptible to and how to know you’re as protected as you should be. Our session will cover:

* Your biggest threat: AI-powered financial fraud
* Outdated defenses: multi-factor authentication
* Signs you’re protected: pessimistic permissions
* Action items to delegate: 5-point framework

We’ll keep it high-level, plain-English, and practical.

Learning Objectives:
Identify AI-powered financial fraud as the primary cybersecurity threat facing associations.

Evaluate current security measures, including the limitations of multi-factor authentication.

Apply pessimistic permissions principles to assess organizational protection levels.

Implement a 5-point cybersecurity framework through appropriate delegation to staff.

Turn Your Association Into a Growth Platform for an Entire Profession
2026-05-05 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/93284644334
Course Description:
Association executives must rethink what business they are really in at a time when LinkedIn, AI, peer networks, and on-demand platforms like YouTube have become their members’ default teachers. This session makes the case that associations no longer compete on content or events, they compete on their ability to cultivate real-world capability, professional judgment, and trusted communities of practice. Participants will explore how learning is already happening in the flow of work, why traditional program models are losing gravity, and how forward-looking associations are redesigning themselves as living learning ecosystems that drive relevance, loyalty, and long-term impact. Executives will leave with a clear framework for identifying their association’s most critical practice gaps and a concrete experiment they can launch to begin shifting from episodic programming to continuous professional growth.

Learning Objectives:
Diagnose the real competitive threat to your association
Distinguish between a “program provider” and a “learning ecosystem”
Reframe member engagement as a learning-in-the-flow-of-work problem
Envision a next-generation role for your association

Brand Strategy That Works: How Organizations Can Evolve Without Losing Their Identity
2026-04-29 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/98439233828
Course Description:
As organizations grow, they may struggle to evolve their brand without losing clarity, trust, or alignment with their mission. This session explores how organizations can modernize their brand strategy in a thoughtful, strategic way—ensuring relevance while preserving organizational identity.

Participants will learn what brand strategy really means beyond logos and visual identity, and how to create a practical framework that supports consistency across touchpoints. Through real-world examples and applied guidance, this session will help attendees connect brand clarity to stronger member engagement and long-term sustainability.

Learning Objectives:
Define the core components of an effective brand strategy.

Evaluate their organization’s current brand for clarity, consistency, and relevance.

Apply practical brand guidelines to communicate consistently.

What's New in BC 2026 Wave 1
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/94761713917
This event is eligible for CPE Credit only~

Course Description:
Here is an opportunity to learn what’s new in BC.
Business Central has two major updates each year. Today you will get the highlights of what’s new in the latest release. This will cover multiple areas of BC.

Learning Objectives:
Analyze what is new in BC
Evaluate the update rollouts
Understand how to manage your update schedule

Beyond Certifications: Core Principles of Professional and Corporate Recognition Programs
2026-04-23 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/98660477341
Course Description:
Unlock the untapped potential within your association. While many organizations prioritize traditional membership benefits, recognition programs offer a powerful tool that simultaneously drives revenue, enhances member engagement, and fosters long-term industry impact. This course outlines the common best practices used across recognition programs and provides association leaders with a framework for understanding program structure and hierarchy. You’ll gain practical knowledge in developing, implementing, and maintaining certificate, certification, and company recognition programs.

Learning Objectives:
Identify key principles for developing and implementing effective recognition programs
Align recognition initiatives with the association’s mission and strategic goals
Apply best practices for marketing recognition programs to members and stakeholders
Build and nurture relationships with partner organizations to enhance program value
Understand financial implications and expectations for program sustainability
Analyze case studies to identify successful recognition strategies and common pitfalls

Building an Ai-Enabled Education Program: Practical Strategies for Associations
2026-04-15 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/92126251031
Course Description:
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how education programs are designed, delivered, and scaled. For associations and mission-driven organizations, the question is no longer whether to explore AI, but how to do so thoughtfully and strategically.
This practical webinar provides a clear, non-technical look at how AI can support content creation, curation, learner engagement, and program operations. Using a real-world association case example, participants will explore lessons learned, governance considerations, and strategies for balancing innovation with risk management.
Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, a simple framework for AI adoption, and concrete steps they can begin implementing right away.

