Features What Is the “Innovation Zone” for Associations — and How Do You Get There? “Think outside the box” has long been the rallying cry of brainstorming sessions, but Sheri Jacobs challenged that… Carter Davis • June 11, 2026 Events Beyond the Conference: How to Turn Event Content into a Year-Long Revenue Strategy There’s a particular […]
Naylor Association Solutions, a leading provider of integrated marketing, communications, media, and management solutions for professional and trade associations, has announced that KiKi L’Italien has been appointed as Vice President of Marketing. L’Italien reports directly to Chief Executive Officer Christine Shaw and will lead Naylor’s brand strategy and go-to-market efforts across the company’s full portfolio of association solutions.
In October of 2023, I was laid off from my job as a VP of Revenue Enablement at a big tech company. Rather than find another job in tech, I decided to take my fate in my own hands and build my keynote speaking business. Then, in the summer of 2024, I resigned from the board of the Revenue Enablement Society. “I’m […]
“Think outside the box” has long been the rallying cry of brainstorming sessions, but Sheri Jacobs challenged that assumption head-on during her event-closing keynote at ASAE’s 2026 MMC+Tech Conference. The founder of Avenue M Group, a specialty marketing, consulting, and research firm, Jacobs argued that the problem facing associations is a lack of clarity around where to focus and not a lack of freedom. “In […]
Many associations looking to increase revenue focus on pricing, sponsorships, or new offerings. But according to Sheri Jacobs, they should first look at their capacity for risk. In today’s conversation, host Christine Shaw speaks with Sheri Jacobs, the CEO of Avenue M Group and a four-time bestselling author, whose latest book is The Unexpected […]
There’s a particular energy at annual conferences that’s hard to replicate. The crowd is buzzing, sessions are exciting and informative, connections are made, and you walk away inspired and ready to incorporate what you’ve learned into your everyday work life. But what happens after the event is over? After months of planning and significant financial investment, attention quickly shifts. Some information presented at the conference may […]
Innovation is one of the most talked-about ideas in the association space, but putting it into practice in a meaningful way is often harder than defining it. In this episode, Christine sits down with Rebecca O’Brien, Executive Director of the Institute for Real Estate Management Foundation, to discuss how associations can turn innovation into real […]
Sponsorships, exhibits, and partnerships are critical revenue drivers for many associations, but too often they are viewed from a transactional lens. Our guests today share a better approach for associations. In this episode, Christine speaks with Dan Cole and Sean Soth, two longtime leaders in association sales and business development, to explore what separates transactional […]
Most associations already have the ingredients for a strong sponsorship program: engaged audiences, trusted content, successful events and communication channels, and valuable industry relationships. The problem usually isn’t a lack of assets—it’s that those assets are often managed separately, sold separately, and measured separately. The result? Sponsors experience the organization as a collection of disconnected opportunities instead of a cohesive engagement […]
When associations think about growth, the focus often turns to tactics—new offerings, sponsorships, and pricing strategies. But there’s a real opportunity in looking deeper. In this episode, Christine sits down with Lori Anderson, President and CEO of the International Sign Association, to explore how values can shape not just member experience, but engagement, […]
Membership dues have long been the foundation of association revenue, but that model is shifting. As dues make up a smaller share of the overall picture, associations must rethink how they generate income and deliver value. In this episode, Christine sits down with Sheree Anne Kelly, CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce […]
Many associations still treat revenue as something separate from their mission. But what if that thinking is actually holding them back? In this episode, Christine sits down with John Bacon, Vice President of Sales and Partner Experiences at ASAE, to discuss a shift in how associations approach revenue—and why it needs to be more intentional, […]
What makes some associations thrive while others fade out? According to KiKi L’Italien, the answer lies in one crucial element: trust. KiKi L’Italien is a media strategist and advisor who created the Association Chat, a community-driven media brand that evolved into a multi-platform ecosystem including a magazine, live events, podcast, newsletter, and online community, serving […]
There’s a good chance your association already has the data it needs to make its next strategic decision. The challenge is that it doesn’t always feel actionable. Many associations find themselves asking for another report, another survey, another round of validation only to watch decisions stall. And with delayed decisions, opportunity cost accrues: missed revenue, slower innovation, and teams trained to wait rather than lead. At some […]
Revenue is top of mind for just about every association right now—but the real question is, are we thinking about it the right way? In this Season 4 preview, Christine is joined by two Naylor colleagues: Taylor Kessel-Salomonsson, Chief Growth Officer, and SaraCatherine Goodwin, VP of Member Sales and Strategy. Together, they set the stage […]