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Opportunity at Association Laboratory: Strategist

Leadership
Interested in working on leading edge association strategy projects across association domains and professional sectors? Enjoy working from the comfort of your own home? Do you like researching and facilitating complicated discussions that will drive an association’s strategy for years to come? Do you hate spending all day in meaningless meetings? Tired of being micromanaged? Living most of your life in a car while you commute? Ignoring your family? Maybe you should work with us. We are looking for a rising star that we can teach to guide associations through challenging conversations. Association Laboratory is currently recruiting a Strategist to lead client engagements. This is a home-based position with occasional travel. Characteristics of the Optimal Candidate   You need to understand associations. Would love a minimum 5 – 10 years of association experience. You need strong presentation and facilitation skills. You need the capability and/or experience of reporting to
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Association Laboratory Spotlight

The Association Laboratory staff has been busy sharing its industry expertise. You can hear or read our opinions in the following places: “Expanding the volunteer leadership pipeline” Associations Now, Jan. 23, 2023 “How ‘failing fast’ can lead your association to innovation” FORUM’s digital magazine, Sept. 1, 2022 Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia: From Data to Decision with Dean West Dean West, FASAE, joins Cecilia Sepp, CAE and Agnes Amos-Coleman, CMP on the Chatting with Agnes and Cecilia podcast to discuss “From Data to Decision,” how association professionals can use data to actually make decisions–and what data is maybe not as important. Association Laboratory Presents at the Dubai Association Congress Dean West, FASAE and President was invited to present at the Dubai Association Congress in February reflecting Association Laboratory’s recognized expertise in global association strategy.  He is participating in two panels. First, Risky Business for Risk Averse Associations, outlining methods
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Now Recruiting: Digital and Content Marketing Manager

Opportunity at Association Laboratory: Digital and Content Marketing Manager   Interested in working with one of the leading association strategy firms collecting, disseminating, and educating association leaders on what works and doesn’t work in association management and leadership? Enjoy working from the comfort of your own home? Want to contribute to an outcome-based, collaborative culture? Do you like connecting the dots between data and insight and communicating complex ideas to association leaders? Do you hate spending all day in meaningless meetings? Tired of being micromanaged? Living most of your life in a car while you commute? Ignoring your family? Maybe you should work with us. Association Laboratory is currently recruiting a Digital and Content Marketing Manager to coordinate the company’s content dissemination and marketing activities. This is a home-based position with occasional travel. Position Description   The Digital and Content Marketing Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of
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Association Laboratory Interviews GSAE on In-Person Meeting Success

As associations and other groups are debating whether meeting in person is safe enough to move forward with, the Georgia Society of Association Executives decided that their role, for their members, was to put on a safe in-person meeting and provide lessons learned. So here they are. Communication is Key Safety was a priority. GSAE originally moved its Annual Meeting from May to August at the beginning of the pandemic. When it decided to move forward with an in-person meeting, it was after getting a pulse check from those who had already registered to attend when registration had opened, as well as weeks of discussion with the Board of Directors. “As a Board, it caused us to look at our core values,” said Ashley Goodin, CAE, executive director of the Railway Tie Association and treasurer of GSAE.” If it was possible to hold a safe meeting, we should.” According
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Reimagining the Future of the Association Business Model

The COVID-19 Pandemic highlighted how ill prepared association leaders were for a black swan event- an event beyond our imagining. In January, we all had assumptions about the world within which we would need to be successful. These assumptions drove our strategy and informed our leadership. Assumptions, that by April 1, just three months later, were no longer useful, accurate or relevant. Our meetings were cancelled, our staff was virtual, and our future was uncertain. What now? What are the implications on members, associations and our strategy moving forward? What will be the future of the association business model? To address these questions, Association Laboratory, in cooperation with the members of the Association Laboratory Research Alliance (Alliance) are implementing the most substantial association environmental scan ever conducted. Looking Forward 2021 What is the Association Laboratory Research Alliance doing? The Association Laboratory Research Alliance is a global cooperative of state,
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Association Laboratory Expands Research Alliance Globally

