2023 Event Calendar Set

Mark Your Calendars for Next Year's WSAE Events:

FOCUS

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Doubletree Madison-Eastside, Madison

LIVE @ Osthoff

Tuesday, May 23-Wednesday, May 24, 2023 

Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake

CEO RETREAT

Tuesday, July 11-Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Hotel Retlaw, Fond du Lac

WOMEN’S FORUM

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee

THE SUMMIT

Wednesday, October 25-Thursday, October 26, 2023 

The Trade Hotel/Deer District, Milwaukee

Thank You for a Successful 2022 Summit

Thank you to everyone who had a part in making WSAE's 2022 Summit November 30-December 1 at The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club such a great success.

Check out our photo album on Facebook.

Host a CEO Roundtable in 2023!

CEO Roundtables are free, in-person gatherings for association Chief Staff Executives (CEOs/Presidents/Executive Directors) to meet and discuss current challenges, successes and emerging topics impacting associations and our industry. CEO Roundtables are hosted by association executives at their headquarters in the greater Madison and Milwaukee areas. Events occur from 8:00-9:00 am on a weekday. To foster and ensure a casual, candid, and confidential setting, attendance to the CEO Roundtables is restricted to association CEOs only.

Complete this form to express your interest in hosting an upcoming CEO Roundtable.

Membership

Association Laboratory's Newest Sector Study

WSAE partner Association Laboratory is currently collecting data for the association sector's most substantial environmental scan of the association strategy environment. Click on the link below to provide your insights into the issues impacting association members and the challenges these issues are creating for associations.  

Participate in Looking Forward Impact (free)

This year they will be benchmarking more than 60 factors impacting membership and assessing more than 75 challenges facing association leaders. Every respondent will be given complimentary access to the Looking Forward® Dashboard, a leading source of recent, relevant and comprehensive data on the association sector. 

Members of the Association Laboratory Research Alliance, a collaborative effort of over 20 different state, national, and global and specialty societies of association executives including WSAE, are invited to participate in this study. The goal is to investigate the changing nature of the association business model.

Relaunch of Real Time Compensation Benchmarking Site Includes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Section

WSAE has partnered with other ASEs to make the Real-Time Compensation Benchmarking Survey tool possible. And by giving a little, you will GET A LOT!

• Compare your organization's key operational metrics to others across the industry in real time*.
• Evaluate valuable KPI's, including salaries, benefits, positions/departments, and more!
• Generate customized reports and graphs like the below to inform decisions and keep your organization competitive.

If you have never participated, get started here.

If you have Participated, update your data today!

Please note, this is a comprehensive survey with several sections of data. You do not need to complete the survey all at one time. To save your work and return to the survey later, simply click “Save” at the bottom of any page.

Qualified Association Specialist (QAS)

The Qualified Association Specialist (QAS) Certificate Program, offered through the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE), gathers seasoned experts from around the country to present a comprehensive overview of the many facets of working in or with an association. This program is perfect for young (or new) professionals in the association industry who want to better understand the many facets of their organization. More information. This program is eligible for 12 CAE hours. WSAE member discount code: WSAEQAS-SAE. 

Welcome New Members!

• Peggy Armstrong, Town Bank
• Julia Biedenbender, Madison Area Builders Association
• Allison Hade, National Fluid Power Association
• Mary Hartjes, Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center
• Rick Hummell, Cooperative Network
• Crystal Kenitzer, Town Bank
• Erin Krings, Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Nikki Luedtke, Snow and Ice Management Association, Inc
• Rachel Maybird, National Funeral Directors Association
• Matt Wells, Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association

Bank CEO Economic Forecast: Cloudy with a Chance of Recession

WBA releases results of Bank CEO Economic Conditions Survey

In the Wisconsin Bankers Association's biannual Economic Conditions Survey of Wisconsin bank CEOs, three quarters of respondents rated Wisconsin’s current economic health as “excellent” or “good.” This continues a trend from the mid-year 2022 survey, when 71% of survey respondents gave “excellent” or “good” ratings. None of the Wisconsin bank CEOs who completed the most recent survey foresee major economic improvement in the first half of 2023 — 28% predict that the economy will stay the same and 72% predict it will weaken in the next six months. 

"Because they are in tune with the financial circumstances of businesses and families in their areas, bank CEOs are experts who can apply a lot of context to their economic perspective," said WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels. "With the likelihood of a recession in the coming year looming, banks are standing ready to help their customers and communities through." 

Among the economic bright spots cited by CEOs in the survey were high employment, continued spending by consumers, the housing market, and business growth — particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, and service/tourism. Top economic concerns reported by bank CEOs were inflation, the likelihood of recession, rising interest rates/slowed loan growth/reduced ability of borrowers to repay loans, business staffing, cybersecurity/fraud, and inability to access childcare. 

