We've recently had David Humphries and Nancy McDonald of Global Communities on the show and today we are pleased to welcome Milton Funes who is the Director of Program Impact and Learning at Global Communities. An engineer by training, he originally became involved in international aid work when Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras in 1998. Global Communities has been operating in Honduras for 35 years and is extremely effective in not only assisting people impacted and traumatized by disaster -- but...
Apr 11, 2016•55 min
Today we're pleased to welcome Caroline Scullin, Vice President of External Relations for the Wilson Center -- the nation's premier nonpartisan think tank based in Washingon, DC. Created to honor the memory of President Woodrow Wilson, the Center is a place where scholars and experts from around the world gather to do and present research and to make the knowledge of academia more relevant, digestible, and useful for public policy makers, the media, as well as the general public. Ms. Scullin hel...
Apr 07, 2016•49 min
Today we're excited to present a show with two guests we've had previously, Robert Shea of Grant Thornton and John Porter of ACT for Alexandria. When they joined us before, we learned of their collaborative relationship so we're pleased to bring them together to pick their brains and talk about their experience and ideas for engaging their community. While they are based in Alexandria, VA, these concepts can be used anywhere. Robert Shea explains the crucial role of being a good corporate citize...
Apr 04, 2016•53 min
Maria Morukian, the president and founder of MSM Global Consulting joins us today to talk about organizational culture change and manages to convert Blake into a giant fan of consultants. She works with organizations that are undergoing (or planning to undergo) a major cultural revamp -- revising and rewriting the norms, values, and behaviors of that organization by including the perspectives of everyone on staff impacted by the transition. Emphasizing the necessity of creating / maintaingin a c...
Mar 31, 2016•37 min
Nick DeSarno joins us today from the Public Affairs Council where he manages the grassroots and communications department. The Public Affairs Council is a nonpartisan association assisting, eductating, training and advocating for public affairs professionals around the world. The public affairs field is comprised of people who work to engage influencers and public officials and the Council is a membership association representing 700 different organizations that are primarlily trade associations...
Mar 28, 2016•52 min
Nancy McDonald joins us from Global Communities where she works to implement creative programs with youth around the world through community-based solutions. A Senior Technical Specialist, her focus is to give youth a voice in their communities and help create educated, driven, and skilled leaders for the next generation. Like many working in international development, Global Communities recognizes what may work stunningly well in one country could be an offensive, cultural failure in another --...
Mar 25, 2016•47 min
Shari Turitz of the American Jewish World Service joins us to talk about international development and the human rights work they are doing in 19 countries. The AJWS partners with strong, effective locally-based organizations in the developing world and provides them with resources to make them stronger and even more effective. Their large donor base is driven by the desire for social justice, empowering them to work directly with grassroots organizations on the ground that know and understand l...
Mar 23, 2016•55 min
As we learn today from Andy Polk, you could be 3-D printing your own shoes in 10-15 years, but until then most Americans are dependent on imported shoes – like the 99% of all footwear worn in the United States. Andy Polk is Senior Vice President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America which represents the entire footwear supply chain from designers all the way to the retailers. Working in an industry that is based almost exclusively abroad presents challenges that most organization...
Mar 21, 2016•52 min
Today’s guest on Through the Noise is Reggie Henry, the Chief Information Officer for ASAE, the American Society of Association Executives. You may remember our previous discussion with ASAE President and CEO, John Graham, but if you need a refresher or missed it last time, find it here. Reggie Henry manages the technology for ASAE and ensures that it is integrated into the marketing and business plans. For those responsible for technology purchases, he advises never buying anything that’s not m...
Mar 18, 2016•58 min
Today’s guest is Brian Lagana who represents the American Trucking Associations, uniting state associations, conferences and individual members under a national umbrella organization. While a large portion of the public is anxious about getting their packages faster and faster, the ATA is responsible for ensuring that safety and regulations are adhered to in the face of growing pressures. An important component of their work is advancing the sustainability of the trucking industry and helping it...
