Better By Association

Legal Trends for Associations: A Conversation with Jonathan Blum

In our season 2 premier, we talk to Jonathan Blum, an attorney specializing in nonprofit and tax exempt law. He joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for discussion centered on legal trends for associations, the importance of building strong relationships, what legal areas associations should pay more attention to, and questions association should ask when seeking an attorney.   
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.
 
Show notes
Jonathan Blum is a nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations attorney in Holland & Knight's Dallas office. His experience includes assisting nonprofit leaders in managing their legal matters on a broad array of issues affecting charities, foundations, trade and professional associations, advocacy groups and other nonprofit organizations. 
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Jonathan worked in the nonprofit practice group for a national Am Law 100 firm in Dallas, where he served as counsel and later as shareholder. He also spent nearly seven years serving as in-house counsel for tax-exempt organizations such as a national breast cancer foundation and a private family foundation. In addition, he served as a transactional attorney for an international law firm headquartered in New York City. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law.

Lessons Learned: Starting a Podcast and Looking Back on Season 1

On the season 1 finale, our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert pull the curtain back on what it takes to produce a podcast like Better By Association. They talk about the nuts and bolts of the process, including setting goals, preparation and involving your entire staff in creating content. They discuss some of the best advice they've received from season 1 guests and what to look forward to in season 2. And for those looking to start a podcast for their organization, Steven and Katy chat with Colby Horton, CEO of Association Briefings and producer of Better By Association, about what makes an interesting podcast, how to pick a host, and three steps to get started.
 
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.

Tech, AI and Leadership: A Conversation with Lori Gracey, CAE

In this episode, we talk to Lori Gracey, CAE, executive director of the Texas Computer Education Association. She joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for an engaging conversation focused on leadership, learning how to lead and where to go for advice, technological advances including the use of AI, and the importance of being involved in an organization like TSAE. 
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.
 
Show notes
Lori Gracey currently serves as the executive director of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) with a staff of 21 dedicated individuals serving more than 80,000 members around the world. During her 14 years in this position, she has led TCEA in membership and revenue growth, helped to pay off their building and purchase a new, larger building (also paid off), and implemented new conferences, partnerships with other associations, and professional development opportunities for members and non-members.
Lori earned her CAE in 2014. She has served on the TSAE board and regularly presents at different TSAE events, including Association 101, New Ideas, webinars, Learn at Lunches, and the CEO Forum. She leads a weekly meeting with executive directors of other educational technology associations and has also organized and led several governance events for volunteer leaders in similar associations from around the world.
Prior to entering the association world, Lori garnered 28 years of experience in education, with 22 years as a curriculum and technology director. She served on the TCEA board of directors for 13 years previously. Lori is a past presenter at the International Society for Technology in Education and a regular presenter at the TCEA convention. She has served as the ISTE 2017 and 2013 Conference Program Chair and the 2007 NECC International Conference Chair Person, and has conducted professional development for the Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, Texas Association of School Boards, and hundreds of school districts across the country.
A MA in English and a BS in Education have helped Lori to manage the intricacies of whatever career she challenges.

All Things Leadership: A Conversation with Leslie Midgley, CAE

In this episode, we talk to Leslie Midgley, executive vice president and CEO at the Texas Land Title Association. She joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for an engaging conversation focused on leadership, her passion for the association community, mentorship advice, leadership challenges, and the importance of being involved in an organization like TSAE. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at TSAE’s New Ideas Conference in Fort Worth. 
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.
 
Show notes
Leslie Midgley joined the staff of the Texas Land Title Association over 40 years ago and has been involved in every aspect of the association since that time. Since 2001, she has been at the helm, serving as Executive Vice President and CEO, the chief paid position of the 2,500+ member organization. Prior to that, as Administrative Director and then Vice President of Operations, she was responsible for managing the association's day-to-day operations, supervising the TLTA staff and overseeing all programs and services.Leslie has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from St. Edward's University in Austin. In 1999, she successfully completed the Certified Association Executive (CAE) program through the American Society of Association Executives of which she is also a member. She served for a number of years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Association Executives and was Chairman of the Board of that organization in 2005-2006. She has been honored by both the title and association industries with the following awards: Texas Land Title Association President’s Award (2002, 2016) and Texas Society of Association Executives Distinguished Executive Award (2013), Chairman’s Award (2007), Professional Excellence Award (1990) and Making a Difference Community Service Award (2016). Additionally, she has been very involved as a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Texas Chapter, and served on their Board of Directors from 1997-2004, was Board President in 1998-1999, and received the Jack C. Kern Award for Special Service in1998. She has also been an active member of Impact Austin, a philanthropic organization that awards financial grants to Austin area non-profits. Leslie is a member of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and served as that organization’s President and Board Chair in 2016-17.Leslie lives in Austin with her husband Mike. They enjoy cooking, traveling and spending time with their grandkids.

