SOLUTIONS DAY - SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

Breakfast + Registration

Meet Our Partners

Sponsored by: Planstone

Welcome + Program Kickoff

Future of Associations – Association 4.0®

Sherry Budziak and Kevin Ordonez, Co-founders, .orgCommunity

Keynote Presentation: Navigating Uncertainty & Change

Stress Management for Unpredictable Times

No matter who you voted for, the current landscape of political unrest, economic fluctuations, workplace shifts, and personal challenges has created an unprecedented level of uncertainty. This heightened uncertainty is a breeding ground for stress. The human brain naturally seeks stability, but when confronted with the unknown, it triggers a stress response, hindering focus, critical thinking, and progress. Without the right tools, individuals and teams can become stagnant, disengaged, and overwhelmed. It’s now more crucial than ever for organizations to arm their people with effective strategies to combat the stress of unpredictability and transform chaos into confidence.

Eliz Greene is an award-winning speaker and a recognized authority on stress management in high-pressure environments. With decades of research and real-world experience, she has worked with leaders in highstakes industries—including NASA, as well as healthcare, construction, finance, and customer service—to develop strategies for reducing stress, improving performance, and thriving in uncertain times. In this engaging and interactive keynote, Eliz addresses the political environment without taking sides and shares science-backed techniques to help individuals and teams regain control, build resilience, and confidently navigate uncertainty.

Participants will learn individual and leadership strategies to:
• Notice and accept the natural stress reaction to uncertainty.
• Create security in unpredictable environments.
• Utilize a security talisman.
• Disconnect from the source of stress.
• Actively recover from the stress you can’t avoid.
• Celebrate all victories.

Speaker: Eliz Greene

Sponsored by: BenchPrep

Creating a Culture of Transformation: Empowering Change from Within

Change is no longer optional—it’s essential. But lasting transformation doesn’t start with new systems or strategies; it begins with culture.

In this dynamic panel discussion, association leaders Jennifer McNelly (ASSP) and Michelle Mills Clement, FASAE, CAE, RCE (Chicago Association of REALTORS®),  and transformation consultant Kevin Martlage (.orgSource) join moderator Sharon Rice to explore what it really takes to embed change into the DNA of an organization.

Together, they’ll unpack:
• The pivotal moments that spark the need for culture change
• The first steps—and course corrections—required to turn vision into action
• Real-world barriers like leadership buy-in, employee resistance, and outdated systems
• How human behavior, leadership style, and intentional communication can make or break transformation

Through honest stories, actionable strategies, and audience engagement, this session will equip you with practical insights to move past resistance, empower your team, and foster a culture where change is embraced rather than feared.

You’ll leave with a clear challenge: identify one conversation or behavior you can initiate today to begin creating the culture of transformation your organization needs.

Speaker: Sharon Rice, Managing Director, Business Strategy, .orgSource.

Panelists:

• Jennifer McNelly, CEO,  American Society Of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Michelle Mills Clement, FASAE, CAE, RCE, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Association of REALTORS®
• Kevin Martlage, Senior Consultant, .orgSource

Breaking the Habit: Ditching Legacy Processes for Big Wins

True innovation is as much about cutting as it is about creating. In this session, we’ll share real examples of outdated processes and legacy workarounds we let go of. Some felt like necessary steps at the time, but eliminating them led to surprising gains in staff time, member experience, and data clarity. Walk away inspired to simplify your own operations, automating tasks without losing impact.

Speakers:

• Carole Herzog, Client Leader, AMS, re:Members
• Carol Desmond, Web Services & AMS Manager, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)

Sponsored by: re:Members

Lunch

Sponsored by: Multiview

SafetyTrekr: ASSP’s Next Generation

In partnership with Onyx Point, ASSP has boldly gone where no safety textbook has gone before—transforming static pages into an intelligent AI assistant. With the launch of SafetyTrekr AI, every handbook now comes with a digital co-pilot.

