About this podcast
This is Associations Thrive, the podcast celebrating successful associations and their leaders. Listen in as top association executives tell all, revealing the creative and innovative ways they’re increasing their bottom line, serving their members, and reimaging their organizations.
The Associations Thrive podcast is hosted by Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International. Joanna’s personal mission and the mission of Matrix Group is to help associations and nonprofits increase membership, generate revenue and thrive in the digital space.
We believe that every association has a unique mission and unique story in how they’re serving their members, impacting their industry, and ultimately changing the world. Guests include top trade association, professional society, and non profit executives. We’re here to help amplify their stories so all associations can learn and thrive, together.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 200 episodes
- 200. Joanna Pineda, CEO of Matrix Group, on 200 Podcast Episodes, Writing a Book, and What’s Next for the Company · 37 min · Episode 200What do 200 conversations with association CEOs teach us about leadership, resilience, and the extraordinary impact of associations? In this special 200th episode of Associations…
- 199. Patti Montague, CEO of SNA, on Keeping Kids Fed, Advocating Through Crisis, and Protecting the Future of School Meals · 28 min · Episode 199What happens when schools close, but millions of children still need breakfast and lunch? How can an association help its members keep feeding students—and respond when rising…
- 198. Devin Jopp, CEO of APIC & Tracey Moorhead, CEO of AAPACN, on When It Mattered Most, How Associations Stepped Up During COVID, and the Lasting Lessons of the Pandemic · 44 min · Episode 198When the world was in crisis and people desperately needed trusted guidance, who stepped up to help professions, industries, healthcare systems, schools, and communities navigate…
- 197. Bridget Lee, Founder & ED of ALL Chicago, on Effective Governance, Board Training, and Empowered Communities · 36 min · Episode 197What does it take to turn passionate community advocates into effective board members? And how can associations and nonprofits better prepare volunteer leaders to govern instead…
- 196. Randy Bowman, CEO of IACET, on Quality Continuing Education, Microlearning, and Responsible AI · 27 min · Episode 196How do learners know that the continuing education they receive is accurate and high quality? As AI and new technologies transform learning, how can associations ensure their…
- 195. Sheri Jacobs, CAE, CEO of Avenue M Group, on The Unexpected Power of Boundaries, Smart Risk-Taking, and Innovation · 38 min · Episode 195What if the thing holding your team back from innovation isn’t too many constraints, but too few? And how can associations create clear boundaries that give staff the confidence…
- 194. Jana Darling, President of MGI, on Why Membership Growth Is Getting Harder and Making Your Value Clear · 30 min · Episode 194What happens when membership growth gets harder, even though the members you already have continue to renew? How can associations better communicate their value, attract new…
- 193. Carlos Cardenas, CAE, President of Association Latinos, on Leadership, Cultural Superpowers, and Hispanic Heritage Month · 26 min · Episode 193What happens when professionals stop viewing their culture as something they need to minimize at work, and start recognizing it as a leadership superpower? And how can…
- 192. Cheryl Kreider Carey, CAE, CEO of SIIM, on Building Bridges Across Imaging, AI, and Creating a Culture of Belonging · 20 min · Episode 192What does it take for a 45-year-old association to continually reinvent itself in a field being transformed by digitization and AI? And how can an association bring together…
- 191. Angela Davis, CEO of SPR and Yasmeen Fields, CEO of SBI, on Becoming Independent, Association Autonomy, and the Power of Executive Peer Networks · 29 min · Episode 191What happens when the organization that has managed your association for decades tells you that you have 18 months to find a new path forward? How can association leaders…
- 190. Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, on Growing a Niche Sport, Membership Models, and Media Partnerships · 31 min · Episode 190How does a sport that many people notice only once every four years build sustained, double-digit growth year after year? What can associations learn from USA Fencing about…
- 189. Kelly Dooley, ED/CEO of ITEEA, on STEM Literacy, STEM Teaching Standards, and Non-Dues Revenue · 35 min · Episode 189What does it take to prepare every student, not just future engineers, for a world shaped by technology, AI, and constant innovation? And what role should associations play in…
- 188. Nir Hindie, Founder of The Artian Part Two: How Business Artistry Applies to Associations · 38 min · Episode 188What if your conference wasn't designed around sessions, speakers, and logistics, but around how you wanted attendees to feel? How can your association bring more artistry…
- 187. Nir Hindie, Founder of The Artian, Part One: What is Business Artistry? · 31 min · Episode 187Can an association create deeper member loyalty by focusing not just on solving problems, but on creating experiences that people genuinely care about? In an era where efficiency…
- 186. Phil Goldfeder, CEO of AFC, on Responsible Financial Innovation, Creating a Standards-Based Association, and Staying Warm and Fuzzy · 34 min · Episode 186How do you help an industry innovate at breakneck speed while ensuring consumer protection, trust, and regulatory compliance? And what role should an association play in bringing…
- 185. Jeff Morgan, President & CEO of CMAA, on Community as the Secret Sauce, Member-Driven Growth, and Global Certification · 31 min · Episode 185How does an association grow from 6,000 to 9,000 members without a membership sales team? What can associations learn from an organization whose members actively recruit the next…
- 184. David Walsh, ED of VSAE, on Member Recruitment, New Member Engagement, and Learning Pathways · 32 min · Episode 184What if your association's most effective membership recruiters aren't staff at all, but your members themselves? In an era where association professionals have countless options…
- 183. Emily Bardach, Executive Director of AWPA, on Advocacy, Strategic Planning, and Building Momentum · 31 min · Episode 183When your industry is everywhere but almost invisible, how do you tell your story? And how can associations help members navigate tariffs, supply chain pressures, and changing…
- 182. Celeste Warren, Founder of Destination STEM, Inc, on Representation in STEM, Virtual Access, and Building the Future Workforce · 23 min · Episode 182What happens when young people never see anyone who looks like them in the careers they dream about pursuing? And how can associations, nonprofits, and mission-driven…
- 181. Michele Jones, EVP/CEO of NIA, on Her Long Tenure, National Standards, and Member Value in a Consolidating Industry · 28 min · Episode 181What if one of the most important contributors to energy efficiency, worker safety, and emissions reduction is also one of the most overlooked? And in an industry facing…
