Val Giddings is a Senior Fellow at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation and joins us today to talk agriculture, GMOs, and sustainability, and facts. ITIF is a think tank that been around for just over a decade with the mission to "formulate, evaluate, and promote policy solutions that accelerate innovation and boost productivity to spur growth, opportunity, and progress. "Alternative Facts" have been dominating our news cycle for months and we address them on today's show as re...
Mar 20, 2017•41 min
Today we're speaking with Joseph Colangelo, the Founder of Bear Analytics, a small firm dedicated to providing associations with analytics they can use to transform their events. They focus on actionable analytics -- giving you information you can actually use to improve your organization's tradeshows, conventions, exhibits, and services. Want to find out more about your audience or who is attending your conventions? Curious why people attend for 1-2 years and then drop off? Check them out. With...
Mar 16, 2017•44 min
We're thrilled to welcome Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association. He joins us on the heels of one of the world's most popular conventions, the "Gadget Show" which CTA hosts every January in Las Vegas -- the only city equipped to handle their 175,000 attendees, 4000 exhibitors, and 1000 speakers. For the CES, they "build a city in a week" in order to house their growing attendance and the exhibit hall which is so massive, it's not possible to see it all in one week. Mr. Shaprio ...
Mar 13, 2017•25 min
Michael Fischetti is the Executive Director of the National Contract Management Association and he joins us on Through the Noise to discuss the ins and outs of contract management, who does it, and why we need it. With 20,000 members, the NCMA is the professional association for professional contract management, including those that work with government agencies. Contracting officers are required for contracts that involve tax-payer funded projects and the NCMA provides continuing education cred...
Mar 09, 2017•27 min
Nonprofit boards and staff are often too busy and, let's face it -- unprepared -- for the task of finding a new executive to head the organization and so they turn to professionals for help and we've brought one on the show for you today. Pamela Kaul is the President of Association Strategies, Inc. and her company manages the executive search from top to bottom to ensure that the org has access to the very best candidates. She mentions that they don't help people find jobs as much as they help o...
Mar 06, 2017•42 min
As a country, we've started 2017 with a lot more healthcare uncertainty and insecurity than recent years. Costs are rising and the Affordable Care Act remains on the chopping block of many Republicans, leaving those seeking healthcare with high premiums for minimal procedures. So we've invited David Sloves to join us on the show by phone to address some of the concerns facing nonprofits. As CEO of Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services, his aim is to deliver affordable healthcare option...
Mar 02, 2017•42 min
Tara Palacios of Arlington Economic Development joins us to talk about her role as BizLaunch Program Lead and how she helps prospective businesses owners become successful business owners. AED works with for-profit and nonprofit businesses of all sizes and Ms. Palacios worked for a decade with AED's nonprofit capacity building program and she encourages nonprofits to seek their services as well. The main problem she sees -- particularly with for-profit companies, but also with nonprofits -- is l...
Feb 27, 2017•46 min
We're thrilled to welcome Megan Beyer, Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. She was appointed to the position when Obama decided to break with tradition and staff the committee with artists instead of philanthropists. Join us for a discussion on the arts and their transformative role in education as we explore the question "Why are the arts always the first to go in financially tough times?" When you hear about the Renaissance, the focus is always the a...
Feb 23, 2017•51 min
Our guest today, Jeff De Cagna, will change the way you think about your approach to board recruitment, management, and collaboration. Charging that nonprofit organizations of all ages, sizes, and missions are missing a crucial opportunity for growth and relevance by under utilizing their boards, and that boards are similarly wasting their skills, time, and connections by focusing on the minutiae of organizational operations and micromanaging staff rather than looking ahead and being proactive a...
Feb 20, 2017•42 min
Though most of our guests are from nonprofits, occasionally we bring in a subject matter expert to offer advice relevant to all nonprofits. Today we're excited to bring you a wealth of knowledge on communications from Dionne C. Clemons, Professor of Strategic Communications at Howard University. In order to grow your organization, it's essential to have a communications plan that fits with your organization's strategic goals and to know where your audience is so you can meet them where they are....
