1. business and industrial

SPECIAL SECTION: Meetings & Event Planner,
Pg. 17-24
MEETINGS & EVENTS
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
{
&E
Colorado Society of Association Executives
Winter 2014 (vol. 8 issue 1) | www.csaenet.org
EXCELLENCE BY ASSOCIATION
How to Say
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csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 1
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contents
winter 2014
vol. 8 issue 1
6
features
6 Should You be Concerned About Your AMS Vendor?
14
10
How to Say Anything to Board Members and Volunteers:
Creating Powerful Working Relationships
14 Challenges in the Board Room
16 Advice From Your Peers – Best Read of 2013
departments
News from the President. . . . . . . 5
Book Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Tech Tip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Member Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
GO DIGITAL
An e-version of Executive Memo becomes
available on www.csaenet.org once the
issue is published. It’s a fun, interactive
way to experience and share the magazine,
with enhanced video content throughout.
Between editions, keep up on all things
CSAE via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
CSAE Photo Summary . . . . . . . . 28
Executive Memo is the quarterly publication of Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and is provided as a benefit
to members. Submit your article by e-mail to editorial@associationmediapartners.com. Deadline for all material is six weeks
prior to issue date. Submissions are edited and published as space allows. Letters to the editor, suggestions, comments and
encouragement are welcome. Expressed opinions and statements in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinions
of the CSAE board of directors or its membership.
The Mission:
CSAE is the community that fosters
personal excellence for all within the
association management profession.
The Promise:
CSAE is committed to delivering
high-value programs and services.
If a CSAE member is not completely
satisfied with any CSAE offering,
CSAE will make it right or refund
the member’s money.
CSAE is:
All about leadership
Committed to association excellence
Future-focused
Unique learning opportunities
An effective advocate
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 3
CSAE_winter_2014_Layout 1 2/6/14 10:27 PM Page 1
Colorado
Society of
Association
Executives
www.csaenet.org
WINTER 2014
Published For:
Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE)
8690 Wolff Court, Suite 200
Westminster, CO 80031
www.csaenet.org
303.368.9090 office
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edge content, motivate them with inspirational talent.
Professional speakers will tell you why they should be invited
to your next event or meeting.
Executive Memo is the official magazine of CSAE, Colorado
Society of Association Executives. CSAE brings together
association leaders to foster professional and personal
excellence through unique learning opportunities that inspire
members to achieve more and guide associations into the future.
CSAE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE:
MARILEE YORCHAK, CAE, CHAIR
Business Marketing Association – Colorado
marilee@bmacolorado.org
303.607.9957
FRANCINE BUTLER, PHD, CMP, CAE
Empressa Consulting
francine@empressaconsulting.com
303.725.2526, ext. 105
HEIDI M. GORDON, CAE
American Society of Bariatric Physicians
heidi@asbp.org
303.770.2526, ext. 105
BRENDA HULL
Aucta Communications
brenda.e.hull@gmail.com
303.912.3365
LANCE RITCHLIN
Financial Planning Association
lance.ritchlin@FPAnet.org
303.759.4900, ext. 7167
MOLLY SAUSAMAN
Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association
molly@rmiia.org
303.777.6354
LAURIE SHIELDS
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laurieshields@me.com
303.777.6354
Contact VCLARK@ASSOCIATIONMEDIAPARTNERS.COM
303.502.2507 For Details
LESLIE SHIVERS, CAE
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leslie@associationprotogo.com
303.359.2751
CSAE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JOAN TEZAK, CAE, CMP
joant@csaenet.org
CSAE PRESIDENT
GREG WILLIAMS, MBA, MA
Redpoint Resources, LLC
1566 Saint Paul St.
Denver, CO 80206
greg@redpoint-resources.com
303.748.0321
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4 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
NEWS
from the
president
Associations as Agents of Social Change
T
he more I think about association management, strategic
planning, board, and program issues, the more I am convinced
that associations are fundamentally agents of social change.
Trade and professional groups bring this about largely
through engagement in the legislative and regulatory process.
Charitable organizations generally bring this about through
their community projects.
We all do so through education, information, and social
networks. Associations are often incubators for our future political leaders and
elected officials. They are also sometimes lead by former political leaders and
elected officials.
As an association executive with a large amount of influence, make sure you
tell your story well. Know the economic impact that your members have in their community
and state. Also remember to identify the less tangible, but arguably more important, social
and behavioral effects of your association’s efforts. For example, is there a story about one
member’s success with one client or one patient?
Ask yourself every day if you are educating your members, your stakeholders, and the
general public about your industry, your profession, and your purpose or are your leaders
spending your time and talent arguing about the color of the napkins at your next big gala?
Our collective legacy will not be based on the mundane, day-to-day things we do to
keep all the moving parts moving. We will be remembered for how our organizations affect
individual lives and how we help our members improve the world, one client, customer, or
patient at a time. Associations hold a unique place in our society to accomplish this.
At CSAE, we are wrapping up an economic impact survey and will unveil it in February.
I try to remind myself every day to ask one simple question about everything we do at
CSAE. How does this help our members advance their associations? It is amazing how
this helps bring things into focus.
With this in mind, let’s all make great things happen in 2014.
Greg Williams, MBA, MA
Redpoint Resources, LLC
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 5
6 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
Should You Be
CONCERNED
About Your AMS Vendor?
By Alan Browning
O
ver the past year, we have seen several
association management system (AMS)
vendors merge or be acquired by other
software companies. This even included
some well-known vendors that have
been around for a number of years, such as Avectra,
Gomembers, YourMembership, and Affiniscape. Rumor
has it that some other major players are seeking to be
acquired or merge. All of this activity is causing concern
among association executives regarding the stability
of the AMS industry in general. While nobody has a
crystal ball, in this article, I will try to provide some
perspective on the industry, how we got here, and where
we may be going.
Why are companies merging or changing hands?
