Association & Conference Group, LLC

#WisdomWednesday: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

As the Director of Operations, Amanda Shumaker is responsible for ensuring operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. Amanda leads the groups responsible recruitment, onboarding and professional development of the ACG staff; budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting; implementing and maintaining technology solutions; and delivering the highest levels of quality assurance. In addition to this role, Amanda serves as the Executive Director of the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA). Working with a team of association professionals, Amanda brings a unique blend of strategic board management experiences, a passion for non-profits and a client-centered perspective to association management. Amanda has over 15 years of experience managing associations, organizational operations, meetings and events for multinational associations. She began her career in event management at Alpha Delta Pi Sorority as Meeting Planner in Atlanta, GA. In this role, she was the project manager for all organization events, including committee meetings, banquets, conferences and conventions. Amanda attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration majoring in Management. In 2014, Amanda earned her designation as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). Read More: https://lnkd.in/eeAMKFwv #ACG #MeetTheTeam

Associations continue to provide the essential avenues for professional development, networking, advocacy, knowledge sharing, community support, and social impact. But it’s going to take difficult decisions and investment to re-establish their six Rs: relevance, recruitment, retention, relationship, revenue, and resilience. During a time when content and networking have been commoditized, these five trends can help associations demonstrate value to members and grow the organization: https://lnkd.in/gQ-z-DbR

Associations should make posting content and engaging with their social channels easy and exciting for attendees. “Be creative and have fun,” says Kristin Jones, social media manager at the Project Management Institute. It’s valuable to get user-generated content from events as well, according to Jones. When attendees share the event on their channels, new people will get to see who you are and what you do. People are also more likely to engage with content that’s meaningful to them. “Interact with your audience in ways that they care about, so they feel more engaged and connected to the organization.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gBkWA4kf

#WisdomWednesday: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Get to know Valery Koontz, CAE! Val joined ACG in 2016 and is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of fostering strong relationships and delivering exceptional service within the association management industry. In her role as Director of Client Services, Val excels at understanding the unique needs of a diverse array of associations and ensuring their goals are met and exceeded. Val is adept at managing multiple client accounts, leading and managing internal teams, and streamlining processes to ensure seamless operations. Val's passion for client satisfaction and her deep understanding of the AMC landscape make her an invaluable asset to ACG and its clients. As part of her responsibilities, Val serves on the Leadership Team and is an integral part of building and executing ACGs strategic plan. Val began her career working for the Camden County Bar Association, focusing on event management and membership coordination and recruitment. She later went on to work as an account manager for L&T Health and Fitness where she was responsible for managing health-related events for Government Agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and townships nationwide. At this position, Val managed 40+ clients and excelled at building meaningful and lasting client relationships. Val earned a BA from Rowan University and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, offered by ASAE, in 2023. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eeAMKFwv #ACG #MeetTheTeam

Is your association considering branching out internationally? There are 10 critical steps to take when establishing an international presence for the first time or expanding to additional markets: 1. Leverage engaged members and bring them on the journey with you from the start 2. Obtain a clear understanding of the legal requirements of the region 3. If your association administers certifications, consider the additional legal and operational hurdles 4. Know your association’s risk tolerance 5. Assess current penetration and potential in the target market(s) 6. Using that research, get board buy-in and understanding that money will likely not be made in year one—in fact, it often takes three to five years 7. Determine the membership and dues structure that will be most successful in the country or region 8. Develop a clear plan and KPIs 9. Build a network of local professionals, such as leaders from other associations 10. Consider low-cost tests before significant investments are made Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gaEJJxNN

Thank you to the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Philadelphia Chapter (AFP-GPC) volunteers who made this year's Leading Philanthropy a massive success! Over 250 attendees gathered in Philadelphia for a day of education and networking. ACG is proud of our partnership, and we look forward to another successful year in 2025.

Member-generated content is effective because it feels authentic. Employee-generated content (EGC) has been used for years to increase the reach of the content, and there is no doubt that associations can follow a similar model. Content generated by real, active members is more likely to resonate with others within their networks. Ideally, associations should aim to recruit as many members as possible to assist with these efforts. Learn more about how to be successful using member-generated content 👇 https://lnkd.in/eBHwAU7b

#WisdomWednesday: "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." - Estée Lauder