Speakers:

• Dawn Conroy (she/her), Vice President, Market Strategy, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Dr. Chris Hinrichs, CTO, Onyx Point Systems

Sponsored by: Onyx Point Systems

NAHQ Micro-Credentials: Using Experiential Instructional Design to Bring A Framework to Life

NAHQ sought a unique solution to effectively disseminate its extensive Healthcare Quality Competency Framework (HQCF) while avoiding information overload. This presentation will showcase how Apti collaborated with NAHQ to design and develop a groundbreaking eLearning program. We’ll dive into the techniques, tools, and data-driven strategies that allowed us to build targeted training for each HQCF domain, empowering professionals to advance their skills and helping quality teams reduce variation in healthcare.

Speakers:

• Aleese Eckenrode, Senior Director, Professional Development, National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)
  
• John Kissinger, Vice President, Creative Strategy & Design, Apti

Sponsored by: Apti

Value + engagement + impact = ROI

What if your association could clearly demonstrate the return on investment for every member—individual or corporate? In this session, you’ll hear how NextUP is transforming how they measure, communicate, and optimize membership value. By quantifying benefit utilization, tracking engagement behaviors, and mapping outcomes back to strategic impact, they’ve built a framework that not only proves ROI but strengthens member loyalty and informs smarter decisions.

Learn how they’re:
• Leveraging association technology and other tools to track engagement across touchpoints
• Defining and measuring impact with data-driven rubrics
• Powering a “flywheel” of continuous improvement in value delivery
• Supporting peer-to-peer connections to deepen engagement

Speakers:

• Kristi Allen, VP, Finance & Administration, NextUp
• Collier Faubion, Solutions Engineering Manager, NimbleAMS

Sponsored by: Nimble AMS powered by Momentive Software

Break

Sponsored by: Results Direct

When Online Communities Go Wrong: Lessons from ISBA’s “The Cafe”

What happens when passionate members turn a vibrant online community into a moderation nightmare? Join Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) representatives for an unvarnished look at the real challenges of managing professional online communities of lawyers—from heated political debates to the difficult decision to archive their member forum entirely, and what is happening now.

We’ll discuss:

• How to balance free expression with organizational standards in professional communities
• Strategies for managing “power users” and disruptive members while maintaining welcoming spaces
• The critical importance of evolving community guidelines and moderation policies
• Why automatic enrollment and poor onboarding can backfire spectacularly
• How legal professionals’ argumentative skills create unique moderation challenges

Walk away with honest insights about the real costs—to staff, membership, and reputation—of community management gone awry, plus actionable strategies for preventing similar pitfalls in your association’s digital spaces.

Speakers:

• Tim Slating, Assistant Executive Director of Communications, Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
• Cate Sauer, Customer Success Advisor, Higher Logic

Sponsored by: Higher Logic

How Are Associations Navigating AI Adoption? A Candid Conversation

AI is everywhere in the headlines, but what does meaningful adoption look like for associations? In this interactive session, Matrix Group CEO, Joanna Pineda, will lead the audience through a candid conversation about how organizations are experimenting with AI, where they’re hitting roadblocks, and what it really takes to move beyond experimentation.

Through live polling and discussion, you’ll see how your peers are using AI, share what’s working (and what isn’t), and pick up ideas you can take back to your own teams. You’ll leave with fresh insight into how to approach AI in a way that supports your staff, strengthens member connections, and prepares your organization for what’s next.

Speakers:

• Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group
• Kevin Ordonez, President and Managing Director, Digital Strategy, .orgSource

Sponsored by: Matrix Group BeSpeake

The Opportunity in Disruption: How to Thrive When Everything Shifts

Finding Courage and Curiosity in Times of Change

When change feels relentless, it’s easy to get stuck tripping over the same “rug” of outdated habits, rigid roles, or fear of the unknown. But disruption doesn’t have to hold us back—it can be the spark that pushes us forward. In this closing keynote, Sherry Budziak shares real-world stories of organizations that turned obstacles into steppingstones by empowering their people and reimagining what was possible. With courage and curiosity as guides, Sherry shows how disruption can become the catalyst for growth, innovation, and a stronger future. Attendees will leave energized and inspired to see their own challenges as opportunities waiting to be uncovered.

Speaker: Sherry Whitaker Budziak, Founder & CEO, .orgSource

Cocktail Reception & Meet Our Partners

Sponsored by: .orgSource