Twenty years ago, there were only a handful of viable
AMS vendors because the cost of computers and
software development was so high, most associations
couldn’t afford packaged systems. The systems were
generally DOS versions of older mini-computer-based
systems. When Windows came along, we saw a number
of new vendors enter the marketplace, while some
of the older vendors couldn’t make the technological
transition and needed financial assistance to upgrade
their systems and make them Y2K-compatible. At that
time, we saw long-term vendors such as Smith Abbott,
Aztec, MEI, MemberTrak, and DMG merge. In fact,
by the early 2000s, there were probably only about
10-15 viable AMS vendors. With the recent advent of
Web-based systems and low-cost hosting, it seemed
everyone with a PC became an AMS developer.
Today, almost 50 companies have AMSs for sale.
Only a few of these systems can meet the needs of
large associations (more than 40 staff members) and
a few others target staff sizes of 10-40. That leaves a
lot of vendors to compete for the smaller associations.
While there are probably more than a thousand small
associations; development costs are still substantial and
pricing is highly competitive. Let’s face it, at less than
$200 per user per month, it takes a lot of users to pay
for a vendor’s sales, support and development staff,
datacenter costs, etc. Many of these companies will find
it hard to obtain sufficient market share to survive on
their own. Therefore, we will probably continue to see
more mergers and acquisitions.
Should you be concerned about the stability of
the industry? The good news is, we have not generally
seen vendors with any sizable market share simply
close their doors. System maintenance and hosting
agreements represent steady revenue streams and
if a vendor is in financial trouble, a competitor will
acquire that revenue stream and support the product
to keep the money flowing. Vendors such as Avectra
and Gomembers accepted venture capital several
years ago to provide an infusion of R&D funds and to
obtain more professional management. Venture capital
companies expect to build market share and sell the
company, so the sales of those two companies were
inevitable.
Are there technologies on the horizon that could
cause some vendors to fall behind? Absolutely! In my
opinion, client/server- and customer-hosted systems
are dying fast. Only the largest associations should
consider hosting their own system. Modern systems
should be Web-based and integrated with a content
management system, and the vendor should provide
managed services hosting at a redundant and secure
datacenter, staffed and supported 24/7.
Mobility is vital in today’s world, as most of your
members probably already access information and
process transactions with mobile devices. The system
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 7
“Finally, we are finding that chief marketing officers at
associations are garnering more and more of an association’s
budget, so a system’s ability to support marketing and
communications efforts is also vitally important.”
should automatically support mobile
devices without having to develop custom
Web apps.
Industry-specific social networking
is also a growing trend for associations.
Members are finding that general sites like
Facebook are uncontrolled and they want
to know they are networking with other
professionals in their industry.
Finally, we are finding that chief
marketing officers at associations
are garnering more and more of an
association’s budget, so a system’s ability to
support marketing and communications
efforts is also vitally important. While
these technologies are not as revolutionary
as Windows or the Web, the investment to
keep up to date is still substantial.
What questions should you ask your
current or prospective AMS vendor?
Because most of the AMS vendors are
not publically traded, it can be difficult
to get them to release audited financial
information; however, there are some
important questions you should ask:
• What is your product roadmap for the
next 2-3 years?
• What are your total revenues?
• How is your company funded?
•A
re you actively seeking venture capital
or merger/acquisition opportunities?
• How much do you spend each year on
research and development?
• Is your strategy to build everything an
association needs within your system
or to partner with best-of-breed
partners to meet some of those needs?
• Who are your strategic partners?
• Is your system available in the cloud?
• Who manages the datacenter and how
is it staffed? (hint—the datacenter
shouldn’t be in the owner’s garage)
• Has your system and datacenter been
validated as Payment Card Industry
(PCI) compliant?
• What is your liability if my members’
credit card information is stolen?
• Is your system architecture
“responsive” so that it works on all
platforms (i.e., Internet Explorer,
Chrome, IOS, and Android) and
screen sizes without modification?
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• How many customers do you have on
the current system version?
• How many new customers have you
added in the past year?
• Who are your largest customers?
• Who are your customers similar to
our association?
What questions should you ask
yourself about your AMS? In summary, I
don’t think we are on the verge of a major
shake-out of AMS vendors and there
is no reason to panic. However, we will
continue to see mergers and acquisitions
and ultimately there will be fewer vendors
and fewer systems in the marketplace.
Changing AMS systems is expensive and
can be disruptive to your operations and
member services. Therefore, it is not a
decision to be taken lightly, but you should
be considering the long-term viability
of your vendor and plan for a change
if necessary. Ask yourself the following
questions:
• Does our association provide
members a system that allows them
to get information and process
transactions whenever they want on
whatever device they have?
• Is the system reliable, secure, and
supported 24/7?
• Does our AMS vendor have sufficient
market share to continue to invest in
their product and keep it up to date
with technology?
• Is their market share increasing?
• Is our vendor financially stable?
• Do we see signs they are unable to
support the product as they once did
or has the pace of introducing new
features slowed?
• What is our relationship with our
vendor? Do they treat us as a partner
seeking a win-win? Do we treat them
as a business partner or an advisory?
• What are other customers saying
about our system?
• Does our association have plans to
offer new products or services and can
our vendor help us get there?
• When should we be thinking about
changing systems, keeping in mind it
may take us 12-24 months to select and
fully implement a new AMS?
I would like to thank Brian Bruffey of Protech
Associates and Rob Miller of 20Twenty
Consultants for their contributions to this article.
About the author:
Alan Browning is CEO of Management Advisors,
Inc. in Castle Pines, Colorado. He has consulted to
associations nationwide on their use of information
technology for more than 20 years. For more
information, contact Alan at 303-796-8040 or
AlanB@ManagementAdvisors.com.
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csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 9
How to Say
ANYTHING
to Board Members and Volunteers:
Creating
Powerful
Relationships
That Work
By Shari Harley
L
eading an association is
challenging in ways your friends
who work in corporations will
never understand. Who besides
association executives gets a new
boss every year, has to manage volunteers
rarely seen, and has board members with
different interpretations of your role?
Rather than just surviving a difficult
President or ineffective board, association
executives can make these relationships
work for them.