Feb 16, 2017•47 min
Kari Luther Rosbeck spends most of her days fighting the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex -- the rare genetic disorder that is the leading genetic cause of both epilepsy and autism -- we were fortunate to get her on the show today to discuss some of the strategies her staff at the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance employ in the struggle against this horrific illness. A common problem many organizations have is getting heard Through the Noise (ding ding ding) especially with the tremendous variety of illness...
Feb 13, 2017•49 min
Michael Monti joins us in our newly painted studio to talk architecture, design, and education. As the Executive Director of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, he represents a membership base of 200 architecture schools, 6,000 faculty members, and 200 affiliated firms. Working to keep architecture curriculums relevant, members collaborate and communicate to stay on top of evolving trends, like the increasing concentration on green buildings with energy efficient performance. ...
Feb 09, 2017•49 min
Today we sit down with Virginia Bader of the American Dental Education Association. With many years under her belt in the nonprofit world, Ms. Bader runs the communications for ADEA as their Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. ADEA represents the 76 dental schools in the US and Canada as well as 20,000 individual members that are dental professionals. Unlike medical schools which includes years of residencies, dental schools must prepare students to be practicing dentists on day 1 so the...
Feb 06, 2017•49 min
Frank Walter is the Vice President for Strategic Communications for Child Trends, a locally-based, national organization that works to improve the lives of all children and their families. As a data and research-driven organization, they work to disseminate information that can benefit children and families and dispel information that is incorrect or leads to harmful practices. While many organizations and publications are reluctant to publish negative findings, Child Trends is working to democr...
Feb 02, 2017•46 min
As our reliance on technology grows, our need for information security continues to evolve and so we've invited Patrick Gaul, Executive Director of the National Technology Security Coalition to join us on Through the Noise. We address "Security fatigue," a troubling problem for professionals who work to keep corporations and organizations safe from hackers and industrial espionage. If you've wondered if your organization is equipped to deal of the rapidly changing technological landscape, Patric...
Jan 30, 2017•55 min
Today's episode with Erin Fuller is an excellent way to start the New Year and consider new strategies and perspectives from a professional who has over 20 years experience managing associations. As President of the Association Management & Consulting Branch of MCI USA Group, she has driven the growth of her own firm as well as that of dozens of other associations across the United States. One problem she sees again and again is the conviction of some nonprofit staff that nonprofits don't ne...
Jan 26, 2017•50 min
Most people working for nonprofits are probably familiar with ASAE -- the American Society for Association Executives and regular listeners to Through the Noise are certainly aware of their contributions to the association world. We've had several ASAE staff on the show and have talked about their many conferences bringing together diverse organizations with the vendors that work to make them run more effectively and efficiently. We took the opportunity to leave the studio and visit their 2016 T...
Jan 24, 2017•32 min
Join us for our conversation with RJ Karney who represents the 5.9 million member American Farm Bureau Federation. They are the "voice of agriculture" and are a true grassroots organization starting at the county level with 2500 county bureaus that compromise the 50 state farm bureaus. A major focus of the American Farm Bureau Federation is to let people know that their food doesn't just "come from the grocery store" and that 2 million Americans start their day long before sunrise to plant, grow...
Jan 23, 2017•53 min
Most of the savvy listeners of Through the Noise are fully aware of the efficacy and necessity of social media but if you're still on the fence, our guest today, Tammy Gordon of Verified Strategy could be the one to make the case that works for you. As an early social media pioneer, she created and ran the social media program and department for a 37 million member organization, AARP, and oversaw tremendous growth and engagement. After a decade with AARP, she founded Verified Strategy to support...
Jan 16, 2017•49 min
Join us for a conversation on mental illness with Mary Giliberti, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Representing 50,000 members with 900 affiliates and 48 state organizations, NAMI advocates for all sufferers of mental illnesses while working to eradicate the stigmas surrounding it. Their approach includes emphasizing the person not the illness, adopting language such as "a person suffering from schizophrenia" rather than "a schizophrenic." Collaborating with different associations...
