Hosted by Brewer Pratt Solutions & Elevated
Episodes
185
Latest episode
May 2026
Language
EN-US
Welcome to Association Transformation, a transatlantic conversation advancing the impact and evolution of non-profit organizations. We're always seeking diversity of thought and new examples of innovation in action. That and a commitment to mission driven organizations spurred this collaboration between the teams at Brewer Pratt Solutions and Elevated. Together with our special guests, each episode we take a deep dive into the issues, topics, challenges and opportunities facing the association community. Between us we’ve been there, done it, got the t-shirt: membership, mergers, boards and leadership, advocacy, and education - nothing is off limits. Any subject that effects non-profits, their survival or their success is up for discussion.
Send us Fan MailMost 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 MailThis 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 pressure, and a not-so-subtle attempt to dictate how the organization should staff itself. Elisa and Andrew get blunt about what’s really going on: member overreach. Accountability is fair game. Operational control is not. The CEO’s job is to design the structure, deploy talent, and run the business, without members trying to manage the org by petition. Listen in and weigh in: where does legitimate scrutiny end and governance-wrecking interference begin?Support the show
Send us Fan MailInspired 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 member value, belonging, and retention.Support the show
Send us Fan MailWhat 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 Pennsylvania Society of Association Executives conference, this conversation challenges leaders to rethink resilience, question “best practices,” and embrace disruption as a catalyst for growth, not something to survive.If your organization is:• Trying to “get back” to where it was• Playing it safe to avoid risk• Or measuring success by stability……it might be time for a different approach.🎧 Listen in and join the conversation. Are you building resilience… or becoming truly anti-fragile?Support the show
Send us Fan MailMarch 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 just policies. Not just conflict-of-interest forms. And definitely not a once-a-year board training slide.Instead, they explore the real issues that surface in boardrooms every day:When does poor behavior cross the line into unethical conduct?Why do so many governance problems come down to structure and communication gaps?Who is actually responsible for enforcing ethical standards in an associationAnd how do organizations build cultures where integrity is lived and not just written into policy?From volunteer pathways and board recruitment to risk management, accountability, and leadership culture, this conversation digs into the practical realities of ethics in association governance.🎧 Listen to the latest episode and join the discussion:Where have you seen ethical leadership done well (or poorly) in associations?Support the show
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 announcement. We dig into:🔹 Why membership leadership deserves its own professional credential🔹 What associations should be learning from this launch🔹 The difference between certificate programs vs. true certifications🔹 Why community and relationships are central to professional learning🔹 What the future of membership strategy and engagement really looks likeIf membership drives your organization’s mission, revenue, and community — this conversation will challenge how you think about the profession.This is the first deep dive into MXC and what it could mean for the future of membership leadership.🎧 Listen to the episode and join the conversation.What do you think, should membership leadership have its own certification?Support the show
Send us Fan MailMembership 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 explores:▪️ Why dues increases are hitting resistance▪️ How perception — not math — drives pricing success▪️ When CPI helps (and when it hurts)▪️ Why pricing needs to be treated as a governance discipline, not a reaction🎧 Listen now, then weigh in:Where is the biggest gap between price and perceived value in your organization?Support the show
Send us Fan MailIn 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 leaders can honestly assess whether a foundation is truly adding value—or becoming a distraction.This episode isn’t about easy answers. It’s a call to the sector.💬 Have you seen a foundation work really well?💬 Have you inherited one that wasn’t worth the squeeze?💬 What lessons (good or painful) would you share?🎧 Listen in, then chime in with your own stories.Support the show
Send us Fan MailWhat 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 compensation, governance, and respect. Using the current British Medical Association staff dispute as a lens, this conversation goes far beyond one organization, exploring reserves, volunteer decision-making, executive authority, cultural hierarchy, and the real consequences of undervaluing professional expertise.This episode is a must-listen for CEOs, board chairs, finance committee members, and volunteer leaders who care about credibility, sustainability, and the future of association leadership.Because advocacy starts at home, and how we treat our staff says everything about the values we claim to represent.🎧 Listen now.Support the show
Send us Fan MailTired 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 increasingly noisy world?Gordon breaks down what he's doing differently: → Four locations bringing content to members instead of making everyone trek to London → A pricing model that rewards participation (£60 if you commit to meeting with partners) → Repositioning suppliers as "experts" and embedding them in roundtables—not relegating them to the hallway → Capturing and sharing insights from every session so the learning doesn't die in your notebookWhether you're rethinking your own conference model or just fed up with the status quo, this conversation is packed with ideas worth stealing.P.S. 📣 Association Transformation is proud to be the official media partner for the Membership World Road Show. Dates run January 29 through February 10 across Birmingham, Manchester, London, and Glasgow. Details and registration at https://www.membershipworld.com/roadshow/ 🎧 Listen now and join the transformation.Support the show
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