Association executives and boards
only have one year together. They don’t
have time to guess how to work with
people or how to best leverage people’s
skills and experience. They don’t have
time for strained relationships with poor
communication. To have a productive year,
boards and association staff need to work
well together when the year starts, not six
months into the members’ term.
As counter intuitive as they may sound,
start your board terms differently than how
you think you should. Rather than starting
the year with strategic planning and goal
10 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
setting, start your first board meeting or
retreat by setting expectations and asking
questions to help board and staff members
get to know each other better. Because
until you know who you are working with,
why fellow members joined the board, and
what others are expecting of you, you’re not
ready to begin working.
When I lead association board retreats
and meetings, we start the day by setting
expectations. First we set expectations
for that day’s meeting and all ensuing
meetings that will take place during the
year. We make a list of the guidelines by
which board members agree to be held
accountable, write those guidelines down,
and board members and staff review them
at every meeting.
Then I pose a series of questions I call
Candor Questions® to the group and give
them time to answer the questions together.
Here are a few of the Candor
Questions® board members and staff
answer, as a group, during the retreat:
• Why did you join the board/staff?
What are you hoping the experience
will provide?
• What skills do you bring? How can
we best leverage your talents and
experience?
• What past work experience or
education do you have that we may
not know about?
Next we discuss working style
preferences, so the board and staff work
together efficiently and don’t unknowingly
frustrate each other.
Here are a few of the working
style preference Candor Questions®
participants answer:
• How do you like to communicate? By
phone, in person, via email or text?
• Are you a morning or a night
person? What time of day do you
do your best work?
• What time of day do you prefer
to meet?
• What are your work-related pet
peeves?
• How will I know when you’re
frustrated?
• On what can we partner and
work together?
• What information do you
want to receive from me,
how frequently, with what
level of detail, and in
what format?
The last step of the
getting-to-know
you process is to
give chapter
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 11
executives and board members permission
to give feedback. People are human and
human beings make mistakes. At some
point during the year a board member
will frustrate a staff member or another
board member and vice versa. Because
people tend to avoid conflict, board
members and staff alike are not likely to
talk to the person about their concerns.
Instead they will likely tell someone
else or work around the person. Talking
about people rather than to them doesn’t
work, especially for a group of people
who only have a year to work together.
Most people don’t give feedback because
they are afraid of the consequence of
doing so. It’s natural to be concerned
about the other person’s reaction and
thus opt to say nothing. Agreeing to give
feedback directly, throughout the year,
without experiencing a consequence for
doing so, makes all the difference. It is
the difference between being able to say
anything to anyone and being able to say
nothing. Agreeing to give feedback can
sound something like, “We as a staff
and board agree to talk to each other
directly about whatever happens during
the year. And when the conversation is
over it’s over.”
Asking for feedback can be very casual.
You could ask the following questions:
“We’ve been working on putting together
this conference for a while and I wanted
to ask how things are going. What’s
working about how the committee is
working together and what could we do
differently?” It can be difficult to ask for
and receive feedback. But consider the
alternative. Without regular feedback
we work with people in the dark,
never knowing if we are damaging or
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9/7/12 9:06 AM
strengthening our relationships.
If you don’t have the time to have
a retreat or if you don’t have regular
meetings, setting expectation and
feedback conversations can happen
individually, both over the phone and in
person. The conversations can be formal,
like the one described above, or they can
be informal. Whenever you talk with
someone, ask a question. It could sound
something like this, “I scheduled our
meeting via Outlook today. Did that
work for you? Would you prefer I do
something different next time?” Or,
“We always meet for breakfast on the
east side of town. Does this time of day
and location work, or would you prefer
another time or location?”
The point is to set expectations by
asking more questions at the beginning
of anything new. Don’t guest what
“To have a productive year, boards and association
staff need to work well together when the year
starts, not six months into the members’ term.”
people need and want from their board
experience and from you. Ask!
Here’s a review of how I recommend
kicking off your year:
Set
and agree on guidelines of how
meetings will be run.
R
eview those meeting guidelines at
the beginning of EVERY meeting
ALL year. People are human and
human beings forget the guidelines
and make mistakes. Set people up for
success by establishing and reviewing
guidelines every time you meet.
A
sk questions about skills, work
history, desires and working style
preferences. Train people how to
work with and win with you by
telling them what you need. Make it
ok to both have and make requests.
L
astly, give permission to give
feedback directly to people as things
happen. Make it safe to tell the truth.
These setting expectation and feedback
conversations don’t happen once a year,
they happen in an ongoing way. I implore
you to take the time to get to know the
staff and volunteers you work with better
and differently. Don’t assume you know
what strengths people bring or how they
like to work. Likewise, don’t assume
people will work with you the way you
like to work. Every day we train people
to work with us –either inadvertently
or directly.
Shari Harley, speaker and author of the book
How to Say Anything to Anyone, runs Candid
Culture, a Denver-based training firm that
is bringing candor back to the workplace,
making it easier to tell the truth at work. Shari
speaks at conferences throughout the U.S.
and conducts board retreats and trainings,
helping boards hit the ground running. Learn
more about Shari and read an excerpt from her
book at: www.candidculture.com.
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csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 13
Challenges in th
14 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
he Boardroom
THIRTEEN FIXES
By Bob Harris, CAE
I
n boardrooms across America,
volunteers are eager to do a good job
in their governance roles. But too
often, myths and misguided practices
are major challenges to a highperforming board.
Limited Savings—Myth: “As a nonprofit
organization, we cannot have savings.”
There are no restrictions on exempt
organizations’ savings. Similarly, nothing
states that activities cannot generate excess
revenue. If significant savings exist, there
should be a reason for the reserves that
aligns with the statement of purpose.
Meeting Minutes Are Public—Another
myth: “We must comply with open records
laws and freedom of information requests,
and allow guests to attend our meeting.”
There is little basis for the statement.
Generally the only public records are three
IRS documents.1 State corporate law may
require other records to be available to
members, directors, etc. Meeting minutes
record board actions and protect the
organization—they are not a newsletter
for members.
Directors Won’t Have to Do
Anything—“The nominating committee
told me I won’t have to do anything
and excused absences would be OK.”
