Welcome to THE PODCAST

Susan Avery, CAE, CEO of the Performance Plastics Association, joins us to expose why trade associations have become the "forgotten format" in association management. With 28 years spanning both sides of the association world, Susan reveals critical differences between serving companies versus individuals that most "best practices" completely miss.

We discuss how the trade association CEO role has shifted from mission-driven to entrepreneurial, why governance models that work for professional societies fail for trade associations, and the unique challenges of industry consolidation and private equity. Susan challenges conventional wisdom, arguing we need to stop looking backward and start building governance and membership models for the future. Essential listening for association executives ready to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions.

Trust is under attack; from misinformation, disinformation, and even unchecked AI “truths.” In this powerful new episode of Association Transformation, Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain revisit their white paper Restoring Trust in Expertise and discuss how associations can become the custodians of credibility that our fractured world needs. With ASAE’s new Trust in Associations campaign making headlines, the duo explores what it means to practice radical transparency, verify what’s real, and bring people together across divides. Listen in for a candid conversation about how associations can reassert their public purpose and rebuild confidence in expertise; one fact, one member, and one mission at a time.