Mar 16, 2016•51 min
Today we sit down with Richard G. Thissen & Jessica Klement who represent 225,000 members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The majority of the federal workforce is spread out all over the country although many people have the wrong impression that people who work for the government only live in Washington, DC. Ms. Klement is part of the lobbying faction to ensure that Congress does cut into the benefits of retired members, amongst other issues concerning the ...
Mar 14, 2016•42 min
Today's guest, Jonathan Zuck, is President of the App Association, a trade organization representing the interests of 5,000 companies working in the mobile economy. While the word "app" replaced the word application in the popular lexicon less a decade ago, it's been in circulation in the tech world since the 80s and represents more than just the "apps" on smartphones. Jonathan Zuck has been active in the field for decades and worked on the programmer side prior to joining the Association. Join ...
Mar 11, 2016•46 min
Courtney B. Spaeth is Chief Executive Officer of Growth, a consultancy that works with nonprofits and businesses to create plans for sustainable and measurable growth. Today's conversation is packed with valuable ideas you can take back to your own office ranging from company culture to hiring. Business development is "a lot like dating," and needs to be approached thoughtfully. Starting her career in Fortune 100 companies, Ms Spaeth brings an different approach to the nonprofit worth and her in...
Mar 09, 2016•1 hr
On Through the Noise today we're joined by Ian McLeod, Founder of Cleod9, a music production firm that specializes in the outdoor adventure field. Ian is a nontraditional guest as we don't sit down with many people from start-ups but he has some creative approaches to generating clients and buzz that could be valuable to nonprofits ready to think and work outside the box. One of his secrets to success is working from a weekly work plan of deliverables, rather than a daily list. What about you? A...
Mar 07, 2016•41 min
If anyone has ever told you to focus on your developing your weaknesses instead of your strengths, you won't want to miss David Wakeman's thoughts on the subject. Principical of the Wakeman Consulting Group, David Wakeman works with nonprofits to help remember and amplify the value they add to the world in order to become not only more profitable but also more successful. Bringing a business approach to nonprofit goals is a switch that would benefit a great number of nonprofits and today's episo...
Mar 04, 2016•49 min
Is your website running too slowly? Are you missing upgrades from your CMS? We check in with this common issue during our Problem of the Day. Don't leave your organization vulnerable to hacking. Today's guest is Mary Hynes who has been making waves and creating positive change in Arlington County during most of her 27 years there. Initially elected to the Arlington County School Board, Mary Hynes' story is a great example of recognizing a problem, thinking "someone should do something," realizin...
Mar 02, 2016•1 hr
As the United States continuously frets about the constantly rising prices of college education, we speak to Lindel Fields who is taking a decidedly different approach. As Superintendent and CEO of the Tricounty Technology Center, Lindel Fields' life work is to provide educational and vocational opportunities for high school students and adults who are hoping to provide a better life for themselves or their family. The Tricounty Technology Center, based in Oklahoma, is excellent option for those...
Feb 29, 2016•31 min
"You could be drinking dinosaur pee," Melissa Meeker points out at the start of today's episode. Executive Director of both the WateReuse Association and WateReuse Research Foundation, Melissa Meeker has decades of experience working with water in the public and private sectors. One of the Association's main objectives -- and struggles -- is educating the public about the range of possibilities for reusing water and that there is no such thing as "new water." Water is necessary for everything an...
Feb 26, 2016•42 min
The Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad has a special place in host Ernesto's heart -- he volunteered there for six years. Today's guest is his friend from that time -- Gamunu Wijetunge, President of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, who has been deeply involved in the Squad for 21 years. Despite having "volunteer" in the title, there's a common misconception about how the Rescue Squad works -- it's not funded by taxes, major donors, or foundations -- even Gamunu Wijetunge volunteers in his role as...
Feb 24, 2016•39 min
Today on Through the Noise we are joined by Paul Pomerantz, CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Managing a large association with 53,000 members with different specialties presents a number of challenges but one problem facing the ASA is the need to educate the public about their work. A large percentage of the public isn't aware of the responsibilities of anesthesiologists and do not realize the scope to which an anesthesiologist is involved in keeping patients alive and well duri...