The nominating committee was wrong.
Each director is expected to participate
in governance. Board members have
fiduciary duties to advance and protect
the organization. Though the bylaws may
state that an absence will be excused,
stakeholders and members expect directors
to fulfill their duties (duty of care).
Misdirected Loyalty—Some
organizations select directors from a
chapter or industry segment. Mistakenly,
those directors think they represent
the sector from which they came. To be
clear, once installed, they represent the
interests of the “parent” organization and
give up their loyalty to the originating
group (other than to communicate
interests). More than that could result in
a conflict of interest.
Management Is Easier Than
Governance—Through many directors
have management skills, it is not their job.
The staff is responsible for management.
Board governance focuses on policy
development, strategic direction, and
fiduciary duties. Managing or evaluating
members of the staff is not governance.
Committee Work at the Board
Table—Committees are charged with
tasks. Directors must respect the work of
committees and not do the committees’
work at the board table. If a committee
has not produced satisfactory results,
clarify the charge and send it back for
further work.
Read to Lead—Leadership requires
knowledge. Directors must be conversant
in the governing documents (articles of
incorporation, bylaws, policies, strategic
plan, budget, and purpose statement).
Compliance with the documents supports
the doctrines of duty of obedience and
voluntary immunity.
No Roadmap—A strategic plan should
frame nearly all discussions at meetings.
When directors have new ideas, check
them against the strategic plan to see if
they “fit” or if something will need to be
dropped from the plan in order to take on
a new project. Keep the strategic plan on
the board table.
Alternates and Proxies—Some
organizations allow for alternate directors
and proxies. Because the elected directors
are responsible for the organization,
giving away one’s authority to a person
who is less prepared than the director is
impractical. Organizations are rethinking
the wisdom of seating persons at the table
who don’t have the knowledge or did not
participate in orientation.
Orientation Is Optional—Yearly
orientation should be mandatory for
all directors. Board training can be
accomplished in as little as two hours—a
small investment of time for a year of
effective leadership.
Agenda Format—Many agendas are
filled with reports by officers, staff, and
committees. Review the resulting minutes
and you may find no significant motions
advancing the mission and goals. It is OK
to redesign the board agenda, moving
reports to a consent agenda and focusing
on items that will advance the mission and
goals. Include the mission statement at the
bottom of every agenda.
Silence Is Not Golden—Some directors
are silent because they don’t understand
the process or topics. Board members
should come prepared to discuss issues,
offer solutions, and be ready to vote. If you
can hear a pin drop in the boardroom,
there is a problem.
Size Matters—The average board
comprises about 16 persons. Larger
boards tend to delegate authority to a
smaller executive committee. The trend is
downsizing, although there is no correlation
between board size and good governance. In
2008, the IRS opined, “very large boards may
have a more difficult time getting down to
business and making decisions.”
Every board intends to produce
significant results. Myths and poor
practices can impede progress.
Note: Bob Harris, CAE, offers free governance
tips and templates at www.nonprofitcenter.com.
He offers a self-paced governance review at
the website.
(Endnotes)
1 Form 990, Form 1023 or 1024, and the
Letter of Determination.
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 15
Advice From Your Peers: Best Reads of 2013
By Marilee Yorchak, CAE
Business Marketing Association, Colorado
One of the best things about being a CSAE member is learning from your peers. In the spirit of that, we asked our CSAE membership:
What was the best book you read in 2013 that was the biggest help to you in your job/career?
Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live,
Work, and Think, by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger
“This book gives a history lesson on changes in technology and
the impact of how we use data. For example, using Google data on
people buying flu medicine helps track flu outbreaks. Great read.”
Recommended by Laurie Shields, Laurie Shields Design
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
“The author talks about life’s success factors. One of them is known
as social capital, meaning tacit knowledge of how to get work done
and be successful in different fields. The dinner table conversations
inform the knowledge base of the next generation. You just learn
the “how to do” things by listening to your parent’s stories!”
Recommended by Diane Matt, CAE, WEPAN
Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations,
by Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers
“We are streamlining our governance in order to shift valuable staff
and volunteer resources to better serve our members.”
Recommended by Cathy Rosset, AIA
Road to Relevance: 5 Strategies for Competitive Associations,
by Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers
“With many useful practical tips, Coerver does it again. The concept of
“Service Suites” is very useful in a strategic planning context. I’ve actually
reorganized my entire menu of client services using this concept, which
is so natural and intuitive, I kick myself for not thinking of it!”
Recommended by Greg Williams, MBA, MA, Redpoint Resources
Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work,
by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
“What would your successor do? Aha.”
Recommended by Cathy Rosset, AIA
16 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
The 4 Disciplines of Execution:
Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals,
by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling
“A simple, repeatable and proven formula for executing on your
most important strategic priorities in the midst of the day-to-day
whirlwind of activity.”
Recommended by Brian Stockman, ASFMRA
Associations Unorthodox: Six Really Radical Shifts Toward
the Future, by Jeff DeCagna
“DeCagna talks about the need for associations to carefully assess
their dependence on revenues that flow from membership.”
Recommended by Diane Matt, CAE, WEPAN
(Note: This is an e-book and available by contacting Diane or the
CSAE office)
How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life,
by Dalai Lama
“This introduced me to the concept of “calm abiding,” which is very
useful when everyone about you is losing their head and blaming it
on you. Similar to something out of Kipling’s ‘If.’”
Recommended by Greg Williams, MBA, MA, Redpoint Resources
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,
by Sheryl Sandberg
“I loved this book because it deals with issues women face in being
a leader in a technology-driven world. It talks about sitting at the
C-table (and yes, leaning in so people take you seriously), seeking
challenges, taking risks and pursuing goals with gusto. There is also
practical advice on negotiation techniques. I just gave this book to
my daughter, a new college graduate in computer science. I predict
it will serve her well!”
