The Association Podcast

Hosted by Jake Toohey, Ben Muscolino, Gretchen Steenstra

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Episodes

111

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Jake Toohey (Adage Technologies), Gretchen Steenstra (DelCor) and Ben Muscolino (Breezio and AMS Geek) bring you The Association Podcast. With a combined five decades of experience in the association tech space, they explore challenges facing associations and bring fresh ideas to address them using strategy, design, analytics, and technology.

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60 recent

July 14, 2026Episode 11154 min

AI That Teaches, Not Replaces: Practical Innovation with Liz Peuster

Liz Peuster, Chief Communications Officer at the South Carolina Association of CPAs and founder of LP Innovates, joins The Association Podcast for a conversation that goes far beyond AI hype. Liz shares her career journey through the association world, why storytelling is at the heart of member value, and how associations can use AI to create better member experiences while developing, not replacing, their staff. From building custom AI assistants that coach employees into stronger writers to helping professionals navigate AI adoption with confidence, Liz offers practical ideas that any association can implement immediately. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking for smarter ways to serve members, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fresh perspectives. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Liz's association career journey 03:40 There's an association for everything 07:40 Why storytelling starts with understanding your members 12:00 Turning member challenges into advocacy success stories 14:20 AI concerns facing the accounting profession 17:00 Helping members evaluate AI vendors and technology 21:40 Building custom AI tools inside associations 24:00 Creating "Paige," an AI copy editor that teaches instead of rewrites 28:00 Why AI should focus on upskilling staff, not replacing them 30:30 Reclaiming time for member relationships 34:00 Teaching the next generation to use AI responsibly 37:00 Launching LP Innovates 39:30 Practical AI strategies anyone can implement tomorrow 41:00 Custom Copilot prompts that sound like you 43:00 AI workflows that eliminate inbox distractions 45:00 Saving hundreds of hours through small AI improvements 47:00 Final advice: Start with what frustrates you most

June 9, 2026Episode 11044 min

AMC Tech, NetForum Solutioning, and Using AI to Improve Requirements & QA with Megan Paulini

On this episode of The Association Podcast, Megan Paulini of Associations International, Senior Technical Solutions Specialist and recent AWTC Champion Award winner, shares how she accidentally entered the association world via a temp role and grew from member services into tech solutioning, QA, and deep NetForum work. She explains how an AMC’s shared-services model supports multiple association clients across varied tech stacks and why clear definitions, overcommunication, and documentation prevent costly misunderstandings. Megan reflects on recognition through AWTC, her preference for puzzle-style projects, and practical ways she uses AI daily, including having it review requirements for gaps, interview her with follow-up questions, generate test cases, and build a project forecast spreadsheet to reduce QA bottlenecks. The conversation also touches on realistic personalization, data foundations, and balancing customization with guardrails. 00:43 Guest Intro 01:16 Rapid Fire Questions 03:23 How Megan Found Associations 04:32 From Member Services to Tech 07:26 Inside the AMC Model 10:06 Patterns Across Clients 12:22 Translating Business to Tech 15:56 AWTC Award Spotlight 20:37 Favorite Projects and Puzzles 21:53 Switching to Maybel Setup 22:23 Daily AI Wheel Spin 22:59 AI for Better Requirements 24:27 AI as Interviewer 25:51 Forecasting QA Bottlenecks 27:10 Choosing AI Tools 30:05 Data Personalization Reality 32:52 Progressive Profiling Vision 33:23 Career Path Marketing 35:12 Role Evolution at AMC 38:43 Guardrails Over Customization 40:27 Office Rundown Analogy 41:03 Closing Takeaways

May 14, 2026Episode 10940 min

Growing SABR: Community, Baseball Research, and Balancing Legacy with Innovation with Scott Bush

On this episode of The Association Podcast, Scott Bush, CEO of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), shares his path from mechanical engineering to a decade in minor league baseball, leading to his role at SABR focused on growing revenue and membership. He explains SABR’s origins in 1971, its mission of sharing baseball research, and its structure of 85 worldwide chapters and 34 research committees spanning analytics, history, and niche topics, including projects restoring grave markers for former players. Bush discusses how technology, the pandemic, and virtual engagement expanded access and community, while emphasizing “humanity first” in member communication. He outlines strategies to improve retention, build fundraising, and expand student membership through baseball analytics courses, and details current debates on content strategy, AI-driven declines in search traffic, and potential paywall or newsletter approaches. He also previews SABR 54 in Cleveland (July 29–Aug 2), featuring Guardians speakers, research presentations, a game, League Park visit, and a Major League screening with director David Ward. 00:00 Cold Open Setup 00:14 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:45 Rapid Fire Questions 02:34 Scott Career Journey 05:59 What Sabre Does 07:52 Tech and Pandemic Shifts 10:14 Chapters and Committees 13:30 Sabre and Analytics Origins 18:44 Growing Sabre Revenue 21:25 Student Analytics Boom 22:15 Courses and Portfolios 23:16 Favorite Committees Talk 24:06 Legacy Versus Innovation 29:47 Human Touch and Tech 32:55 Content Strategy Debate 36:33 SEO and AI Disruption 38:07 SABR 54 Cleveland Preview 41:02 Wrap Up and Thanks

