THE TSAE WOMEN’S Summit brings together association industry professionals to connect, inspire one another, and strengthen the support of women as leaders. The summit inspires women and men to develop as leaders, personally and professionally. Sessions range from mentoring and coaching, to health and wellness and career advancement. This year’s event was held on February 13-14, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Attendees collected donations for Refresh, an organization whose mission is to ensure that every child in the community has access to basic personal hygiene ite ..read more

By Sherry Budziak WHEN THE FIRST crew of astronauts departs for Mars, Suzanne T. Bell’s work1 will play a large role in their success. Bell is an associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology at DePaul University. She studies team composition. During the Mars mission, the astronauts will be confined in a space the size of a studio apartment for more than two-and-a-half years. Bell is researching what mix of personalities is most likely to work effectively together. Although you’re probably not recruiting a team for an extreme experience, it can be helpful to begin thinking a ..read more

Better Together Mentor Program PARTICIPANTS IN MENTORING programs report a number of benefits: improved confidence, self-awareness, clearer career direction, better communication skills, listening skills, feedback skills, more assertive communication, and enhanced management skills. TSAE’s Better Together Mentor Program, in partnership with The Art of Mentoring, is designed to provide a unique relationship opportunity for members to connect, share knowledge and support growth and development. By bringing together experienced professionals and those eager to learn, we aim to create a vibrant an ..read more

SPONSORED CONTENT PRESENTED BY ARLINGTON CVB Arlington, Texas – CAN DO! Choose Arlington, Texas for your next meeting, group tour or event, and experience the best of both worlds – a city geared for successful events that’s also famous for fun! Now open, the highly anticipated Arlington Convention Center and Loews Arlington Hotel adds another 888 rooms and 266,000 square feet of event space to our expansive convention campus. This is the next phase of a $4 billion development that began with the $250 million Texas Live! entertainment complex and luxury Live! by Loews – Arlington hotel. The $5 ..read more

Texas Hill Country: Austin, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Round Rock, San Marcos 1. Austin is bigger and better than ever as a dynamic meeting destination. Among the many hotel openings slated for the next few months is the citizenM Hotel in downtown. The ‘affordable luxury’ hotel will feature 344 rooms in a 17-story tower as well as a rooftop pool and bar. 2. Host an event at one of the outstanding venues in the Live Music Capital of the World for an authentic Austin experience. Once you’ve decided on a venue, the Austin Music Office is there to work with planners to book talented local b ..read more

By Autumn Quarantotto-Caruso ISTOCK.COM/CAIAIMAGE/MARTIN BARRAUD EVENTS HAVE EVOLVED significantly, transitioning from exclusively virtual affairs to a dynamic blend of hybrid, virtual, and live experiences. This shift underscores the paramount importance of achieving attendance goals, irrespective of event scale. Whether it’s a small-scale member meet and greet aiming for 100 participants or a grand annual show with a target of 3,000 attendees, the common denominator is the drive to maximize participation. However, a prevailing trend post-COVID reveals that in-person attendance rates have pl ..read more

ISTOCK.COM/SRDJANPAV I recently attended an exciting tournament event called the 501(c) Games. It was held at a local sports bar, and members were encouraged to sign up teams from their offices. This allowed us to get coworkers involved who had never attended an association meeting before. Competing as teams in a relaxed setting like darts, pool, shuffleboard and Jenga turned out to be a blast! It introduced new people to the association in a fun way, while the friendly competition between teams really boosted engagement and membership participation. Events like this are a great example of new ..read more

By Belinda Moore ISTOCK.COM/PAPERKITES I’VE JUST WRAPPED up a couple of interesting projects seeking to understand how associations can engage better with younger members. Strategic Membership Solutions took a deep dive into the needs and preferences of the younger demographic and their needs from professional associations. From this work, following are the six key strategies we identified for enhancing engagement and fostering a more inclusive environment for these younger members. Digital Engagement: More than Just a Buzzword In our digital age, a kickass online presence is not just nice to ..read more

The annual Celebration Luncheon was held on December 14, 2023 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. TSAE members looked back on a wonderful year, celebrated the season, engaged with each other at festive activity stations, and enjoyed a meal and local musical entertainment together. Attendees gave back to a local charity by collecting donations for The Settlement Home for Children, a non-profit organization that provides a continuum of care, support, and resources for children, young adults, and families. The 2023 event also featured TSAE’s first-ever Silent Auction! The Silent Auction made a sign ..read more

By Dave Will ISTOCK.COM/SENG KUI LIM ARE YOU READY to work some magic on your member retention rates? Well, you’re in for a treat because we’re about to reveal some astonishing secrets inspired by none other than the “Business Magician” himself, Kostya Kimlat! You may have seen Kostya on the hit TV show “Fool Me with Penn and Teller,” where he left audiences stunned with his mesmerizing magic tricks and sleight of hand. But what you might not know is that Kostya is not just a magician; he’s a master of customer experience and knows how to make customer friction disappear. And guess what? We c ..read more