We’re proud to announce that we have been awarded a 2022 Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).

We’re thrilled that AMC marketing staff enabled two of our association partners to win Gold Awards in the 2021 Association Trends Trendy Awards!

We are very pleased to  announce that Hans Zetterstrom will join AMC in the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) on December 1, 2021.

We’re excited to announce that Lauren Krauth and Michelle Whitworth have been selected as Forty Under 40 honorees by Connect Association and Association Forum, respectively.

We’re pleased to announce that AMC has been selected as the new management partner for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP). We began providing management services to ACVP on October 1, 2021.

We’re excited to announce we have earned re-accreditation by the AMC Institute, the global trade association representing the association management industry.

We’re pleased to announce that Allison Lundberg, CAE—who serves as the manager of marketing and communications for our client partner the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine—has been elected to the board of the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) in the role of director. She will serve on the board in that role until 2024.

We’re proud to congratulate Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA CAE FASAE, on being recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives (FASAE). Wendy is a member of AMC’s executive team and serves as the CEO of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).

We're excited to announce we've been recognized with a Diversity in Business Award by the Daily Herald Business Ledger.

To succeed, associations depend on good governance practices and association staff are critical to implementing and promoting them. Drawing on its rich history of establishing frameworks in which boards of directors are able to function at a high level, AMC has developed Governance Essentials, a half-day workshop that provides  core governance practices with a focus on the "nuts and bolts" of good governance.  

Two AMC DEI, association leadership, and membership experts will be sharing their expertise at the  American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) Annual Meeting this week.

Join AMC Senior Consultant Debbie Trueblood, MSW IOM CAE, on July 15 at 1 pm CDT for a session on Association Ethics Best Practices: Handling Difficult Conversations with Members.

We are excited to announce that Debbie Trueblood, MSW IOM CAE, has joined our team as a senior consultant for AMC Consulting Services.

We are excited to announce that we have been selected as the new management partner for the  Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and will begin providing operational and  management services to the Society on July 1, 2021.

On February 25, governance experts Mark Engle and Erin Volland will lead an interactive virtual workshop on Governance Essentials™, walking association professionals through the foundational practices needed to ensure good governance in their association. Sound governance practices are critical for high-performing organizations but are rarely taught to association staff, leaving them to learn as they go.

We are proud to announce our new partnership with the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM) and the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). As of January 1, AMC began providing management services to ACAAM and ABAM.

This past week we celebrated our first virtual diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) week to create a space where we could learn more about what makes us all unique and to support AMC’s commitment to DEI. It’s easy enough to find ways to celebrate and learn together when you’re able to gather in person, but what happens when everyone is still working remotely? As many of us have discovered since the start of the pandemic, virtual events take a bit more creativity and planning for attendees to feel engaged and connected.

We are honored to announce that two AMC staff are being recognized this year with an Association Forum’s Forty Under 40^® award.

Highly functional committees and task forces are equally as important to organizations as a high-functioning board. Both depend on the other to govern well. And both can suffer if there is discord or lack of direction. Read this new article by AMC Senior Consultant Erin Volland for insights into why and how you can ensure your committees and task forces are functioning as effectively as possible so they can advance your organization’s strategy and serve your mission.

Dropped Members. They can make even the most seasoned association membership professional shudder. Why would a member end their membership with your organization when you very clearly offer a ton of valuable benefits? Are they aware of the value you offer? Maybe not.

In today’s environment, it’s critical that associations have an effective, responsive, and cohesive governance strategy that is committed to organizational success. In this special virtual edition of Exceptional Boards: Strengthening the Governance Team, Mark Engle and Mary Byers provide the tools and resources needed to create a high-performing, response-ready board.

We are pleased to announce that Amy Sherwood, CAE, has returned to the company as executive director of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON). In this role, Amy oversees all administrative and program responsibilities for APHON including its strategic plan, operations management, resource development, business planning, membership and marketing, and partnership with its board of directors.  