Learning Objectives:
Identify practical applications of AI across the education lifecycle, from content creation to delivery and operations.
Explain why AI is becoming strategically important for associations facing competitive and resource pressures.
Recognize key governance and risk considerations when implementing AI in education programs.
Apply a simple roadmap for AI adoption, including how to start with low-risk pilots.
Outline immediate next steps to explore AI responsibly within their organization.

Execution: You Can't Scale Chaos
2026-04-07 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/93763454089
Course Description:
Without critical processes that scale with the business, growth fades, effectiveness erodes, and profits dwindle.
Are all your processes running without drama and driving industry-leading profitability?
Execution is about converting revenue efficiently into profit through processes, priorities, leveraging data and effective communication.

Learning Objectives:
Develop strategies to grow effectively and efficiently with discipline and intention.
Design processes that scale as the business grows.
Identify execution gaps that erode effectiveness and profit margins.
Apply communication techniques as a tool to enhance execution.

The AI Power Hour: 30 Tools in One Webinar
2026-04-02 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/94050021104
Course Description:
Join us for a dynamic session that dives into how marketers can harness the latest wave of AI innovation to boost creativity, speed, and impact. You’ll get a rapid tour of 30 cutting-edge tools spanning; language, video, image, and audio generation. We’ll show how AI is streamlining content creation, automating analytics, and transforming everyday workflows. Whether you’re testing the waters or ready to scale your AI capabilities, you’ll walk away energized and ready to put these technologies to work right away.

Learning Objectives:
Get grounded in the current AI landscape: Explore where today’s generative AI tools fit within marketing and which emerging players are driving the next wave of innovation.
Uncover must-try tools: Discover 30 standout AI platforms designed to boost creativity, streamline production, and elevate campaign results.
Master AI-driven efficiency: Learn how to weave automation into your marketing stack to refine targeting, scale analytics, and personalize engagement.
Anticipate the next evolution: Gain forward-looking insights into how generative AI and real-time optimization will reshape marketing strategies moving forward.

AI Licensing: Free-For-All or Pay-To-Play?
2026-04-01 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/93622931656
Course Description:
Join us for a ‘point-counterpoint’ style session about free and paid AI licensing. We will share our views on the positives, negatives, considerations, and impacts of the different options in AI licensing. We will be curious and debate our positions. Our format will create a stimulating environment for lively discussion, intellectual exchange, peer learning, and friendly banter.
Some questions we will consider: How applicable is the euphemism: “If the license is free, you are the commodity”? Is a freemium license the most expeditious way to bring the most staff up to speed? How can organizations encourage ‘informed experimentation’ with AI tools? Is my organization’s data at risk? Does my AI tool use my data and prompts to train its model?

Learning Objectives:
Analyze and evaluate the variables in the decision to use free and/or fee AI licenses.
Identify recommended guardrails if/when giving staff permission to use free AI licenses.
Evaluate inputs to measure ROI if/when giving staff paid AI licenses.
Discern key elements of Terms and Conditions in AI license models.
Facilitate a discussion at your organization when considering free and paid AI licenses.

People: Working in Perfect Harmony & Being Accountable
2026-03-31 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/92760373685
Course Description:
People decisions are designed to create a healthy culture of learning and accountability.
Are all stakeholders productive and engaged, and would you “rehire” all of them?
People decisions when scaling up involve strategically managing your workforce to support business growth, focusing on hiring/firing, retention, development, and culture. It is about making sure you have the right people in the right roles doing the right things right, fostering a high-performance culture, and aligning workforce with your overall strategic goals. This is about your Core Values and the behaviors that bring them to life. Straight-forward but far from simple. You are dealing with humans, after all.

Learning Objectives:
Build a culture rooted in Core Values and demonstrated behaviors.
Assess whether the organization has the right people in the right roles.
Plan for intentional talent scaling as the business grows.
Design people systems that drive high performance.
Align workforce and culture with strategic priorities.

