6 Degrees of Associations: Presented by Big Red M

In this week's episode of the Six Degrees of Associations,presented by Big Red M and hosted by Lucas McCann, we visit with Russ Webb, mQAS, CAE. Russ is CEO of the Bay Area Apartment Association in theGreater Tampa region and joins us to talk association shop. We learn about the advantages of a regional association, which can be substantial, though knowing how to leverage that natural value-ad...

It's really this simple: when building a product, you shouldstart with the user story, and you will end with the best solution. This week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast, hosted by Lucas McCann and presented by Big Red M, we're joined by Pete Zimek, the founder and CEO of NoviAMS. We discuss: How a customer-first AMA is solves problems arounda user story with precision Why produ...

We are joined by the incredibly inspiring Nathan Victoria, CAE, on this week's episode of the Six Degrees of Associations as presented by Big Red M.Nathan is Vice President of NextGen Association Management Company, the inaugural Executive Director and CEO for the Society for Personality Assessment and a doctoral candidate at the George Washington University. He discusses how he makes time for...

It’s all about strategic succession planning for association leadership this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. Greg Heidrich, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Society of Actuaries (SOA), takes us on a journey through what must be considered when stepping down from a CEO position. We discuss how that process becomes even more nuanced when you’ve been in the role for nearly twenty...

Courtney Clark, an incredible human who is a world-renowned speaker, author, and researcher on resilience and change, is our guest this week on Six Degrees of Associations, presented by Big Red M.As someone who has spent extensive time working in the association space and has keynoted countless industry events, Courtney is on a mission to end toxic positivity in the workplace. Going beyond pure gr...

With an extensive background in associations and leadership since 1993, Christie Tarantino-Dean, FASAE, CAE, the CEO of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), is our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast, presented by Big Red M. Christie sits down with host Lucas McCann to examine what she's uncovered in a career spanning multiple decades, including serving as CEO of I...

Everyone wants everything faster. It's a recurring theme in our culture, and if associations are going to keep up, responsiveness and speed will be the coin of the realm. We're joined this week on Six Degrees of Associations, presented by Big Red M, by prolific author, speaker, branding and marketing thought leader, business-growth expert, and world‑renowned tequila influencer Jay Baer, wh...

Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a renowned association executive and purpose-focused leader, joins the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, presented by Big Red M. Dr. Harris has reached what many might call the pinnacle of the association profession, serving as the CEO of multiple large-scale, globally recognized non-profit organizations...

New York Times bestselling author and business-philosophy and leadership expert Mark Sanborn is our distinguished guest on this week’s edition of the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast, hosted by Lucas McCann and presented by Big Red M. In addition to his writing, Mark is a prolific and highly sought-after speaker who is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Cavett Award, th...

As a prolific business author and speaker (having delivered over 2,000 presentations in 36 countries) who is a member of both the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame and the Sales & Marketing Hall of Fame, Scott McKain is also an "associations guy." He joins the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, presented by Big Red M, to discuss what works and what doesn’t in today’s wor...

A calm, measured approach to dealing with the avalanche of change that keeps hitting us all these days is a top priority and listeners of the 6 Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, as presented by Big Red M and hosted by Lucas McCann, are in for a treat. Randy Pennington, author of Results Rule and a longtime friend and consultant to the association community, is our guest for an episode aim...

What goes into a great personal brand, along with the reputation that may follow you throughout your entire career, is the same thing that makes someone a great salesperson: delivering on your word. And being consistent. It really is that simple. For someone with an illustrious career in and around the association world, our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Association Podcast, presented by B...

How can your association avoid the common pitfalls that lead to a poor relationship with association management? How do you even know if one is needed for your organization? Where do you start? Admittedly, it's not uncommon for folks who are lifelong industry employees to not fully understand what an Association Management Company (AMC) does. Well, we’re aiming to end that confusion this week...

How can you best communicate your value as an association during a time of intense competition for your dollar, time, and attention? It takes experience, authenticity, and knowing how to read the room to effectively serve your members and build lasting trust. All of these themes and much more are explored in depth on our show this week with our guest, David Grindle, President and CEO of the Intern...

The Six Degrees of Associations Podcast, presented by Big Red M, is back this week with your host, Lucas McCann. Kevin Belanger, Executive Vice President of Sales and Account Management, and Aaron Horowitz, National Sales Manager at AEX Convention Services, bring us a fresh perspective on what associations are doing these days to drive value (and of course – revenue!) from their meetings. This inc...

Megan Killian, CAE, IOM, is Executive Vice President at theNational Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), and while she found the association industry by serendipity, she has built a reputation over her tenure as someone unafraid to pivot as the times evolve rapidly. In this latest edition of the Six Degrees AssociationsPodcast, presented by Big Red M and hosted by Lucas McCann, we explore her jo...

Brandy Spears, Director of Marketing and Communications at the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), is our guest on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast this week. Her journey spans from journalism to government contracting to innovative marketing and communication strategies within the professional associations industry—an industry where she most feels at “home.” In this discussion...

Marketing and communications (MarComm) are cyclical in many ways and what’s old becomes new again, often evolved, improved, and streamlined. When it comes to print marketing, this couldn’t be more true, as the digital landscape has helped exponentially create a more efficient, faster, and far less expensive environment for getting your message out. As our digital inboxes become more cluttered, may...

Join 6 Degrees of Association host Lucas McCann alongside producer and frequent co-host Casey Callanan for a bonus episode about the need for associations to push for growth in 2025—more than ever before. This bonus episode also features a quick “state of the podcast” update and emphasizes why this show will be so focused on the many unique ways growth can be achieved as a major theme of our podca...

There was a time not too long ago when associations often felt more like sterile governing bodies than they did like a warm, welcoming environment. In today’s discussion on the 6 Degrees of Association podcast, we sit down with Vicki R. Deal-Williams, MA, CCC-SLP, CAE, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), to discuss how associations can continue...

We couldn’t be more honored to welcome Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), to this week’s episode of the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. Katie shares her journey from studying dance to practicing occupational therapy, and then to her current role as an association leader. She emphasizes the importance of belon...

Greg Melia, CAE, CEO of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), is our guest on the Six Degrees of Associations this week. With a stated goal of supporting CX professionals to share, learn, inspire, and grow throughout their entire careers, Greg is at the helm of this premier non-profit with a global reach that serves the customer experience profession. Greg shares his journey to...

As we learn in this week’s episode of the 6 Degrees Podcast with Stephen Gold, the President and CEO of Manufacturers Alliance, mindfulness, like life itself, is a journey, not a destination. There are no winners or losers. There are many elements of mindfulness that association professionals will find helpful, and we are honored to have longtime association community thought leader Stephen Gold j...

A highly respected voice and leader in the association community, Sharon Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE, is our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. As the Executive Director of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Sharon joins the show to share her story as an association professional reaching the pinnacle of our industry and the lessons she's learned throughout her career...

Janelle Julien is an executive-level communications specialist in the association space, known for driving impactful communication plans within both nonprofit and for-profit corporate sectors. She joined us this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast to discuss what she’s learned given her rich background spanning publishing and association communications. Janelle discusses the evolving l...