We are pleased to announce that Joe Lindahl, MA CAE, has been appointed executive director of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), an AMC client partner since 2019.

We are pleased to announce season 2 of the “Conversations by Association” podcast, created in partnership with The Collaborative, a coaching, consulting, and education partner for associations. “Conversations by Association” offers guidance and best practices from successful association and nonprofit professionals about career pathways, career advancement, mentoring, and leadership tracks.

AMC is excited to announce that Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA CAE, will join AMC’s management team as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Wendy will replace Steve R. Smith, MS CAE, who currently serves in the position, when he transitions to the role of CEO of AMC on April 1, 2020.

We are pleased to announce that Erin Volland, MPA CAE, has been hired as a new senior consultant of AMC Consulting Services.

We are pleased to announce our new partnership with the Psychonomic Society (PS). As of January 1, AMC began providing management services to PS.

AMC is pleased to announce that Lance Mueller has been hired as the executive director of the Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC).

In August 2019, AMC and The Collaborative began releasing episodes of the “Conversations by Association” podcast, a professional development series for association and nonprofit professionals by experts in this niche, yet robust, industry.

Though we carefully researched and prepared before recording even began, we learned several best practices on the job that we could not have anticipated ahead of time. If you’re considering developing a podcast for your organization, we’re sharing 10 tips that can make podcast preparation, recording, and management easier.

In Recruit the Right Board: Proven Processes for Selecting Critical Competencies, authors Will Brown, PhD and Mark Engle, DM FASAE CAE, explore case studies of associations with high-functioning boards of directors, identify the competencies needed for highly effective board members, and provide a detailed framework for how to select the right board members to optimize performance.

We are pleased to announce that Bruce Hammond has been promoted to executive director of the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB), an AMC client partner.

AMC Principal Mark Engle, DM FASAE CAE, has released a new book titled Recruit the Right Board: Proven Processes for Selecting Critical Competencies. Written with researcher Will Brown, PhD, of Texas A&M University, from their ground-breaking ASAE Foundation governance research, Recruit the Right Board explores case studies of associations with high-functioning boards of directors, identifies the competencies needed for highly effective board members, and provides a detailed framework for how to select the right board members to optimize performance.

AMC is pleased to announce the release of a new podcast focusing on career development in the association industry. Created in partnership with The Collaborative, a coaching, consulting, and education partner for associations. “Conversations by Association,” is a first-of-its-kind podcast that offers guidance and best practices from successful association and nonprofit professionals about career pathways, career advancement, mentoring, leadership, risk taking, job transitions, and leadership tracks. This professional development resource is ideal for anyone working in the association field who wants to advance their career or for those who just want to know more about the industry in general.

Scott Engle, AMC CEO, will transition out of his role as CEO in April 2020 and assume a new role as chair of AMC’s Board of Directors. Scott, whose parents Art and Dagny Engle founded AMC in 1974, has been serving as CEO and leader of AMC’s Leadership Team since 2017. The Leadership Team, composed of 10 senior-level executives with decades of experience in association management, leads the strategic direction and growth of AMC and its client partners.

We are pleased to announce that we have expanded our executive team with three new executive directors: Colleen Bagnasco, Gayle Irvin, and Joél Payne.

As AMC looks to the future, we have formed a Leadership Team to guide the strategic direction and growth of AMC and its client partners. Composed of senior-level executives with a diverse range of expertise in the field of association management, the Leadership Team will collaboratively lead AMC in achieving business goals while also ensuring our clients realize their missions and visions. We are pleased to formally introduce this team and how their new roles will support our clients and AMC in the years to come.

We are excited to welcome the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) as a client partner. As of February 1, AMC began providing full-service management to ABM, and we look forward to helping them achieve what they believe.

We are excited to announce that the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) will be joining us as a client partner. Starting March 1, AMC will provide full-service management to CESSE, and we look forward to helping them achieve what they believe.