Same Values, New Design: Why Association Events Don’t Need to Look the Way They Always Have
2026-03-31 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/96663774432
Course Description:
Associations are built on enduring values: advancing knowledge, serving members, fostering community, and creating meaningful impact. Those values haven’t changed, but the way we design events around them can.
In this highly interactive online session, participants will explore how association events can evolve beyond familiar formats without losing their purpose or credibility. Using a live, audience-driven “design wheel” format, the session will surface practical ideas for rethinking agendas, engagement, technology, sponsorship, and human connection, all while staying true to an association’s mission.
Rather than presenting a list of trends, this session invites participants to experience a different way of designing events in real time, demonstrating how small, intentional design choices can lead to more engaging, inclusive, and relevant meetings.

Learning Objectives:
Distinguish between core association values and inherited event formats, identifying where tradition supports the mission and where it may limit engagement.
Apply at least three alternative event design approaches that enhance participation, connection, and relevance without compromising professionalism or purpose.
Evaluate common event design choices (agenda structure, room setup, technology use, sponsorship integration) through a values-first lens.
Build confidence in experimenting with new formats, using small, low-risk design shifts rather than large-scale overhauls.

Operating Reserves as a Key Indicator of Financial Health
2026-03-26 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/94212073692
Course Description:
An adequate operating reserve is one of the most critical indicators of a nonprofit organization’s financial health, resilience, and sustainability. This session provides a practical, in-depth guide to understanding, establishing, and managing an effective operating reserve policy. Participants will learn how to determine the appropriate reserve target based on their organization’s unique risk profile and operational needs. We will cover the mechanics of calculating the reserve, best practices for policy documentation, and effective strategies for communicating the purpose and status of the reserve to the board, staff, and external stakeholders. Ultimately, this course will equip leaders with the tools to leverage their operating reserve as a strategic financial asset, ensuring the organization can navigate unforeseen challenges and maintain continuous service delivery.

Learning Objectives:
Define what an operating reserve is.
Explain why an operating reserve is considered a key metric for assessing a nonprofit’s financial strength and long-term sustainability.
Outline the essential components of a formal, board-approved operating reserve policy, including funding, use, and replenishment guidelines.
Describe strategies for clearly communicating the operating reserve policy and its financial status to the board of directors and other internal and external audiences.

Cash: It's All About the King
2026-03-26 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/93731201099
Course Description:
Beyond just learning about the three critical financial statements, this session will discuss how the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows are used to manage and resource growth.
Do you have consistent sources of cash, ideally generated internally, to fuel the growth of your business?
Cash decisions are about oxygen, having sufficient – even abundant – cash so that you have options and can make wise decisions.

Learning Objectives:
Apply financial statements as strategic tools to support business growth.
Analyze the true drivers of cash generation.
Develop plans to ensure cash abundance, not just sufficiency.
Implement strategies to improve cash conversion and liquidity.

Accessibility Isn’t Compliance — It’s a Revenue Engine: How Frictionless Digital Experiences Drive ROI, SEO, and Generational Growth
2026-03-25 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/94954872408
Course Description:
Most organizations treat digital accessibility as a compliance requirement. The smart ones treat it as a growth strategy. In this conversation, we explore how frictionless digital experiences increase engagement, improve SEO and generative AI visibility, attract younger members, and extend the lifetime value of Baby Boomers — turning accessibility into measurable ROI.