Feb 22, 2016•48 min
Mary Collins and Stefan Woehlke founded Carpe DC Food Tours as a way to communicate the history and culture of Washington, DC through food. Focusing on the dynamic neighborhoods of Shaw and U Street, the start-up gives tourists and locals a deeper understanding of the streets and people that have made Washington, DC such a creative and fascinating place, rich with arts and literature and often obscured by the federal government's prominent influence. We sit down with Mary Collins and Stefan Woeh...
Feb 19, 2016•38 min
NPPD: Nonprofits get free google apps in the U.S. but the process is a bit more complicated for international nonprofits. If you need help signing up for these useful apps, contact Infamia, and they'll give you a hand, for free. Today we chat with Debra S. Satkowiak of The Institute of Makers of Explosives, an organization representing the commercial explosives industry, including mining, blasting, and construction. The members of IME do essential work most of us are unaware is happening but wit...
Feb 18, 2016•39 min
Today we sit down with Shaun Masavage, the CEO/Founder of Edge Tech Labs, a product development firm that recently launched their first product, DrinkMate, a personal, portable breathalyzer that works with your smartphone. Now available for Androids and iPhones, this compact tool has a great back story which we hear some of today. If you have a fantastic idea for a new tool, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Learn the ins and outs of working with manufacturers in China, why that approac...
Feb 11, 2016•44 min
Today's problem of the day is how to rectify a protected Twitter account with the need to reach a wide audience. And this ties right into our guest, Horacio Gavilán, Executive Director of AHAA, the largest national trade organization "representing the entire Hispanic marketing, communications and media industry." The word Hispanic was invented in 1972 by the U.S. Census Bureau to encompass 37 different nationalities and the population of those who would check that box in the Census is now 57 mil...
Feb 07, 2016•37 min
We start today's episode by checking in with Mickey of Infamia for the Nonprofit Problem of the Day. Now that you have a Member Community, the challenge is to integrate it into your CRM so your users (and staff) have full functionality. Today is a bit of a departure as we sit down with Robert Shea of Grant Thornton, one of our rare guests from the private sector. In the Washington region though, even the private sector is deeply embedded in public for the public, as are most of our guests. As th...
Feb 04, 2016•41 min
Our latest Nonprofit Problem of the Week: setting up a Member Community. How could a Member Community benefit your organization?Today we have a very timely guest -- Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist of the Consumer Technology Association, the organization responsible for the world's largest technology trade show which just wrapped up in Las Vegas. With over 150,000 attendees and 3500 exhibitors, it's hard not to hear the breathless reports all over mainstream media as people gush about the new...
Feb 02, 2016•46 min
Our latest Nonprofit Problem of the Week involves an association management system that was acquired and installed without proper integration into the association's website, leaving members unable to login and interact with the organization. Don't let your members or donors down with a compromised system, contact Infamia today to ensure your processes are working smoothly. Today's guest is Cynthia Woodroof of the American Art Therapy Association that works to support the young but fast-growing f...
Jan 30, 2016•43 min
Today's Nonprofit Problem of the Week addresses CRMs. Are you pleased with the technology you're using to manage your member and donor relationships? Do you have all the functionality you require -- without tons of extraneous options? Call Infamia if you are ready to stop struggling with this essential part of nonprofit management. And our guest is Joseph Doss of the International Bottled Water Association who helps dispel some of the rumors about the bottled water industry. Did you know that mo...
Jan 18, 2016•41 min
Today's nonprofit problem of the week: Wonky mobile apps that inexplicably changed fonts. Have you had issues with your mobile app behaving erratically? Infamia can help... Join us today for a conversation with Kris Admundson, the Executive Director of the National Association of State Boards of Education as we explore some of the new "No Child Left Behind" law and what it means for state boards of education, local community organizations, teachers, and students. Representing the Education Board...
Jan 18, 2016•46 min
Levanto of Obadal, Filler, MacLeod and Klein, a law firm specializing in public policy and association management. Many quite small nonprofits don't have the ability to maintain a full-time staff -- or hire one person who can wear every hat -- and that's where association management firms come in. We explore different reasons nonprofits would have a lawyer on staff and how a single issue organization can avoid putting itself out of business. You may recognize this as a regular theme among guests...
Jan 15, 2016•52 min