Jan 09, 2017•44 min
We really enjoyed our conversation with Chris Mead of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives when he was a guest on Through the Noise last year so we decided to invite him back on the show. We wanted to find out more about his work with the Association as well as his passion -- a historian of the Chamber of Commerce. Last time he was in the studio, we talked about the history of the various Chambers of Commerce around the country and his book "Magicians of Main Street." With over 7000...
Jan 02, 2017•46 min
Kiki L'Italien is the CEO & Founder of Amplified Growth, a digital marketing firm specializing in SEO and SEM -- search engine optimization and search engine marketing. These types of online outreach are crucial for nonprofits to stay relevant but they are often misunderstood or overlooked. We talk about nonprofit growth, and reaching and engaging current and potential members. As many of our guests have noted on Through the Noise, it is essential to know who you are trying to reach, find ou...
Dec 26, 2016•41 min
Today's guest is Henry Wallmeyer, President & CEO of the National Club Association. The National Club Association is the nonprofit that represents and advocates on behalf of all private clubs. Their membership base is the club itself, rather than the staff of the clubs, and they currently have 400 members and are striving to reach 1000. Private clubs took a major hit after the recession as individuals from all walks of life strove to tighten up their budgets and eliminate extraneous expenses...
Dec 19, 2016•44 min
If you've recovered from your eating, drinking, and shopping hangovers, join us for a conversation with Lisa Karlisch, a Management Consultant with Sparkfire Strategy. Whether you are with a new organization, thinking of starting one, trying to manage and scale growth, or decide if you've achieved what you set out to do -- Ms. Karlisch can help you figure out where you need to go next. Though many people hope to hire a management consultant to tell them exactly what they need to do, the Sparkfir...
Dec 12, 2016•40 min
Grab a cup of coffee for this conversation with Mary Linnell-Simmons of Fairtrade America as we explore the ideas behind "fair trade" and consider the implications of our choices. Do you know anything about that coffee? Who grew the beans? Who harvested them? The fair trade movement is involved in making the entire supply chain fair so producers of food and other goods we depend on are able to live sustainable, healthy lives. Fairtrade America provides a voluntary certification that a product is...
Dec 05, 2016•44 min
Today's guest is Scott Michael who steps away from his role as President & CEO of the American Moving & Storage Association where he has helped the industry in various capacities over the past 23 years. While moving and storage typically are not the subject of heated dinner party debates, they play an important role in the lives of most people, at least occasionally. Find out how a well-timed and organized move can make all the difference for military families who must move and uproot th...
Nov 28, 2016•44 min
We're very excited to welcome Delshan Baker to the show today. Ms. Baker joins us from an organization in Baltimore called Thread that's been receiving some great publicity. Earlier this year, Ernesto read a profile in the New York Times about the transformative work the staff and volunteers of Thread do for underperforming students in Baltimore. Thread only works with students in the bottom 25% of their class and provides them with a volunteer support network that is available 24 hours a day fo...
Nov 21, 2016•45 min
Nicholas Croce Jr. joins us today from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association where he represents 11,000 of the country's nurses that treat patients suffering from mental illnesses. Prior to becoming Executive Director of the APNA, Nicholas Croce Jr. had a long career in a number of different fields, including the U.S. Air Force, the Post Office, and work as an x-ray technician before delving into the association world. The work of psychiatric nurses is often misunderstood and they are seen...
Nov 17, 2016•49 min
Hating school is a time-honored tradition by nearly all students who are forced to attend schools for much of childhood into becoming an adult but today we're sitting down with someone who is working to change the face of education to present a more rounded and useful world view. Peter Guttmacher is the Director of Programming and Curriculum Development for the District of Learning which is an initiative of Fair Chance, the organization we recently had on Through the Noise. Employing recent tech...
Nov 14, 2016•31 min
Most people (and certainly listeners of this podcast!) will agree that no one's future should depend on the zip code where they were born. And today's guests spend every day working to ensure each child actually has a "fair chance," no matter where they were born and it's also the apt title of their organization. Gretchen Van der Veer, Executive Director and Benjamin Bradburn, Director of Development join us to talk about the mission of Fair Chance and the strategic partnerships they form to hel...
Nov 10, 2016•48 min