Learning Objectives:
– Reframe digital accessibility as a revenue and growth strategy—not just compliance
– Explain the curb cut effect and how inclusive design benefits all users

– Identify how reducing digital friction increases engagement, conversions, and ROI
– Connect accessibility improvements to stronger SEO and generative AI visibility
– Recognize how accessibility attracts younger audiences while extending the lifetime value of Baby Boomers
– Outline practical first steps for audits, remediation, and continuous digital improvement

Why Cookie Compliance Is No Longer “Just a European Issue”
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/99138035983
Course Description:
Cookie compliance is often still treated by US organizations as a European concern, but that mindset no longer reflects how digital audiences, privacy expectations, and regulation operate today. This webinar explores why cookie compliance matters for US association websites — particularly those serving multi-state or international audiences — and where many current consent implementations fall down. We’ll share practical examples of common issues, outline modern best practice, and discuss how to improve consent in a way that builds user trust and reduces unnecessary risk, without adding complexity. Designed for digital, marketing, and governance teams, the session helps clarify where your current approach may be exposing you and what’s worth prioritizing next.

Learning Objectives:
Explain why cookie compliance is now a relevant issue for US association websites — not just European ones
Identify common cookie consent mistakes we see across US-based organizations, and why they fall short of current standards
Describe what “good” cookie consent looks like today in terms of user expectations and risk reduction
Apply best practices for cookie consent that meet user expectations and reduce organizational risk

A Check-in on the Current Political Landscape’s Impact on Associations
2026-03-17 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/97494492284
Course Description:
We are now well into the current political landscape, where executive orders and legislation continue to drastically affect the landscape that associations operate in. While some early concerns have been erased, others have turned into real operational shifts. In this second, off-the-record check-in, Matrix Group CEO Joanna Pineda will facilitate a candid discussion with association executives across industries. Panelists will share what they are seeing as executive orders and legislation impact funding, membership, events, and even the WHY of organizations.
They’ll discuss:
The ongoing impact of executive orders
The impact of funding legislation on their operations and the agencies they work with
The impact of recent policy shifts on membership and event registrations
The broader impact on specific industries and professions
How members are responding as policies take hold
Where associations are finding clarity, and where they are still navigating gray areas
When they are choosing to engage publicly, and when are they opting for a quieter approach
How they are adjusting their advocacy to achieve wins for their sectors
Short-term adjustments vs. long-term shifts
Come join to hear directly from association leaders AND add your voice! We’ll kick this session off with remarks from the panel and then open up the discussion to the audience. This session will NOT be recorded and AI notetakers will not be admitted to allow for an open conversation.

Learning Objectives:
Analyze how association leaders are assessing the impact of the current policy environment
Identify strategies peers are using to respond as policy changes move from announcement to reality.
Apply new perspectives and questions to bring back to your leadership team and Board

From Content to Intelligence: How Associations Can Turn Member Voices into Actionable Insight
2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/98778551667
Course Description:
Associations are rich with member stories — from conferences, advocacy efforts, volunteer leadership, and professional practice — but most of that insight never makes it beyond isolated videos or anecdotal feedback. In this session, we’ll explore how associations can systematically capture member voices and use AI to transform those stories into usable intelligence. Learn how to scale story collection without adding staff burden, extract themes and insights efficiently, and turn authentic member voices into strategic assets that inform marketing, education, advocacy, and leadership decision-making.

Learning Objectives:
Identify scalable methods for capturing authentic member stories across events, programs, and advocacy initiatives without overloading staff.

Understand how AI tools can extract themes, insights, and usable data from large volumes of video content to support strategy and reporting.

Develop a framework for activating member-generated content across marketing, education, advocacy, and governance to increase engagement and organizational impact.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

More Than “Meh”: How Web Governance Turns Website Management Into a Strategic Win
2026-03-11 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/99266671946
Course Description:
Restaurants have Executive Chefs. Ships have Captains. Newspapers have Managing Editors.
So, who guides your web presence? Do you have a strategic leader setting the vision and keeping things on track? Or is web content done ad-hoc with a “just in time” mentality?
Join us as we explore how to transform your website into a strategic asset, rather than a catch-all repository, and how the shift from reactive management to a strategic web management delivers measurable value for members and stakeholders.
Walk away with actionable tools, including a RACI Matrix, practical governance frameworks, and standards and policies that achieve buy-in from your team so everyone is heading in the same direction. So you can implement a web governance framework empowers leadership, aligns competing priorities, advances your mission, and increases member engagement.