Recommended by Marilee Yorchak, CAE, BMA Colorado
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
MEETINGS & EVENTS
INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION AND REJUVENATION
a craft beer in America’s Top Rated Downtown:
all make a conference or business meeting
Fort Collins. Take a delightful trip to the past on
memorable. As do gorgeous mountain views,
the Durango Silverton Railroad. Mountain bike and
exciting outdoor activities, luxurious spas, mouth-
hike amongst beautiful wildflowers and enjoy the
watering restaurants and memorable cafes and bars.
outdoor hot springs in Steamboat Springs. Meet
In short, location is the key to success.
outside in the fresh mountain air at the exclusive
Next time your client network or association
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa. Savor a
reconnects in person, let the beauty of Colorado’s
meal at one of Vail’s world class restaurants, or visit
landscape be your backdrop. Your members will
Grand Junction on the western slope, where wine
be inspired, your association rejuvenated, and as
country is ripe for exploring.
member and client relationships are rekindled,
&E
Discover the perfect Colorado location for your
brainstorming on innovation and new and exciting
next meeting or event in this special section focusing
ways to do business will be a natural next step.
on Colorado resorts and hotels. Let these special
In Colorado, your options are rich any season.
getaways invigorate your next meeting by providing
In between meetings, play a round of golf with
a setting to help you discover new perspectives
panoramic mountain views at Golden’s Applewood
and establish meaningful connections, ultimately
Golf Course. Meet with members slope-side at
inspiring your members and clients to grow ideas
The Westin Snowmass Resort near Aspen. Enjoy
into solutions.
The Vista at Applewood
Golf Course
The Vista at Applewood Golf Course is proud to be
Golden, Colorado’s premier event venue. With our
stunning views, quality facilities, exquisite food and
beverage, and professional planners, The Vista at
Applewood Golf Course will impeccably meet all of
your event needs. Our state of the art ballroom will
complement any type of event and your guests may
also enjoy 18 holes of golf. If you are looking for
picturesque elegance, The Vista at Applewood Golf
Course is a great choice, no matter the event!
For all of your weddings, banquets, meetings &
other events, contact our professional planners
to get started today!
(303) 278-6637
www.vistaapplewood.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 17
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
The Westin Riverfront Resort &
Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain
MEETINGS & EVENTS
Set your agenda to soar to new heights at Beaver
Creek’s Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, a destination
that guarantees your attendees will depart feeling
rejuvenated and ready to tackle any challenge.
With 7,500 square feet of meeting space, the Silver
LEED certified Westin Riverfront was named the “#2
Western Resort” for 2013 by Condé Nast Traveler.
Amenities include two sunlit ballrooms, direct skier
access via the Riverfront Express Gondola and
Maya, Chef Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican
kitchen and tequileria.
Book a summer 2014 meeting by Feb. 28, 2014
and enjoy group rates starting at $149/night, plus
earn up to 100,000 Starpoints.
(970) 790-6000
www.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com
The Westin
Snowmass Resort
The Westin Snowmass Resort is the ideal year-round
mountain meeting destination. Westin Snowmass
offers casual elegance, a slope-side location at the
base of Snowmass, 254 fully renovated guest rooms
including 17 one bedroom suites, multiple dining
outlets, spa, extensive amenities and over 25,000
square feet of meeting space including the Westin
Snowmass Conference Center. With a 10,800 sf
ballroom and a variety of indoor and outdoor breakout
venues it is the perfect choice. Enjoy great value
and the picturesque setting of Snowmass with the
amenities of Aspen just minutes away. Plus, earn
bonus Starwood Preferred Planner points and
great incentives on your next mountain meeting.
(970) 923-8200
www.westinsnowmass.com
18 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
&E
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
The Steamboat Grand
MEETINGS & EVENTS
&E
With the ski mountain out one door, and the
vastness of the wide open Yampa Valley out the
other, The Steamboat Grand is the perfect setting
for your next meeting or event. Inside you will find
all of the amenities of a premier hotel wrapped in
a casual elegance that reflects Steamboat’s
renowned western hospitality.
The Steamboat Grand features 327 beautifully
appointed hotel rooms and condos. In addition we
offer 17,000 sq. ft of indoor/outdoor convention
space, onsite restaurants, coffee shop, spa and
fitness center; an outdoor heated pool and two
large whirlpool spas.
Contact our Sales Manager, Alan Johnson, at
970-871-5537, ajohnson@steamboat.com.
(970) 871-5537
www.steamboatgrand.com
Visit Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado is home to America’s Top
Downtown, the only Nationally Designated Wild &
Scenic River in the state, Colorado State University,
and so much more. Whether your meeting requires
10 rooms or 2,000, Visit Fort Collins is here to assist
you. Unique venues ranging from award winning
breweries (Fort Collins is the Craft Brewing Capitol
of Colorado, after all) to the newly opened Museum
of Discovery. Planners and attendees alike will find
Fort Collins to be welcoming and an exciting place
to be. Come see us!
Complimentary beer reception for new meeting bookings*
*Some restrictions apply
(970) 232-3845
www.visitfortcollins.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 19
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Durango Area Tourism Office
MEETINGS & EVENTS
Durango simplifies meeting planning with a
diverse collection of meeting and convention
facilities. Meeting planners enjoy the ease of event
planning with specialized services and features
such as customized site inspection, tours of the
town, hotels, meeting facilities and attractions.
Durango is rich with unique meeting and event
venues offering exceptional settings, accessibility
through our regional airport, delightful dining and
great hotels. Durango’s hospitality community
is united in our commitment to provide the best
meeting service for your event. Come fall in love
with Durango and be inspired to make your next
meeting your best.
(970) 247-3500
www.durango.org
Homewood Suites
by Hilton
TM
At Homewood Suites by Hilton we think life on
the road should be more about life and less about
the road. Whether you stay with us a few nights
or a few months, we guarantee your stay will be
comfortable and feel like home. Homewood Suites
by Hilton® offers roomy one-bedroom and studio
suites with the space you need to stretch out,
work, or relax. Our 78 suites offer a perfect homeaway-from-home atmosphere, and are the largest
suites in the extended-stay market. We provide
complimentary full buffet breakfast AND Monday
through Thursday dinner with beer/wine. We also
provide meeting space with catering for your
intimate receptions, meetings and events.
