Associations Thrive

What happens when schools don’t have enough psychologists to meet student needs? And how can associations help their members thrive in such an environment? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Eric Rossen, Executive Director of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Eric discusses: How NASP represents over 24,000 school psychologists across the U....

How do you redefine a field that’s widely misunderstood, even among its own professionals? And how can associations become essential hubs for interdisciplinary collaboration in such a space? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Nathan Victoria, Executive Director of the Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) and Vice President at NextGen Association Management. N...

How do you lead when your industry is undergoing rapid transformation? How does an association respond when traditional revenue streams like trade shows are no longer viable? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews David Murillo, CEO of Compass Management Solutions and Executive Director of the Western Carwash Association (WCA). David discusses: How Compass Management...

Craft beer transformed American tastes—so how does the industry stay relevant in a crowded, flavor-filled beverage market? How can associations support their members during a time of economic uncertainty and competition from larger players? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. Bart discusses: How the Brewer...

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda sat down with fellow association podcasters: Dave Coriale, President of Delcor Technology Solutions and host of Reboot IT KiKi L’Italien, Founder of Amplified Growth and former host of Association Chat Ben Muscolino, CEO of Breezio and AMS Geek and host of The Association Podcast Dave Will, CEO of PropFuel and host of Association Strong Th...

How can humanitarian organizations respond more effectively to both natural disasters and systemic inequities around the globe? What is the role of empathy, listening, and local leadership in disaster response? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Sharon Eubank, Executive Director of Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sharon d...

How do you lead a volunteer-run organization into its next phase of growth without losing its identity and heart? And how can associations support members who are often behind the scenes but shape what the world sees? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with returning guest Josie Hernandez, Executive Director of Casting Society (CSA) and Pr...

If instant translation is in everyone’s pocket, why learn another language? How do associations continue to provide value in the face of thriving social networks, AI,and challenges to traditional membership programs? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Larry Paska, Executive Director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages or ACTFL. Larry disc...

How do we support children in school and beyond, especially during a time of cultural, political, and economic fragmentation? What role can associations play in elevating the power of families and communities in education? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Howie Berman, Executive Director of the National PTA. Howie discusses: The mission and reach of the Nationa...

How do associations support an industry as fast-changing and influential as advertising? How can associations nurture the next generation of professionals while advocating for policy that protects the industry? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Steve Pacheco, President and CEO of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Steve discusses: The four pillars of AAF...

What does it mean to advocate for taxpayer rights in an increasingly polarized political landscape? Can alliances between the left and right yield real reform in tax policy? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Pete Sepp, President of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). Pete discusses: How NTU, founded in 1969, is a nonpartisan organization focused on simpler, fair...

What is the mood of association executives in 2025? How are Associations utilizing AI to power their organizations? In this special episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda is joined by colleagues from Matrix Group International, Inc.: Dave Hoernig, Vice President of Software Engineering, Jessica Parsley, Director of Project Management, and Tanya Kennedy Luminati, MatrixMaxx Product Mana...

How can undergraduate research prepare students for civic engagement in a complex world? How should associations respond when the work of their members is under attack? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Lindsay discusses: CUR's mission to expand access to undergraduate research and...

What does it mean to be a philanthropist in a community that historically hasn’t seen itself that way? What if associations not only advocated for their members, but also mobilized them to give, together? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Kyung Yoon, President and CEO of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF). Kyung discusses: How KACF was born out of a...

How can associations remain relevant and valuable in an AI-driven world? How do associations create new knowledge while serving as the second source of truth in a world when search is dominated by AI engines? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Rob Wenger, CEO of Higher Logic. Rob discusses: Why people are prioritizing human connections over content at conferences...

What happens when the people we count on to save lives… stop volunteering? How can associations support vital, yet undervalued, professions in today’s economy? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alan DeYoung, Executive Director and CEO of the Wisconsin EMS Association (WEMSA). Alan discusses: The persistent challenge that EMS in Wisconsin is not legally mandated,...

How do you honor the legacy of a founding executive and also bring  innovation, structure, and new energy to an organization? How can associations build strong member relationships, especially during leadership transitions? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Celia Zamora, Executive Director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT). Ce...

How do we prevent strategic plans from sitting on a shelf and instead embed them into an organization's DNA? How can associations become true communities of practice where learning and innovation are peer-led? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Mike Moss, President of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). Mike discusses: SCUP’s mission as a prof...

What happens when your mission to support underrepresented communities in academia suddenly comes under political scrutiny? And how can your association stay true to its values while navigating legal and societal change? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alfonzo Alexander, President and CEO of The PhD Project. Alfonzo discusses: How The PhD Project recruits busi...

How do associations stay resilient in times of personal and professional change? How can they remain a trusted space when trust is in short supply? In this special episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda reconnects with fellow podcasters Dave Coriale and KiKi L’Italien. Dave and Kiki discuss: KiKi's Academy of Leaders Award from ASAE and how this award means so much to her. How DelCor i...

What does responsible AI look like when managing vast amounts of unstructured data? How can associations remain relevant as AI reshapes content discovery and member expectations? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda welcomes back Tori Miller-Liu, President and CEO of the Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM). Tori discusses: How AIIM supports practitioners...

What happens to students when they don’t see themselves reflected in the teachers and administrators around them? How can associations foster belonging for members who often feel like the “only one” in their professional environment?  In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Edgar Palacios, Founder and CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC). Edgar discuss...

What if your leadership style is deeply influenced by your cultural values, but you've never been taught to recognize it? How can an organization unlock hidden leadership potential across an entire community? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Linda Akutagawa, President and CEO of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP). Linda discusses: How LEAP was found...

Are our communities really prepared for modern public safety threats? And what role do accreditation and credentialing play in building resilient fire departments? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Preet Bassi, CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Preet discusses: The reasons fire departments pursue accreditation: to showcase excellence, correc...

What happens when your members are some of the world’s most powerful data-driven companies, and they rely on you to protect their interests, guide policy, and create best practices across vastly different industries? How do you unite and serve these members while remaining agile in a fast-changing digital landscape? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Chris Mohr,...