Increasing Non-Dues Revenue: A Conversation with Carrie McIntyre

In this episode, we talk to Carrie McIntyre, principal at Navigate. She joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for a fun conversation focused on increasing non-dues revenue, what works (and doesn’t), valuable sales and marketing tips, and the importance of belonging to an organization like TSAE. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at TSAE’s New Ideas Conference in Fort Worth. 
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.

Challenges and Opportunities: A Conversation with Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP

In this episode, we talk to Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, executive director and CEO of American Mensa and the Mensa Foundation and board, and current Chair for the Texas Society of Association Executives’ Board of Directors. He joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for an engaging conversation focused on association challenges, curiosities, diversity, equity and inclusion, being authentic, and his drive to lead TSAE.
 
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.

Association Innovation: A Conversation with Christopher Williston, VI, CAE

In this episode, we talk to Christopher Williston, VI, CAE, president and CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, about innovating your association. He joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for a fun conversation that defines innovation, and includes how IBAT is innovating, what it takes for an organization - regardless of size - can innovate, and how to convince your leaders and staff that innovation is needed. He also talks about his career and life journey in the association space and what it was like working with his dad.

The Art of Mentoring for Associations: A Conversation with Alex Richardson

In this episode, we talk to Alex Richardson, CEO and co-founder of The Art of Mentoring. He joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for an engaging conversation wrapped around, what else – mentorship! They chat about the importance of mentorship in the association space, taking advantage of untapped expertise, setting up a formal mentorship program, qualities of a good mentor (and mentee), and the value of belonging to an association.
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.
Show notes
Alex Richardson is the CEO, co-founder and tech enabler behind Art ofMentoring, a HR technology company that designs strategic mentoringprograms for corporates, associations and government departments inAustralasia and North America.
Alex co-founded of Art of Mentoring alongside his mother, global mentoringexpert, Melissa Richardson in 2013. The combination of Alex’s deepunderstanding of technology and Melissa’s mentoring mastery presented anopportunity to leverage technology to mobilise strategic mentoring programsand help associations attract, develop and retain their members.
Whilst mentoring has been an important part of Alex’s life, he also has apassion for music that runs deeps, which saw Alex study sound engineeringand go on to produce albums throughout Australia, Africa and Brazil. Agile,adaptive, and technologically creative, Alex has been instrumental (pardon thepun) in the development of mentoring technology from the ground up. His nousfor establishing long-standing relationships with partners and clients, haspropelled Art of Mentoring into the HR Tech sector, and he’s not slowing down.
Alex has built some of the world’s largest mentoring programs across a varietyof sectors such as Government, Defense, Membership Associations andCorporates in countries all around the world. He specializes in programs thatcreate transformational mentoring relationships, shift culture and solvecomplex problems. Under his leadership, Art of Mentoring will continue to pushthe boundaries of unlocking the potential of powerful relationships enabled bytechnology.

Value of Membership: A Conversation with Cathi Hight

In this episode, we talk to Cathi Hight, president of Hight Performance Group, and membership guru. She joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for an engaging conversation about taking care of members throughout the member journey, attracting the next generation of members, the importance of telling your organization's story, membership marketing, and four core ways your members will engage with your association. 
This episode is sponsored by Visit College Station.  
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.
 
Show notes
Cathi Hight has more than 25 years’ experience in the association industry. She ispassionate about helping member-based organizations evolve and thrive.Considered as a Membership Guru, Cathi is the developer of The MemberRetention Kit and A New Approach to Tiered Membership. She helpsassociations meet the changing expectations of members and to effectivelycommunicate the value of membership.
Cathi’s top five StrengthFinder® talents are Strategic, Maximizer, Significance,Focus and Deliberate and she leverages these talents to facilitate scenario andstrategic planning, develop foresight for boards of directors, and implement strategic recruitment and retention initiatives for associations of all size and industry.
Cathi is a frequent speaker for national and regional associations, including the Great Ideas event for ASAE (American Society of Association Executives), Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) conventions, and state conferences. She has been an instructor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (association management certification program) since 2004. Cathi is a member of ASAE, ACCE and TSAE (Texas Society of Association Executives).
Cathi has a diverse career experience serving in leadership roles for association, manufacturing, finance, training and development, and nonprofit sectors. She was a Motorola University Instructor for six sigma, cycle time reduction and benchmarking. Her multi-industry background allows her to share best practices as a speaker, trainer, consultant, and author. Cathi holds a B.S. in Human Development from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Event Planning + Knowing Your Audience: A Conversation with Annette Hicks, CMP

In this episode, we talk to Annette Hicks, CMP, vice president of meetings & events for the Texas Food & Fuel Association. She joins our hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert for a timely conversation about the future of association event planning, cutting costs, creating amazing RFPs, the importance of mentorship, and advice for young professionals starting in the hospitality industry. Oh, and we learn a valuable lesson: Don't mess with people's bacon!
This episode is sponsored by Visit Corpus Christi.  
Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.