May 11, 2020 – Association Laboratory’s research alliance partnerships continue to expand as they have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the India Association Congress (IAC) and the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) to increase access to high quality research for their members and stakeholders. “We are excited about our growing relationship with IAC and PCAAE and to be working together,” said Dean West, FASAE, Founder and President of Association Laboratory, Inc. “By offering access to our in-depth, high-quality research and education, we help their members increase knowledge of industry best practices and help build a strong community of successful associations and professionals.” IAC recently coordinated an informative webinar titled “Embracing the New Normal: How to Navigate this Disruption, and Making it Work in our Favour” which provides a global perspective on the pandemic. Dean West was one of several presenters. This webinar resource, among other COVID-19 resources for associations, can
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Nikki Golden, CAE Joins Association Laboratory as Strategist

Nikki Golden is an award-winning association executive and former Executive Director of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. She will join Association Laboratory as a Strategist on May 4. Nikki is an Association Forum/USAE 40 under 40 award winner with more than a decade of experience in association leadership. With special expertise in membership, marketing and communication, she has worked with both professional and trade associations during the course of her career. “Nikki is going to be a great addition to our team. We’re looking forward to adding her marketing and communication abilities, and frankly, just excited to get to work with someone so talented.” Said Dean West, President of Association Laboratory. Nikki will be responsible for leading client engagements and contributing to corporate content and marketing efforts. Prior to her association work, Nikki Golden worked in publishing and journalism. Association Laboratory provide research and strategy
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Association Laboratory: Helping Association Leaders Adapt to COVID-19

“In times of crisis, making great, not good decisions becomes paramount. Every mistake is magnified. Lost opportunities never return. Association Laboratory stands ready to help you take leadership during this time of crisis.” – Dean West, FASAE, President of Association Laboratory Association Laboratory is proud to offer a specific set of services designed to help association leaders take control during this time of crisis. Contact me today at dwest@associationlaboratory.com if you think we can help. Planning Not Reacting Today’s headlines focus on the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic disruption. The social disruption. They create anxiety in our staff, volunteer leadership and members. It is critical for leaders to take the initiative during these times to demonstrate that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that the association has a plan to move forward, not simply react to circumstances. Association Laboratory has developed a unique
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Association Laboratory Leads Global Effort Assessing Impact of Coronavirus on Associations

On Tuesday, March 17 Association Laboratory initiated a global study assessing the current and future impact of the coronavirus on trade and professional association finances and strategy. This study is being conducted with the cooperation of key partners active in the Association Laboratory Research Alliance. The alliance is a global group of leading state and specialty societies of association executives and other participating organizations serving the association community. The study assesses the economic impact on associations. It evaluates specific impact on key strategies. Finally, it identifies how associations are moving forward to adapt. Data collection begins March 17 and ends March 25, 2020. Association Laboratory will publish the results of the study and lead digital and other distribution as quickly as possible. Take the survey now.  Currently participating in the Association Laboratory Research Alliance American Association of Medical Society Executives Association Forum AMC Institute Council of Engineering and Scientific
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Association Laboratory Thanks Its Content Alliance for Increasing Research Participation by 40% in Looking Forward 2020

Association Laboratory Inc.
February 21, 2020 – Association Laboratory’s annual association environmental scan, “Looking Forward™,” a collaborative research effort conducted with leaders of the association management profession, saw its largest response to date thanks to its collaborative partnerships with state and national societies representing association executives through its Content Alliance. The efforts of the Association Laboratory Content Alliance led to a 40% increase in responses in 2020. Content Alliance members, known as SAEs (Societies of Association Executives), are the voice of association management professionals at the national, regional and state level. This year marks Association Laboratory’s 9th annual environmental scan of the association strategy environment. Nearly 500 association leaders responded representing members in: More than 20 sectors Local, State, and National organizations Trade and Professional organizations The Content Alliance positively impacted response rates in 2020,” said Nikki Haton Shanks, Strategist at Association Laboratory. “Building a network of committed professionals seeking strong data
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