.png)
Dec. 2, 1pm EST
Description:
Effective governance is one of the most powerful drivers of association performance, yet it is also one of the most commonly mismanaged. Boards struggle with unclear roles and responsibilities, inconsistent policy application, slow or fragmented decision-making and a persistent disconnect between governance activity and organizational strategy. When these challenges go unaddressed, they create friction at the leadership level that ripples through staff operations, member experience, and long-term mission delivery.
This session draws on AOE's decades of hands-on experience in association management, board relations, strategic planning, and organizational effectiveness to offer a field-tested perspective on what strong governance actually looks like in practice. Attendees will explore the structural and behavioral factors that distinguish high-performing boards from those that stall progress, and will leave with practical tools for clarifying roles, strengthening decision-making processes and aligning board activity with the strategic direction of the organization.
Designed for association executives, board members and governance committee leaders, this session delivers actionable guidance that attendees can apply immediately to improve board performance and organizational outcomes.
Learning objectives:
-
Identify the most common governance gaps facing associations, including role ambiguity, policy inconsistency, and misalignment between board priorities and organizational strategy.
-
Apply proven frameworks for clarifying board and staff roles, establishing consistent governance practices, and improving decision-making effectiveness.
-
Develop strategies for strengthening the working relationship between board leadership and executive staff to support more cohesive, mission-driven governance.
-
Assess your organization's current governance structure against established best practices and identify priority areas for improvement.
Speaker:
Bryce Barker is tasked with the management and oversight of AOE’s association management portfolio. She is responsible for the project management and operations of this line of business and also serves as the liaison between AOE and the association staff/board members. A key element of her role is the development and application of association best practices. Building on a long tenure in project management and event planning, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management from Indiana University. Bryce also has her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential from the Events Industry Council.
Previously Recorded Webinars
Strategic plans that actually work: Building organizational and tactical roadmaps with staying power
Speaker: Drew Burn, Director of Strategic Planning for AOE
Description:
Your team built consensus, produced a polished plan and then watched it gather dust six months later. The problem is rarely ambition. It is structure, ownership and connection to daily operations. In this session, AOE draws on deep experience in strategic planning and association management to walk you through a proven framework for plans that align with your mission and translate into accountable action.
Ready to build a plan your team will actually use? Click play and listen in.
.png)
Speaker: Drew Burn, Director of Strategic Planning for AOE
Description:
Concrete construction professionals have distinct motivators, professional identities and decision-making patterns that set them apart from broader A/E/C segments. When your messaging ignores those differences, programs go underattended and engagement stalls. Drawing on decades of direct experience supporting associations, firms and organizations across the concrete, building and design industries, AOE shares observed patterns in how this audience consumes information, responds to messaging and makes decisions. You will leave with practical, audience-specific insights to sharpen your marketing, communications and member engagement strategies.
Click play and begin reaching your audience the way it actually thinks and behaves.
Speakers: Emily Emanuelsen, Publications Manager and Laura Merritt, Senior Account Manager for AOE
Description:
Most technical organizations have adopted AI, but few extract its full value. Treating it as a basic search tool or writing aid leaves your biggest opportunities on the table. This session presents AOE's field-tested framework for meaningful integration: role-specific best practices, standardized prompt workflows, governed content pipelines, early legal and compliance protocols, internal knowledge-sharing networks and upskilling that builds critical thinking alongside technical skill.
Register today to close the gap between surface-level use and high-value, performance-driven results.