In the past couple of years, thought leaders at AMC have written broadly on a number of resources for associations and the professionals who work with them. As we near and prepare for 2019, let’s take a look back on our 10 most popular posts and tips:

As associations, we plan annual meetings and events years in advance. And while it would be great to have a crystal ball informing us of the weather our attendees will experience while traveling or when they arrive onsite, that kind of foresight just isn’t a reality. At the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care, presented by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, a major Nor’easter storm descended upon Boston and threatened travel plans for more than 3,500 attendees, exhibitors, faculty and staff members – many of whom were scheduled to arrive on the day Logan International Airport closed.

Are you looking for answers to questions such as

• What is governance anyway?
• Are we doing it right in my organization? Can we do it better? What can I do better?
• Bylaws, policies, procedures – what’s the difference? Why so many documents?
• What’s the difference between what the Board of Directors does and what the staff does?
• How can my preparation for a board meeting affect governance?
• Help! I have to take minutes! What do I do?
• Whew! The board meeting is over. So all my work is done, right?

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017 The American Marketing Association (AMA) Chicago chapter partnered with Association Forumto host an event called, “Get Noticed on Social media (without breaking the bank)!” AMC’s own Allison Lundberg was one of two speakers on a panel that discussed how an organization can find its voice, get noticed on social media, and take it to the next level with social advertising. A handful of members from AMC’s Professional Relations and Development (PRD) team, including Joey Maginot, Maddie Liesz, Dana D’Onofrio, and Zack Smith, attended this session at the AMA office in Chicago. The team shares key take-a-ways from the event, why they found them important and creative ways they’ve incorporated them into their work for PRD.

In the coming months, Mark Engle, DM FASAE CAE, along with author and association consultant, Mary Byers, CAE, will lead sessions of ASAE’s Exceptional Boards: Strengthening the Governance Team.

Finding new and exciting ways to engage members and inspire loyalty is the secret sauce for successful associations. Getting creative about the types of engagement opportunities—everything from leadership roles on the board to a few minutes of social networking on behalf of the association—allows organizations to reach members willing able to help despite limited availability. Associations everywhere are embracing microvolunteering as a means to engaging folks with the least amount of time to give, but a desire to contribute. And the concept is taking off! So much so that this Saturday, April 15, the U.S. celebrates National Mircovolunteering Day for the 4th year in a row.

Throughout 2017, Mark Engle, DM FASAE CAE, along with author and association consultant, Mary Byers, CAE, will lead several sessions of ASAE’s Exceptional Boards: Strengthening the Governance Team.

600,000 to 1,000,000.

That’s how many business books are published each year in the U.S. alone, according to a recent Forbes article. How in the world do you know which ones are worth your time?

Queue AMC’s Management Team members, who took the time to share their favorite leadership and business books and articles. If you’re looking for career-impacting reads, you’re in the right place! AMC asked:

A group of staff from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) recently participated in Association Forum’s Centennial Day of Service at The Fred Matthews Senior Housing Center, a 60-unit affordable housing unit for seniors. They had a great afternoon visiting and playing bingo with residents, while spending time with other members of the association community.

Board Performance: Practice Meets Strategy

Join us at the second session of AMC’s three-part Governance series for nonprofit staff executives, where two key strategists will share corporate lessons learned and how their experience translates into organizational performance in the association community. Panelists from the corporate and association worlds will contribute to a robust and engaging discussion.

It’s time for the next installment of Associational Management Center’s Ask the Management Team question series. This quarter, we reached out with a question about something everyone can relate to: BUDGET! But instead of focusing on the challenges related to limited budget, we wondered what our executives would do if they had more money to spend. We asked AMC leaders to answer the following question:

If your budget increased by $200,000 for the year, with the expectation all of it must be spent in 2016, where would you invest to make the biggest impact? Why?

Earlier this year, three AMC staff members took part in an educational session at the Association Forum led by Dean West, FASAE and President of Association Laboratory in Chicago. Dean’s session focused on Association Laboratory’s latest whitepaper, an environmental scan of the association industry entitled Looking Forward 2016.