Contact Stefanie Goodloe, Director of Sales
and Marketing, 970-259-4067.
(970) 259-2996
www.durango.homewoodsuites.com
20 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
&E
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Grand Junction Visitor
& Convention Bureau
MEETINGS & EVENTS
&E
Here, groups can create their own adventure of
golfing, rafting, hiking, road or mountain biking,
or simply relax and find a restaurant with a patio
to sip local wine and eat local food. Explore,
taste and experience the 21 wineries of Colorado
Wine Country set against the red rock canyons
of the Colorado National Monument and the
Colorado River. And for your meeting pleasure,
we have 73,000 square feet of space, which
includes a convention center, over 3,000 rooms
and accommodating arrangements focused on
customer service made by our professional staff.
(800) 962-2547
www.meetgrandjunction.com
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
Resort & Spa
Award winning resort for all seasons, Park Hyatt
Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is the heartbeat
of the village in Beaver Creek. Experience
newly renovated 20,000 sq. ft. of flexible
meeting space, breathtaking mountain views
and the largest ballroom in Vail Valley that is
filled with natural light. Perfect for families, a
luxury getaway, or a destination meeting, our
mountain side location presents world-class
dining, shopping, and every mountain adventure
imaginable at your doorstep. Find sophistication,
culinary expertise, and Hyatt Meeting Promise
where attendees will be enriched.
(970) 949-1234
www.parkhyattbeavercreek.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 21
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Visit Vail Valley
MEETINGS & EVENTS
The Vail Valley, home to Vail and Beaver Creek
Resorts, is the ideal mountain location to host
your group or meeting. Two world-class mountain
resorts and numerous lodging properties to host
groups from large to small – the Vail Valley has it all!
Our mountain towns have something for everyone
from small incentive trips to large corporate groups
to participatory sporting events. Qualified meeting
planners can take advantage of our Complimentary
Site Inspection Program and visit us at no cost.
Visit Vail Valley, Your Ultimate Meeting Destination.
Contact Tina Schwab at 970-477-4007 or
tina@visitvailvalley.com.
(970) 477-4007
www.VisitVailValley.com
Doubletree by Hilton
Denver-Westminster
The DoubleTree by Hilton Denver-Westminster is
conveniently located just off highway 36 between
Denver and Boulder giving you easy access to
Downtown Denver and the Boulder area.
With 180 well appointed guest rooms and 8,000
square feet of flexible meeting space we something
for every style, budget and occasion. Other
property features include complimentary wireless
internet in guest rooms and meeting space,
complimentary self-parking, shuttle service within
an 8 mile radius, Starbucks, restaurant onsite and
a Concierge Lounge featuring breakfast and an
evening reception with appetizers and beverages.
(303) 427-4000
www.denvernorth.doubletree.com
22 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
&E
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Sheraton Steamboat Resort
MEETINGS & EVENTS
&E
Welcome to your home away from home, the
new Sheraton Steamboat Resort. Since the CSAE
Annual Conference was in Steamboat last summer
we have transformed our pool deck adding two fire
pits, additional hot tub, remodeled poolside Café,
and new cabanas to enjoy an outdoor massage.
Your needs can be accommodated with one of
four sizes of suites, Studio, One, Two and Three
Bedrooms all beautifully appointed with full kitchens
and living areas all under one roof.
Bring your next meeting to the Sheraton Steamboat
and enjoy up to five complimentary upgrades into
our new Mountain Suites.
Contact Vince Rosa 970-871-6529 or
Vince.rosa@sheraton.com.
(970) 871-6529
www.sheratonsteamboatresort.com
The Curtis –
A Doubletree by Hilton
Bid boring business meetings adieu within the
Curtis’ 28,000 square feet of meeting space, where
creativity takes center podium.
Just because you’re in a meeting doesn’t mean you
can’t enjoy yourself! From our tic-tac-toe notepads
to our creative menus, The Curtis will make even the
longest meetings fun.
From the minute you walk through our new lobby, you
are immersed in the best pop-culture a Denver hotel
can offer. Each of our newly renovated guest room
floors has a personality all its own and every detail
has been ‘revved up’ to create a boutique, one-of-akind downtown Denver Colorado hotel experience.
(720) 889-4880
www.thecurtis.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 23
Colorado Society of Association Executives
2014 CSAE
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF SNOWMASS
Come to Snowmass for the 2014 CSAE Annual Conference. There will be
new ideas to help your association and its members prosper. You’ll network
with association executives, representatives from hospitality organizations
and other vendors and suppliers. And, you’ll find time to relax, enjoying all
that Snowmass and the Westin Snowmass have to offer.
POST CSAE CONFERENCE EVENT
SNOWMASS MAMMOTH FEST
The Westin Snowmass Resort is looking forward to welcoming you in June for
the CSAE Annual Conference. After soaking in all of the beneficial information
from the educational sessions and taking advantage of the many networking
opportunities, we invite you to extend your stay through the weekend.
As an association executive we are offering you a complimentary guest
room Friday, Saturday and even Sunday night so you may partake in the
festivities of Snowmass Mammoth Fest. What better way to truly experience
Snowmass than by enjoying the comfort of the Westin Snowmass Resort
and the energy of Snowmass Mammoth Fest!
If you would like to keep the fun going after the conclusion of the
CSAE Conference please contact Jennifer Gray (970.618.1564 or
Jennifer.gray@westin.com) to arrange your complimentary overnight
accommodations. In addition to lodging for you and a guest, we will also
provide breakfast Saturday and Monday mornings. The Westin Snowmass
Resort will also provide transportation at your request to the Snowmass
Mammoth Fest festival grounds in Snowmass Town Park.
Will you be our guest?
Snowmass Mammoth Fest (www.snowmassmammothfest.com),
formerly Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, returns for its 12th year
on June 13- 15, 2014. Featuring 13 bands, over 25 micro-breweries
and a two-day ICS sanctioned chili-cook-off, Snowmass Mammoth Fest
is the ultimate way to kick-off the summer in Colorado. After a week of
work at the CSAE annual meeting, Snowmass Tourism and the Westin
Snowmass Resort invite all planners and their guests (1 guest per
planner please) to join us for some great activities, meal functions and
great music in the new VIP section at the MammothFest. Acts include
Leftover Salmon, Chris Robinson Brotherhood etc.
