Shows
The Association Evidence ProjectThe State of Membership: What the Data RevealsIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, welcomes Jana Darling, president of Marketing General, and Dr. Adina Wasserman, MGI’s director of research, to unpack findings from the 2026 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report. Now in its 18th year, the report reveals a challenging membership landscape, with fewer associations reporting growth and declining confidence in their value propositions. The conversation explores the economic, political, generational, and competitive forces affecting membership and, more importantly, what growing associations are doing differently. Darling and Wasserman discuss the importance of year-round member acquisition, stronger onboarding and engagement, li...
2026-09-2933 min
The Association Evidence ProjectFrom Insight to Action: The Keys to Organizational AgilityIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, welcomes Patrick Glaser, chief practice officer at McKinley Advisors, and Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CEO of the American Epilepsy Society, to explore new ASAE Foundation research from the Seven Measures of Success series examining organizational agility and resilience. They unpack what these often-used terms actually mean for associations and why an organization’s capacity, rather than its size or budget, can be the greatest barrier to adapting and moving forward. The conversation explores findings from the Organizational Agility and Resilience Index, including the cr...
2026-08-2530 min
The Association Evidence ProjectRethinking Chapters: What the Latest Benchmarking Data RevealsIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, is joined by Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, president and executive director of Mariner Management, and Peter Houstle, CEO and COO of Mariner Management, to explore key findings from their latest chapter performance and benchmarking report. Drawing on data from associations and chapter leaders across the industry, they examine how evolving member expectations are reshaping chapter engagement, volunteer leadership, and organizational structures. The conversation highlights the growing challenge of sustaining volunteer leadership, with both associations and chapter leaders reporting increasing difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteers...
2026-06-1642 min
The Association Evidence ProjectDesigning for Everyone: Advancing Neuro Inclusion in AssociationsIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, is joined by Celia Zamora, CAE, Executive Director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, and Jen Mehltretter, CAE, Director of Membership and Constituent Services at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, to discuss new research from the ASAE Research Foundation and MPI Foundation, Enhancing Neuro Inclusive Practices in Associations. The conversation explores why neuro inclusion is gaining urgency—shaping how associations foster belonging, support learning, and create meaningful connections—while also unpacking why it often goes unaddressed due to stigma, uncertainty, and...
2026-04-1432 min
The Association Evidence ProjectWhen Education Drives Impact: Strategic Clarity for Association Education ProgramsIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, speaks with Celisa Steele, co-founder and managing director of Tagoras, about new research examining the strategic outlook for association learning businesses. Steele explains that while many associations see strong potential for growth in their education portfolios—and recognize learning as both mission-critical and a source of non-dues revenue—progress is often limited by internal capacity challenges in areas such as staffing, marketing and sales, technology, and data use. The conversation explores how strategic clarity can guide decision-making and how associations can differentiate their learning offe...
2026-03-1726 min
The Association Evidence ProjectBridging the Gap: What Associations Still Miss About Member NeedsIn this episode of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, speaks with Tirrah Switzer, vice president of product marketing at Momentive Software, about insights from the 10th Annual Associations Trends Research Report “Bridging the Gap: Aligning Association Professionals and Members for Success” and what it reveals about alignment between association professionals and their members. Together, they explore the ongoing disconnect around career advancement, noting that members prioritize job opportunities more than organizations often realize. The conversation also examines how the competitive landscape is shifting with the growth of influencer-led communities and niche platforms, along with...
2026-02-1030 min
The Association Evidence ProjectWhy Evidence Matters: Turning Research into Strategy for AssociationsIn the inaugural episode of the Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, sits down with three leading voices in association research and strategy: Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of Avenue M Group; Dean West, FASAE, founder and president of Association Laboratory Inc.; and Andrea Wieters, director of strategic and future-focused research at ASAE. Together, they examine the current state of association research, including persistent challenges around data utilization, survey fatigue, and turning insights into action. The discussion centers on how associations can move beyond collecting information to using evidence as a strategic asset...
2026-01-1336 min
The Association Evidence ProjectThe Association Evidence Project TrailerIn this preview of The Association Evidence Project, host Lowell Aplebaum introduces a new series designed to help association leaders cut through the noise and make smarter, data-informed decisions. Each episode spotlights the research, insights, and experts shaping the future of the association sector — from governance and membership to foresight, economics, and innovation. Season One begins with conversations from inside the evidence itself, featuring leading researchers as they share what they’re seeing, studying, and anticipating as we move into 2026.
2025-11-2001 min