May 7, 2026Episode 10839 min

Career Pivots, AWTC Recognition, and Workforce Development in the Age of AI with Lacey Pope

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Lacey Pope, MBA, CAE, Customer Success Manager at Web Scribble, to discuss her career journey in associations and her transition to the industry partner side. Lacey shares how she entered the association world through temp work, earned her CAE, and later drove process improvements at the Oncology Nursing Society that increased live support and boosted customer satisfaction by nearly 10%. She reflects on leading membership technology modernization at Shriners International—including AI translation tools, a new LMS, project management platform, and Power BI reporting—work that earned her recognition at the AWTC Awards. The conversation also explores hiring in the age of AI, daily AI use in customer success, and how associations can build stronger workforce development pipelines beyond a basic job board. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:36 Rapid Fire Questions 02:17 Lacey Association Journey 03:26 Process Improvement Wins 04:55 Career Pivot and Web Scribble 07:22 Awards and Title Tradeoffs 09:32 Vendor Side and Member Value 12:05 Meet Mabel Topic Wheel 13:23 Hiring in the Age of AI 17:44 Daily AI and Policies 20:01 Using AI On The Side 20:51 Five-Year Career Pivot 22:17 Recruited To WebScribble 23:00 Industry Credibility Matters 24:58 Networking And Job Boards 27:02 Daily Wins And Parenting 28:21 AWTC Recognition And Belonging 30:52 Recognition And Community Growth 33:24 Customer Success Trends 34:51 Advice For Student Pipelines 36:42 What WebScribble Does 38:32 Final Thanks And Wrap

April 23, 2026Episode 10746 min

Building Responsible AI: Innovation, Leadership, and the One-Pizza Team with Jamie Atchison

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Jamie Atchison, MSMIT, Senior Director of Innovation and Strategy at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). Jamie shares her unique journey from public health programming into technology leadership, highlighting how she bridges business needs and digital innovation within her organization. We explore ASPPH’s groundbreaking AI chatbot, built in just eight weeks, and the intentional, human-centered approach behind it. Jamie dives into how associations can responsibly adopt AI, the importance of curated and trusted content, and how vertical AI models can combat misinformation in complex fields like public health. The conversation also covers leadership philosophy, including servant leadership, psychological safety, and building high-performing “one-pizza teams” that can move quickly without losing alignment. Jamie offers a forward-looking perspective on how AI and agentic AI will reshape associations, emphasizing augmentation over replacement and the need for strong critical thinking in an AI-driven world. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:01 Rapid Fire Questions 02:00 Jamie’s Career Journey and Path into Technology 05:00 Transition from Program Work to Digital Innovation Leadership 07:00 Building High-Performing “One-Pizza Teams” 09:00 Inside the AI Chatbot Project (8-Week Build) 12:00 Team Structure, AWS Partnership, and Knowledge Transfer 13:00 From Problem to Solution: Why a Chatbot? 14:30 Responsible and Ethical AI in Public Health 17:00 Guardrails, Curated Content, and Vertical AI Models 18:00 Data Considerations and Content Strategy 20:00 Member Feedback and Adoption of AI Tools 21:30 Human-Centered Design vs. Over-Reliance on AI 23:00 Broader AI Strategy and Task Force Initiatives 26:00 Building a Digital Innovation Team in Associations 29:00 Bridging Business Strategy and Technology Execution 32:00 Future Trends: AI, Agentic AI, and Workforce Impact 36:00 Servant Leadership and Building Trust in Teams 39:00 Culture, Collaboration, and Crisis Response in Tech Teams 40:00 AWTC Recognition and Team Success 42:00 Aligning Personal Values with Organizational Mission 44:00 Where to Learn More About ASPPH’s AI Initiatives

April 8, 2026Episode 10642 min

Good Old-Fashioned Leadership: Partnerships, Data, and the Human Side of Technology with Dana Kohli

On this episode of The Association Podcast , we welcome Dana Kohli, Vice President of Client Solutions at DelCor Technology Solutions and recent AWTC award winner, for a conversation about leadership, partnerships, and the evolving role of technology in associations. Dana shares her career journey from music educator to association technology leader, and how her people-first approach has shaped her work helping organizations solve complex challenges. The conversation explores emerging trends in the association space, including data strategy, CEO involvement in technology decisions, system selection evolution, and the growing importance of change management. We also dive into the human side of technology, from building authentic partnerships to asking tough questions and creating space for meaningful collaboration. Dana shares insights on daily wins, leadership moments, and why the most successful technology initiatives always come back to people. Throughout the conversation, we reflect on how associations are balancing innovation with practicality, navigating security and automation challenges, and embracing what Dana calls “good old-fashioned leadership” in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