24 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
BOOK review
FISH!
A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
Stephen C. Lundin, PhD, Harry Paul and John Christensen | Hyperion NY, 2000 | 112 pp.
By Francine Butler, PhD, CMP, CAE, Empressa Consulting
T
he book I originally selected for this edition of the newsletter is some 400 pages long and what I consider “a
heavy read”. The deadline got slower for publication and I
found myself barely one-third though it. What to do??
Sitting on my desk was another book I dearly love and thought
“what a perfect choice to end the year and begin the next”. It is
likely that many of you have read this book considering it’s about
10 years old and remains one of the best management books ever
published. Because it captures the joy, the satisfaction and just
plain fun of work, I decided to make it the selection for this issue.
This is from the inside cover:
Imagine an environment in which people are truly connected
to their work, to their colleagues, and to their customers. In
this book, a fictional manager is charged with the responsibility of turning a chronically unenthusiastic and unhelpful department into an effective team. Down the street from her office
is Seattle’s Pike Place Fish, a world famous market that is
wildly successful thanks to its fun, bustling, joyful atmosphere
and great customer service. By applying ingeniously simple
lessons learned from the actual Pike Place fishmongers, our
manager discovers how to energize those who report to her
and effect an astonishing transformation in her workplace.
The book is written as a parable (for those of you who might
have forgotten—a story that teaches). It opens with the plight of
Mary Jane who manages 30 staff and is unhappy at her job in a
tip
bank. She notes the reasons for staying at the job—salary, society and benefits. In fact, her department was known by management as the “toxic energy department”
One day at lunch she wanders to Pike
Place Market. For those of you who
have been there, a description is not
necessary. For those who have not, it is
chaos surrounded by flying fish, fun and
constant movement.
Mary meets the manager of the
fish market and their communications
yield great wisdom applied to today’s
workplace:
There is always a choice about the
way you do your work even if there is
not a choice about the work itself.
They identified four factors that define how the job gets done:
• Choose your attitude
• Play—make it fun
• Make their day; it’s all about customer service
• Be present—take an active part
Needless to say Mary Jane applies the principles and turns her
department around. And the simple take-away, apropos at the start
of a new year is…change your attitude and enjoy your work.
How to Split Your
iPad Keyboard in Half
TECH tip
D
id you know that your iPad virtual keyboard has several layout options, one of
which is a split keyboard? Why would you want your keyboard split in half anyway?
Imagine holding your iPad in the landscape mode, one hand at each corner. Then
you come across a form on a website that you want to fill out or an email comes in that
you want to reply to. If you split the keyboard in half, then each of your thumbs, which are
already conveniently hanging out at the sides of your tablet, can easily type your content
without you having to set your tablet down. (Think of texting on your phone.) And it’s easy
to split your keyboard in half—once the virtual keyboard pops up, just grab each side of the
keyboard with your thumbs and pull apart. The keyboard splits in half and each side slides
over to sit just under your thumbs, where you can now readily access the keys.
— Ken Sabey | Account Executive
Vision Graphics Inc.
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 25
MEMBER spotlight
Roberta G. Herman, CAE
Photos courtesy of Roberta Herman, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Lakewood, Colo.
Industry Experience: I have more than
13 years of association management
experience. I have been privileged to
work at several terrific organizations
based in Colorado, including American
Water Works Association, Museum
Store Association, and Colorado
Restaurant Association.
Honors/Affiliations: Since 2011, I
have served on the CSAE Board of
Directors—currently, as president-elect.
I also have held various community
volunteer appointments. This past year, I
was selected runner-up in the Colorado
Better Business Bureau 2013 Torch
26 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
Awards’ Executive of Integrity Category.
This category exemplifies an outstanding
business commitment to fair, honest, and
ethical practices. Although caught totally
off guard by it, I later learned that my
staff had nominated me—a true honor.
Why are you a member of CSAE?
Initially, I looked to CSAE for the
education I needed when I moved
into association work. Establishing
relationships was not initially a priority
for me; however, as a member, I’ve
developed a virtual army of professional
colleagues, trusted confidants and
good friends through my involvement
with CSAE. While it’s true that it can be
“lonely at the top,” I have increasingly
looked to my CSAE network for
advice, guidance, and candid feedback
throughout my association career. They
are invaluable to me in so many ways,
and I would never have met most of
them without CSAE.
What has contributed to your
success? Collectively, the answer is
many family members, friends, and
colleagues who have each taught,
inspired, and trusted me professionally
and personally. Failures and mistakes
offer fabulous life lessons. I trust my
Milestone Membership
25 YEARS
instincts—it has become my mantra to
others. Also, my insatiable curiosity and
relentless persistence—what I call my
“curse”—are what I believe to be a big
part of my success. I have a rock on my
desk with the inscription, “Real Leaders
are Ordinary People with Extraordinary
Determination.” That sums it up for me.
What do you do for fun? I’m a true
Sagittarius who loves to travel. Last
year, I took my first cruise. Having little
interest in the Bahamas or an Alaskan
cruise, I chose a Baltic voyage that
included several Scandinavian ports and
St. Petersburg. I added a side trip to
Iceland—a true adventure. Also, I’ve been
a longtime hiker and found my inner
dancer several years ago.
Pete Meersman, CAE, Colorado Restaurant Association
Raya Roll, Renaissance Denver Hotel
Raquel Rosen, MA, CAE, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians
Thomas Schwartz, Beet Sugar Development Foundation
20 YEARS
Kendal Frazier, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Lois Rice, CAE, Colorado Gaming Association
15 YEARS
Tim Jackson, CAE, CMP, Colorado Automobile Dealers Association
Julie Hulstein, Community Health Association of Mountain Plains States
Stephanie Stephens, Colorado Parks & Recreation Association
Angela Busby, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa
Kathy Reak, Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jeff Sauer, Clarion Inn of Grand Junction
Something people may not know
about me: I’m the youngest of five girls.
