Association Transformation

Send us Fan Mail Most associations are not short on ideas. The real struggle is moving from plan to progress. In episode 175 of Association Transformation , we dig into Project Management Paralysis  - why association projects stall, how communication and culture get in the way, and what it takes to turn good intentions into real execution. Because plans do not execute themselves. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Association Transformation, we’re unpacking another UK controversy: members can ask hard questions about outcomes and value, but they don’t get to design the org chart. Instead of letting leadership lead, parts of the charity sector has jumped straight to a public “bun fight" with one of its membership organisations (the NCVO), including open letters, outside pre...

Send us Fan Mail Inspired by recent industry research, including member experience and membership marketing benchmark reports, this episode explores what “engagement” really means for associations, where organizations may be confusing communication with connection, and why success should be measured by more than clicks, attendance, and activity. Tune in for a thoughtful, practical conversation on...

Send us Fan Mail What if the goal isn’t to bounce back… but to move forward stronger? In this latest episode of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt (Brewer Pratt Solutions) and Andrew Chamberlain (Elevated) unpack a bold idea: 👉 Stability isn’t success—and recovery may actually be holding associations back. Recorded (literally) from the road as Elisa drives home from the Pennsylvani...

Send us Fan Mail March is National Ethics Awareness Month , which makes it the perfect time to talk about something every association faces, but few discuss honestly: ethics in leadership. In the newest episode of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt of Brewer Pratt Solutions and Andrew Chamberlain of Elevated unpack what ethical governance really looks like inside associations. Not j...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨 Breaking news in the membership world. A new professional certification for membership leaders has just launched and we got the inside scoop first. In the newest episode of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Sarah Sladek to discuss the launch of the Membership Excellence Certification (MXC) . This conversation goes beyond the...

Send us Fan Mail Membership dues feel maxed out. But the financial pressure on associations keeps rising. In the latest episode of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, CPP, CAE , Certified Pricing Professional and CEO of Pricing for Associations, to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface. This conversation ex...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Association Transformation Podcast , Elisa Pratt of Brewer Pratt Solutions and Andrew Chamberlain of Elevated tackle a tough question for association and nonprofit leaders: 👉 Are foundations advancing mission and impact, or quietly draining time, money, and focus? They dig into why foundations get created, why they’re so hard to unwind, and how leader...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when associations aggressively advocate for their members, while quietly shortchanging the professionals who make that advocacy possible? In Episode 167, Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain unpack a timely and uncomfortable case from the UK that exposes a deeper, sector-wide challenge: how perceived value, power, and authority shape decisions about association staff co...

Send us Fan Mail Tired of expensive conferences with ten competing tracks, swag bags that collect dust, and exhibitors standing awkwardly behind tables? So is Gordon Glenister. In this episode, the CEO of Membership World joins Andrew and Elisa to share his upcoming UK road show—a bold experiment in intimate, regional events designed around one question: How do we actually engage members in an inc...

Send us Fan Mail As associations head into 2026, the pressure to prove relevance, sharpen focus, and deliver measurable member value has never been greater. In Episode 165 of Association Transformation , Andrew Chamberlain and Elisa Pratt are joined by Grant Carpenter of Raybourn Group International for a candid conversation about what association leaders must stop doing, start doing, and seriousl...

Send us Fan Mail In this special holiday episode of Association Transformation, host Elisa Pratt is joined by Brewer Pratt Solutions' Client Solutions Coordinator Jess Bellamy for a candid conversation about the current job market in the association space. Fresh from completing an employee search that received over 400 applications, they pull back the curtain on the hiring process and share p...

Send us Fan Mail Susan Avery, CAE, CEO of the Performance Plastics Association, joins us to expose why trade associations have become the "forgotten format" in association management. With 28 years spanning both sides of the association world, Susan reveals critical differences between serving companies versus individuals that most "best practices" completely miss. We discuss h...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when seasoned industry leaders become first-time association CEOs? In this episode, we sit down with Sandy Moore (Pet Advocacy Network) and Melissa Loner (National Society of Compliance Professionals), two executives who’ve made the bold leap from the private sector into nonprofit leadership. From boardroom dynamics to member engagement, advocacy strategy to financial...

Send us Fan Mail Trust is under attack; from misinformation, disinformation, and even unchecked AI “truths.” In this powerful new episode of Association Transformation , Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain revisit their white paper Restoring Trust in Expertise and discuss how associations can become the custodians of credibility  that our fractured world needs. With ASAE’s new Trust in Associations...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could build an association from scratch? No inherited bylaws, no legacy structures, no forever committees, just purpose and potential. In this episode, Elisa and Andrew welcome Matt Ott , Executive Director of the Outsourced Professionals Association , to explore what it means to create a new kind of membership organization for a changing world of work. From fractional...

Send us Fan Mail Dying for Relevance, Zombie Members, Toxic Boards & Other Association Nightmares From members who vanish into thin air, to boards behaving monstrously, to the creeping dread of dying for relevance,  this year’s fright fest uncovers the real terrors haunting associations. 👻🧟‍♀️ Whether it’s zombie members shuffling along, toxic leaders spreading their curse, or the sector its...

Send us Fan Mail What really drives leadership decisions? Data, ethics, or a good hard look in the mirror? 🤔 In our latest episode, we dive into the Institute of Leadership’s new Leading into the Future report and wrestle with change fatigue, the “talent tightrope,” and whether “business as usual” is really dead (spoiler: it’s not. We still need to keep the lights on💡). We even debate the perils...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 157 of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain tackle one of the most uncomfortable, but increasingly urgent, realities in association life: the mistreatment of volunteers and staff by volunteers, board members, and even peers. From midnight phone calls and casual abuse to gossip, blurred boundaries, and outright boardroom bullying, this...

Send us Fan Mail Is your digital content reaching everyone? In Episode 156 of Association Transformation , Elisa Pratt goes solo to tackle a vital and often overlooked conversation on digital accessibility and ADA Section 508 compliance, with special guests Elisa Cohen and Prudhvi Mandava of Schatz Strategy Group. Together, we unpack how compliance is more than a legal requirement but a strategic...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 155 of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain welcome Mark Athitakis, Contributing Editor at Associations Now , the flagship digital publication of ASAE. Mark pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the stories, sharing: ✅ How he translates complex topics like governance, membership, technology, and events into accessible insights...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for Episode 154 of Association Transformation , where co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Beth Eagle, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), to unpack what it really takes to juggle CFO and COO responsibilities in today’s association landscape. Beth shares candid insights on: ✅ Balancing financial stewards...

Send us Fan Mail Recorded live from their Autumn 2025 leadership retreat, Elisa and Andrew tackle a big question: are membership dues dead? They unpack the flaws of the annual renewal model, the pull of subscription-style approaches, and the tension between value, belonging, and revenue. In the context of declining memberships and contemporary economic realities, they argue for bold scenario plann...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Association Transformation , Andrew and Elisa reflect on their very first Governance as Leadership Retreat . Over two days, CEOs, board chairs, and senior leaders came together to dig deep into the realities of governance: the horror stories, the successes, and the uncomfortable truths about what really drives board performance. We unpack the recurring t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back!! In this episode Elisa and Andrew sit down with guest Jane Zaretskie, CAE to unpack the essential strategies behind real, lasting membership growth. Forget the flashy trends, Jane takes us back to the foundations of recruitment and retention with practical insights from her award-winning work and recent transition to an AMC environment. From simplifying the join proc...