In our second episode in our recap series of TPAC sessions at ASAE's MMC+T Conference, Stephen Gabriel, Senior Director of Technology at American Health Law Association, talks with Rhoni Rakos, Director of Digital Strategy at fusionSpan about her session: Roadmapping Your Readiness for Emerging Technology!

Your news feed is flooded with stories about the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. But many associations are experimenting not just with AI, but with augmented reality, cloud computing, blockchain, and more. We live in a world where the next big leap in technology is always just around the corner.

There is a distinct lack of practical advice in this sea of solutions. How can your association best prepare for AI and other emerging technologies? What policies and systems do you need in place to successfully leverage emerging technologies? Is your data—the fuel for many emerging tech—ready?

Rhoni Rakos - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoni-rakos-0a02aa15/⁠

Stephen Gabriel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-gabriel-ab045a1b/

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On this episode of Association Tech Insider, we get an inside look at the MMC+Tech Precon event, hosted by the technology, marketing, communications and councils.

Rhoni Rakos, Director of Digital Strategy at fusionSpan and TPAC members hosts Carlos Cardenas, Sr. Dir. of Information Technology at National Board of certification and recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, Justin Burniske - Principal Consultant and Co-Owner of Meta-Dao, and Gretchen Steenstra - Dir of Client Strategy at DelCore Technology Solutions.

The conversation covers the format of the precon event and what participants experienced, the case studies that were discussed, and the key outcomes and learning that emerged from the conversation and workshop. Join us as we get the inside scoop of this precon event!

Rhoni Rakos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoni-rakos-0a02aa15/
Carlos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/semperwifi/

Justin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jburniske/

Gretchen - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchensteenstra/

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On this episode of Association Tech Insider, we discussed the overlap of Marketing and Technology, led by members of ASAE's Marketing Council and Technology Council.

Rhoni Rakos, Director of Digital Strategy at fusionSpan and TPAC members hosts Laura Sparks, Senior Marketing and Web Manager at Entomological Society of America and incoming ASAE Marketing Council Chair along with Amy Gavin, Director of Digital Strategy at American Society for Nutrition.

The conversation covers a wide swath of issues related to marketing technology, from the approach to marketing tools, how to measure the ROI of a tool, when to consider sunsetting a tool, and the importance of a close collaboration between the marketing and technology teams at your association.

Rhoni Rakos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoni-rakos-0a02aa15/

Laura Sparks - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraelizabethsparks/

Amy Gavin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysgavin/

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Tadu, Monica, and Tim convened to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the technology sector as part of a podcast series. Tadu, the Vice President of Digital Engagement at Nakubo, emphasized the importance of DEI practices in their work. Monica, the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the American Council on Education, shared that she is currently navigating DEI initiatives at her new organization. Tim, the Managing Director at Mckinley Advisors, highlighted his long-standing focus on DEI and technology strategy. The group is located in the DC area.

Tune into the latest episode of "Association Tech Insider," where we examine the vital dynamics of vendor management in the association sector. Hosted by Gretchen Steenstra, Director of Client Strategy at DelCor, and Alex Mouw, Principal Strategic Advisor for Membership Organizations at AWS for Nonprofits, this discussion navigates the shared responsibilities and strategic alignments necessary between associations and their technology vendors.

Episode Highlights:

1. Balanced Responsibilities: Explore with TPAC members and association community leaders the intricate balance of responsibility in vendor relationships. Ensuring both parties are proactive and clearly define their roles is crucial for a successful partnership.

2. Emergency Preparedness: Addressing the recent abrupt departure of a Sitefinity vendor, we delve into essential strategies for preparing and managing such emergencies. The importance of contingency plans and maintaining robust communication to swiftly handle vendor transitions is underscored.

3. Special Announcement: Progress Software, the owner of Sitefinity, has extended a special offer to associations impacted by the vendor departure, highlighting the importance of supportive vendor relationships in crisis times.

Featured Guests:

Gretchen Steenstra, Director of Client Strategy at DelCor, provides expert insights on strategic client management and crisis resolution.

Alex Mouw, Principal Strategic Advisor for Membership Organizations at AWS for Nonprofits, discusses leveraging cloud solutions for enhanced membership services.