March 25, 2026Episode 10539 min

Right Content, Right Time, Right Experience: AI and the Modern Association with Erica Salm Rench

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Erica Salm Rench, Chief Marketing Officer at Sidecar, to explore how associations can move beyond AI buzzwords and into meaningful adoption. Erica shares her career journey from digital marketing to leading AI-driven innovation in the association space, along with the experiences that shaped her approach to technology, community, and leadership. We dive into practical strategies for AI adoption, including building a culture of experimentation, creating internal learning cohorts, and identifying workflows ripe for automation. Erica also discusses the growing role of agents, the balance between personalization and privacy, and how associations can use data more effectively to improve member engagement. Throughout the conversation, Erica highlights the importance of collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning as associations navigate rapid technological change. She also shares insights from her work at Sidecar, emerging trends in AI, and what leaders should focus on today to prepare their organizations for the future.

March 5, 2026Episode 10445 min

Engineering the Future of Associations: Data, AI, and Digital Transformation with Ravi Rooprai

On this episode of The Association Podcast , we welcome Ravi Rooprai, Director of IT and PMO at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Ravi shares his unique journey from molecular microbiology and pharmaceutical consulting into association technology leadership, bringing a scientific mindset to digital transformation and innovation. The conversation explores how MDRT is modernizing association technology by decoupling legacy systems, building scalable data ecosystems, and experimenting with AI-driven personalization. Ravi explains how his team approaches technology through experimentation, feasibility studies, and agile thinking to improve member experiences and operational efficiency. We also dive into MDRT’s cutting-edge meeting technology, including large-scale multilingual interpretation powered by AI and the infrastructure required to support thousands of attendees simultaneously streaming translated sessions. Ravi discusses how associations can better leverage data, personalization, and experimentation to drive engagement, retention, and measurable member value. From building a culture of innovation to applying e-commerce thinking to membership value, this episode offers practical insights for association leaders navigating digital transformation. 00:01:00 Introduction to Ravi Rooprai and MDRT 00:01:30 Rapid Fire Questions 00:02:40 Ravi’s Career Journey from Science to Association Technology 00:04:30 Lessons from Industry Applied to Associations 00:05:30 Using ROI and Value Metrics in Association Technology Decisions 00:07:00 Measuring Member Lifetime Value 00:08:30 The Value of MDRT Membership for Financial Professionals 00:10:30 Reworking Legacy AMS Systems Through Decoupled Data Architecture 00:12:00 Building a Modern Data Ecosystem Around Legacy Platforms 00:13:30 Scaling Membership Systems to Handle Peak Demand 00:14:45 Managing 60–70K Membership Applications During Renewal Season 00:16:00 Leveraging AI and Technology at Large Global Conferences 00:17:00 Simultaneous Translation and Multilingual Meeting Experiences 00:18:30 Solving Conference Connectivity and Infrastructure Challenges 00:20:00 Improving the Member Experience Through Technology 00:21:00 Favorite Tools: AI, Copilot, and Power Apps 00:23:30 Empowering Staff to Experiment with Technology 00:24:30 Personalization and Data-Driven Engagement 00:26:00 Using Engagement Data to Shape Event Programming 00:28:00 The Future of Digital Transformation in Associations 00:29:00 Applying a Scientific Mindset to Technology Innovation 00:31:00 Building a Culture of Experimentation and Safe Failure 00:33:00 Feasibility Studies and Agile Technology Testing 00:35:00 Applying E-commerce Thinking to Membership Value 00:37:00 The Future of AI and Meeting Technology at MDRT 00:39:00 Rethinking the Conference Experience 00:40:00 Closing Thoughts

February 23, 2026Episode 10347 min

Wrestling with Leadership and Innovation with Mike Moyer

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Mike shares his journey from wrestling coach to leading the NWCA, detailing the organization's mission to develop transformational coaches and advocate for wrestler safety through groundbreaking initiatives such as the creation of a weight management system. We delve into NWCA's innovative strategies, including coaching development programs and the Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN), which connects wrestlers with career opportunities. Mike also highlights the challenges and triumphs of expanding wrestling programs nationwide and the critical role of technology in achieving their goals.

February 16, 2026Episode 10236 min

Growth and Tech Evolution: Embracing Change with Liam O'Malley, CAE, PMP, AAiP

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome industry veteran Liam O'Malley from Path LMS by Momentive. Liam shares his extensive journey in the association market, highlighting key experiences from the American Bar Association to his current role at Momentum. The discussion covers the evolving landscape of online learning, microlearning strategies, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. Liam also introduces the exciting launch of Momentive IQ, a tool designed to centralize data and integrate various association technologies. Tune in to hear insights on managing nano markets and the future of AI in associations.