Obviously, my parents were hoping to
finally have a boy and planned to name
me “Robert” after my Uncle Bob. Instead,
they got a “Roberta,” a name I’ve never
liked but have grown into. And my Uncle
Bob is incredibly proud of me!
Douglas Slothower, Douglas W. Slothower, Inc.
What would you be doing if you were
not in the association industry?
Perhaps a college professor—my passion
for learning drove me to become
an adjunct faculty member in Regis
University’s MBA program several years
ago. Working with the students was
exhilarating and energizing. While work
commitments and travel have forced me
to set aside teaching for now, I hope to
return to the classroom soon.
Julie Evans-Schmitt, Apartment Association of Metro Denver
How did you begin working in
associations? I began my career in IT
systems. Early in my career, I installed
and demonstrated a software package
at AWWA. I was intrigued to learn what
associations do. Several years later, I
started my association career there as
chief information officer and became
“hooked.”
Jennifer Simpson, International Titanium Association
10 YEARS
Sonia Riggs, CAE, Colorado Restaurant Association
Christine Bumgardner, Center for Financial Training
Kathleen Ceseretti, Providence Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mark Williams, Apartment Association of Metro Denver
5 YEARS
Rachel Massman, Courtyard by Marriott Denver Cherry Creek
Ann Mehan Crosse, CAE, CMP, The Resource Center for Associations
Roberta Herman, CAE, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Tawny Peyton, Rocky Mountain Home Association and Utah Alliance
Meghan Pfanstiel, AICP, Land Title Association of Colorado
Sylvia Rottman, TEAMS, Inc.
Katrina Smith, CMP, CIVICA Management
Ellen Collins, CMP, Vail Resorts Hospitality and Rock Resorts
Casey Romano, Mighty Dog Media
Meg Stepanek, Manor Vail Lodge
Eve Steffen, Red Lion Denver Southeast
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 27
CSAE photo summary
Looking Back at 2013:
Members Growing Together
David Bernard, CHFC, CFP, CLU, MSM,
Bernard Financial Services posed an
interesting question for panelists
Membership luncheons are perfect moments
for connecting with colleagues
Jama Rice, CAE, Museum Store Association joined
Leslie Shivers, CAE, Association Pro to Go, LLC for a
laugh during Learn with Leaders networking
Greg Williams, MA, MBA, president
coordinates the Q & A between panelists
and members
There’s always something new
to learn at a CSAE program
Colo State Senator Shawn Mitchell (2005
to 2012) and Colo House Speaker Andrew
Romanoff (2005 to 2008) joined Mark Grueskin,
JD for a look ahead at the political landscape
28 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
JT, CSAE executive director, chats with
members prior to a scheduled program
Photos by:
Katie Warnke, Green
Earth Photography
Colorado Society of Association Executives
2014 CSAE
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
June 11-13, 2014
Snowmass Village, CO
Westin Snowmass Resort
Condos Available at
the Top of the Village
SAVE
THE DATE
POST CONFERENCE - MAMMOTH FEST
Snowmass Tourism and the Westin Snowmass is inviting qualified association executives to attend Snowmass Mammoth
Fest immediately following the conference. The invitation includes complimentary lodging, activities, meal functions, and
VIP tickets to the Snowmass Mammoth Fest. Suppliers who wish to attend Mammoth Fest may purchase tickets on line
and extend their conference hotel reservations. (www.CSAEnet.org for the link to more information)
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• Sales and media management
• Online business strategy development
• Print and distribution savings evaluations
AssociationMediaPartners.com • 303-502-2515 • info@associationmediapartners.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 29
Association Leadership Mixer
and Legislative Reception
CSAE photo summary
Thank you
to our sponsors:
JT, CSAE executive director, and
Greg Williams, MA, MBA, chat with
Representative Jeanne LaBuda
Tammi McCoy, Colorado Automobile Dealers
Association, and Todd O’Connell, Colorado
Independent Automobile Dealers Association,
join Representative Kevin Grantham
Bill Walters, JD, Heizer, Paul Grueskin,
LLP, joins Ellen Caruso, Home Care
Association of Colorado and American
Physical Therapy Association – Colorado
Chapter, for an in-depth dialog
Mark Dorsey, CAE, American Snowsports
Education Association, stands next to his
car featuring their association logos, along
with that of his key sponsor, Subaru
Greg Williams, MA, MBA, president of CSAE,
thanks legislators and members for kicking
off the year by attending the reception
Senate President Morgan Carroll
visits with CSAE members.
30 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
Photos by:
Michael Brandt
Here’s How You Can Give
Your Association Members
More Money and Time …
Introducing the ActionCOACH Colorado Region Speakers Bureau
Our Speakers Bureau was designed to provide your members with fresh,
informative, engaging, results-oriented Business Growth sessions that they
will absolutely love at your next association meeting or conference.
For over 20 years ActionCOACH, the World’s #1 Business and Executive
Coaching Firm, has been educating and training business owners, leaders
and their teams on proven, world-class business growth models, strategies
and tools that get results and now you can bring that same, life-changing
information to your association.
Our presentations, seminars and workshops can be customized to fit into
your time-frame, everything from 30 minutes to a full day or more …
For more information or to book an ActionCOACH Speaker please contact:
Michael Feinner, President, Colorado Region
Phone: (303) 681-2701
Email: michaelfeinner@actioncoach.com
TOPIC AREAS INCLUDE …
• Personal Development
• Leadership Development
• Destination Mastery
• Time Mastery
• Financial Mastery
• Delivery Mastery
• Planning
• Marketing
• Sales
• Leverage
• Team
• And More …
Website: www.actioncoach.com • Website: www.actioncoachcolorado.com
csaenet.org | winter 2014 | 31
tschwab@visitvailvalley.com
970-477-4007
VisitVailValley.com
32 | winter 2014 | csaenet.org
The Vail Valley, home to Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts, is the ideal
mountain location to host your group or meeting. Two world-class
mountain resorts and numerous lodging properties to host groups
from large to small – the Vail Valley has it all! Our mountain towns
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