Joanna Piñeda, CEO of Matrix Group, emphasizes the importance of strategic leadership and robust emergency planning.

Ray van Hilst, Director of Client Results at Yoko, underscores the necessity of effective communication and trust-building in sustaining productive vendor relationships.

Nicole Araujo, Client Engagement Director from Mighty Citizen, shares her expertise on partnership management and project execution.

Stephen Tidmore, Executive VP of Technology at Mighty Citizen, discusses managing large, complex technology projects that align with strategic goals.

Reggie Henry, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE, highlights strategic considerations in managing vendor transitions effectively.

Don’t miss this enlightening conversation on mastering the complexities of vendor partnerships in the association space. This episode provides valuable strategies for enhancing your vendor management practices and ensuring your association is prepared for any situation.

Listen now to equip your association with the knowledge to manage vendor relationships more effectively and leverage these partnerships for long-term success.

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On this episode of Association Tech Insider, we explore what Technology Leaders can learn from Researchers.

Carlos Cardenas leads a discussion with Shahid Choudhry, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation at the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), and Josh Bula, Ph.D., Director of Information Technology for the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) and Florida School Music Association (FSMA).

We discuss the critical role of information in today’s society and the process of converting raw data into actionable insights, emphasizing the importance of informatics. Choudhry advocated for a culture of experimentation within organizations, suggesting practices such as "Creative Fridays" to encourage innovation and creative problem-solving among IT staff and researchers. The conversation pivots around how IT leaders can effectively nurture a culture that embraces experimentation and innovation. Leadership support is necessary for challenging the status quo and promoting a mindset geared towards exploration and creativity.

They emphasized the need for proof of concepts, methodological processes, open dialogue and collaboration, and continuing education in turning innovative ideas into reality. They also discuss the synergies between IT leadership and research methodologies, highlighting the significance of a culture that encourages experimentation, data-informed decision-making, and creative problem-solving.

This discussion provides valuable insights into how IT professionals can learn from research practices to drive innovation and progress within their organizations.

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This episode of Association Tech Insider dives into the realm of user research and usability testing, highlighting its significance for enhancing digital experiences for associations.

Hosted by Ray van Hilst (Yoko Co), this roundtable discussion brings together experts Rhoni Rakos (fusionSpan), Jacqui Olkin (Olkin Communications), and Ella Fielding (Optimal Workshop) to share their experiences, best practices, trends, and the transformative power of usability testing to improve digital experiences for associations.

The conversation touches on methodologies, the value of research in strategy and product development, and practical advice for organizations aiming to elevate their UX through informed design decisions.

The discussion includes:

• Introduction and Expert Insights
• Significance of Usability Testing
• Case Studies and Trends in Usability Testing
• Strategic Value of User Research
• UX as a Competitive Advantage
• Research Methodologies and Tools
• Tips for Conducting Effective Research
• Learnings and Insights from User Testing
• Getting Started with Usability Testing and Resources

This podcast is in conjunction with ASAE's Meetings & Expositions Professionals Advisory Council.

In this enlightening episode of "Association Tech Insider," TPAC member Vinnu Deshetty, CEO and Founder of EVA Event Tech Hub, interviews Ksenija Polla, Head of Education and Legacy Programmes with International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Ksenija shares an intriguing case study from her recent conference, highlighting the revolutionary use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform how events synthesize and leverage content. By employing AI technology, her team was able to summarize extensive roundtable discussions and create comprehensive presentations overnight - a task that traditionally required multiple people and several days to accomplish. This breakthrough enabled them to present valuable insights to attendees the very next day, showcasing the immense potential of AI to enhance efficiency and attendee engagement at events. Tune in to discover how AI is setting new standards in the event planning and execution landscape.

Host

Vinnu Deshetty

CEO/Founder

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnudeshetty/

EVA Event Tech Hub

https://www.evareg.com

Guest

Ksenija (Martinec) Polla, CMP, CICE

Head of Education and Legacy Programmes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksenijapolla

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)

https://www.iccaworld.org

Make sure to follow TPAC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asae-tpac/

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used in the editing of the podcast to remove "Umm"s and "Ahh"s, but all content was created by people!