Learning Objectives:
Develop a strategic plan to manage your association’s website, ensuring it delivers member value and maximizes the organization’s investment.
Implement web governance principles to establish a framework that supports your website’s long-term success and aligns with your association’s strategic goals.
Design and execute a sustainable approach to content creation and website operations that fosters team confidence, reduces stress, and keeps staff focused on delivering value.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Strategy: A Year-Round Process
2026-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/94799623326
Course Description:
Yes, our organizations should have a framework they use to unify purpose and align resource investments to mission. Yes, when strategy is just an exercise in creating an artifact that is refreshed every 3-5 years, is an organization truly strategic? This session will touch on how the strategic framework is a nexus to year-round strategy and then review a half dozen approaches that associations use to ensure they are building the strategic capacity and fluency of staff and leadership every day.

Learning Objectives:
Review how a strategic framework can, when properly structured, serve as an organizational nexus and north star
Examine approaches to incorporating strategic practices into regular organizational function
Evaluate the volunteer and staff frameworks needed to elevate the strategy potential of an organization

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Membership & Marketing Symposium
2026-03-05 09:30 - 15:00 | zoom.us/j/92963828596
Virtual Only Event
Membership & Marketing Symposium
Date: Thursday, March 5th, 2026
Time: 9:30 – 3:00 PM
This Symposium is a unique opportunity to engage with thought leaders and subject-matter experts who will guide us through the intricate and fascinating world of personal and professional development. Whether you are a seasoned professional, an emerging leader, or simply someone eager to enhance your understanding of these vital topics, this event is designed for you.
Agenda: Each session is 1 CPE/CAE Credit

Keynote Speaker: (9:30 – 9:50)
Erica Salm Rench, CMO, Sidecar

Session 1: (10:00-11:00 PM ET) Digital Marketing Analytics Starter Pack: Measuring What Matters for Membership Growth
Course Description:
Associations must go beyond vanity metrics to understand how digital marketing efforts truly impact membership goals. This session introduces a practical “starter pack” of analytics tools and strategies—spanning email, social media, web, and paid ads—that help organizations measure what matters.
Using real-world examples and actionable insights, attendees will learn how to align digital tactics with strategic membership outcomes, such as acquisition, retention, and engagement. We’ll explore how to use UTM codes and GA4 to track campaign performance, build meaningful reports, and answer leadership’s most pressing questions: Is our marketing working? Are we reaching the right people? Are we driving member value?
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your analytics approach, this session will help you build a data-informed strategy that strengthens member relationships and demonstrates impact.
Learning Objectives:

– Identify key digital marketing metrics across email, social media, web, and paid ads that signal progress toward membership goals.
– Apply UTM codes and GA4 reporting to track campaign effectiveness and user engagement across channels.
– Translate analytics into strategic insights that answer leadership questions and guide membership-focused decision-making.
– Benchmark performance using internal and external data to refine content and outreach strategies.
– Build a starter analytics toolkit that supports ongoing evaluation, optimization, and storytelling around member impact.

Speaker: Julie McDowell, Director, Strategic Communications & Digital Content at College of American Pathologists
CAE: Marketing & Communications
NASBA: Communications & Marketing

Session 2: (11:15-12:15 PM ET) Using AI to Power Smarter Membership and Marketing Strategies
Course Description:
AI is already reshaping how associations do the work they’ve always cared about: connecting people and industries, telling stories, and driving meaningful engagement. And it’s helping them do it in record time! While that speed opens up real opportunity, it also forces new strategic choices.
In this session, we’ll cover both the AI tools associations should be paying attention to and how to use them in day-to-day membership and marketing work AND how your overall strategy needs to change because of them. For example: How do you take advantage of working at scale while still maintaining your authenticity, credibility, and trust? How does your content strategy need to shift so your organization shows up as a source when AI is answering questions for your members? When does AI help create better, more responsive experiences, and when is a human touch still essential? You’ll leave understanding not just how to use AI, but how to rethink your membership and marketing strategies in response to it.
Learning Objectives:

– Understand how AI is changing membership and marketing strategy, not just speeding up the work
– Identify which AI tools are worth paying attention to and how associations are using them
– Identify where strategy needs to shift in response to AI

Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International
CAE: Marketing & Communications
NASBA: Communications & Marketing

Session 3: (12:45-1:45 PM ET) Members Aren’t Responding—Now What?
Course Description:
When your best marketing efforts fall flat, what’s really going on? This session helps you dig beneath the surface to discover why members tune out—and how to turn it around. Through interactive exercises, case studies, and honest conversation, learn how to spot whether the issue is segmentation, messaging, or product fit. Work with peers to rethink your approach, uncover fresh strategies for connecting with your audience, and leave with clear steps to boost member engagement and deliver genuine value for your association.
Learning Objectives:

– Diagnose the real reasons behind poor member engagement using segmentation, messaging, and product-fit frameworks.​
– Evaluate member data and campaign performance to identify what’s working—and what’s not—in your marketing strategy.​
– Differentiate between symptoms of marketing problems (like low open rates) and underlying product or value gaps within the association.​
– Redesign core marketing messages to align with meaningful member needs and motivations, avoiding one-size-fits-all communication.​
– Collaborate with peers to create actionable solutions and engagement strategies that can be applied immediately within your organization.​
– Implement a feedback and measurement loop to continuously improve marketing, segmentation, and product relevance over time.

Speaker: Laura Sparks, Director of Marketing and Communications at American Society of Appraisers
CAE: Marketing & Communications
NASBA: Communications & Marketing

Session 4: (2:00-3:00 PM ET) From Reactive to Strategic: Building a High-Impact Marketing Function in Today’s Associations
Course Description:
Association marketing teams are under extraordinary pressure—expected to drive membership growth, improve retention, support programs, and prove ROI, all while navigating shifting member expectations and limited resources. Too often, teams are stuck in reactive mode: juggling last-minute requests, unclear priorities, and a lack of measurable goals.
This session reframes marketing as a strategic, results-driving function—one that partners with leadership, makes data-informed decisions, and works from a clear quarterly plan. Grounded in real-world association examples, this interactive session will help attendees diagnose common dysfunctions, reset expectations with leadership, and build the operational foundation required for sustainable growth. Participants will leave with practical frameworks they can immediately use with their teams and executives.
Learning Objectives:

– Identify and assess common failure points in association marketing teams, including misaligned priorities, lack of strategic clarity, and unclear performance expectations.
– Apply a practical quarterly planning framework that helps teams stay focused, measure what matters, and communicate results to leadership more effectively.
– Implement strategies to shift the internal perception of marketing—from order-taking to strategic partner—through better goals, reporting, and cross-team collaboration.

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, CEO/Owner at Levitate Marketing
CAE: Marketing & Communications
NASBA: Communications & Marketing

Strategy: Crafting the Right Strategy Based on Purpose and Core Values
2026-03-03 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/98923052603
Course Description:
Strategy is about strong topline revenue growth.
Can you state your firm’s strategy simply – and is it driving sustainable growth in revenue and gross margin?
Strategies are developed from the Core Purpose, Core Values and Core Competencies and integrated into your Brand Promise and planned around three- and one-year objectives. All stakeholders (governance, leadership, employees, customers, suppliers and community at large) need to be aligned with where you intend to grow and how you plan to get there.

Learning Objectives:
Explain how to anchor strategy in purpose and core values.
Differentiate between a growth story and true strategic growth.
Translate strategy into a clear, memorable statement.
Align stakeholders around the organization’s strategic direction.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Principled Living: How Ten Nonprofit Director Duties and Rules Make Practical Guidelines for Daily Decision-Making
2026-02-26 13:00 | zoom.us/j/95228729099
Course Description:
Nonprofit directors are routinely guided by rules and principles that offer practical value beyond the boardroom. In this session, viewers will examine ten core nonprofit director duties and governance rules—including the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience, and the business judgment rule—and apply the underlying decision-making frameworks they establish to personal conduct. Through applied examples and brief scenario analysis, viewers will learn how these governance standards can improve personal accountability, judgment, and outcomes.

Learning Objectives:
Learn ten core nonprofit director duties and governance rules.
Apply the ten principles to everyday personal decision-making scenarios using practical, real-world examples.
Assess individual decisions and actions using professional framework to strengthen personal judgment, accountability, and risk awareness.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Goldilocks and the Three Dynamics Community Events
2026-02-26 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/93668957289
This event is eligible for CPE Credit only~

Course Description:
We are presented with so many opportunities to engage in the Microsoft Dynamics Community; how does one choose where to go and how to maximize the experience? I have been attending and planning events for 20 years and I will share my thoughts on how you can gain the most out of these event opportunities regardless of what position you have: End-User, ISV, Partner, Consultant, Microsoft Employee, etc.

Learning Objectives:
Understand why community events can be too large.
How to take advantage of every opportunity at events: Local, Regional, and Global
Why personal and organization branding helps this effort

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Is the Data in the Room With Us? Channeling Association Data Into One Place
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/94036804588
Course Description:
Association teams collect valuable data across events, membership, marketing, and finance, yet that information often lives in separate systems and departments. When data is fragmented, organizations struggle to demonstrate impact, respond to leadership questions, and make informed decisions.
In Is the Data in the Room with Us? Channeling Association Data into One Place, participants will explore why data silos exist in associations and how bringing data together without replacing existing systems can improve clarity, collaboration, and insight. This practical, non-technical session focuses on aligning people and processes first, helping teams create a shared view of their data and turn disconnected information into actionable analytics.

Learning Objectives:
Identify where data silos commonly exist within associations and understand how they limit reporting, decision-making, and efficiency.
Apply a practical framework for channeling data into one shared view, focusing on alignment and process rather than replacing systems.
Implement strategies to reduce manual work and duplicate effort by improving how data is collected, shared, and used across departments.
Apply connected data to answer leadership questions with confidence, supporting clearer insights around events, engagement, and organizational impact.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Survey Says! Vendor Relationships Healthy and Positive
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom.us/j/95021865404
Course Description:
But why? Join this session as we dive into the results of the 2024 and 2025 Vendor Engagement Survey. We’ll explore the sentiments and predictions of association executives and event planners—what’s driving strong vendor partnerships, how organizations are maintaining engagement and generating new sales, and what offerings are making the biggest impact.
We’ll take an honest look at where sales are declining. While it’s important to celebrate what’s working, it’s just as valuable to commiserate and learn from what isn’t. This survey is designed to do exactly that—providing clear guideposts on what’s working across the industry and where there’s room to improve.

Learning Objectives:
Analyze what’s working in vendor partnerships today
Evaluate which strategies, offerings, and engagement tactics associations and event planners are using to drive strong relationships and new sales.
Identify emerging trends and areas of decline
Apply insights to current sentiments, predictions, and where vendor sales and engagement are decreasing—so you can adapt before small issues become bigger challenges.
Apply industry insights to improve your own partnerships
Walk away with practical guideposts from the 2024 and 2025 survey data to strengthen engagement, optimize offerings, and make more informed partnership decisions.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!

Webinar Series: How to Build/Develop a Podcast to Foster Trust and Engagement Within a Professional Community - Part 4: Sustaining Success and Evolving With Your Audience
2026-02-24 11:00 - 12:00 | zoom.us/j/92412045010
Course Description:
Success in podcasting isn’t just about launching—it’s about staying relevant and connected. In this session, we’ll explore how to sustain momentum, evolve your content, and grow your podcast alongside your audience. You’ll learn practical strategies for staying inspired, adapting your show to meet changing needs, and turning your podcast into a long-term community asset.

Learning Objectives:
Apply strategies to maintain content quality and consistency over time.
Use audience feedback to improve and evolve podcast content.
Identify opportunities to extend podcast engagement beyond episodes.
Create a long-term plan that aligns with both personal goals and audience interests.

To Watch this Webinar on the Media Library CLICK HERE!