The end-of-year 2022 survey was conducted November 15–30 with 71 respondents. View survey results.

Impact Association Management Is Pleased to Welcome Multiple Association and Event Professionals to its Growing Team

Rich Santana – Senior Meeting Planner

Rich has almost 20 years of event planning experience for both Associations and Corporate organizations and has enjoyed every minute of it. He has planned and executed a wide range of event types including tradeshows, conferences, virtual meetings, and Association Board Meetings. One of his more notable events was The Masters in Augusta, Georgia where he acted as host to Fortune 100 Executives. Rich believes there is no greater feeling than putting together a successful event.

Sarah Krahn – Meeting Planner

Sarah brings over 10 years of experience in event planning, execution, and management to Impact. She has worked in various industries in both for-profit and association environments, most recently technical theater, technology, and chiropractic care, serving as a liaison between clients and employees. From small onsite board meetings to a multi-day convention, Sarah enjoys crafting each event creatively and strategically to create an inclusive environment where attendees can thrive.

April Corrao – Association Manager

April C. brings years of project management, client services, design, and procurement experience to Impact. She has successfully managed projects of all sizes and scopes and has a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget. She is a highly organized individual with excellent communication skills and loves to work in a creative and collaborative environment. She is looking forward to utilizing her experience to further develop skills in the association industry.

Nina Tomal – Association Manager

Nina has over 10+ years of experience in administration, event planning, and project management with a focus on fostering client relationships. Nina has a strong attention to detail and superior organization skills from her years of working with corporations, universities and colleges, administrators, and event planners. She is passionate about finding new efficiencies to enhance overall client value as well as increase internal productivity. She has worn many different hats in organizations, which has made her adaptable and kept her on her toes for continuous growth.

Shannon Casey – Association Coordinator

Shannon brings four years of customer service and multiple years of database management experience to Impact. She is extremely motivated, dedicated, personable, and eager to continue developing her professional skills. Previously, Shannon interned at the La Crosse County Historical Society and worked closely with their Curator to gain valuable experience in database and project management. Shannon earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a major in Archaeology and two minors in History and Spanish. During her time at UW-La Crosse, she was a member of the volunteer organization Vanguards which provides tours to prospective students and their families. This experience allowed her to hone her skills in communication and customer service with a diverse range of individuals.  

Hannah Lier – Association Coordinator

Hannah brings years of customer service, leadership education, and critical thinking to Impact. She is detail-oriented, eager to learn, and passionate about further honing her professional skills. Previous roles provided her the opportunity to connect with local businesses as well as manage multiple events for diverse groups of individuals. Hannah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and minors in both Leadership and Classical Studies. While at UW-Madison she advanced her organization and management skills through coordinating and instructing a class for incoming freshmen.

Rachael Piper Kolanczyk – Association Coordinator

Rachael has a passion for giving back to the community and has spent years working both as a volunteer as well as on event teams for various nonprofit organizations. She has a background working in customer service and healthcare, both of which helped hone her strong communication skills, organizational abilities, and attention to detail. Rachael graduated from UW-Whitewater where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration- Management. In school, she thrived at the chance to learn a little of everything in the business realm and this professional adaptability is something she applies to her everyday work as well.

Junice Norman – Administrative Assistant

Junice has a background in compliance and customer service and she graduated from UW-Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Previous roles saw her at an insurance agency supporting compliance attorneys, providing internal education, and managing client communication. Prior to that, she worked at the internal offices of a low-income housing agency, ensuring residents were adhering to government regulations and working on internal accounting support. Junice brings her organizational skills, attention to detail, dependability, and strategic mindset to Impact.  

Brag a Little Bit - Let Us Help Spread Your Good News!

Did your property recently complete a renovation? Did you launch a new product or service for associations? Perhaps you received a promotion or industry recognition? Let us know! We love to help spread good news related to our industry partner members. Please submit your brags using this form. Please note that there is no additional cost to this promotion - It is included as a benefit of your WSAE membership. 

Advocacy

What You Need to Know About the FEC's Prior Approval Rule

Associations that sponsor federal political action committees (PACs) can solicit contributions from a wide range of their employees and individual members. However, the Federal Election Commission’s “prior approval rule” limits an association’s ability to solicit contributions from employees of its corporate members. Associations seeking to grow their federal PACs need to understand which activities are covered by this rule as well as steps they can take to mitigate risks. Read more.

Save the Date: American Associations Day 2023

Mark your calendars to join ASAE in-person on Monday, March 27 – Tuesday, March 28 in Washington, DC for 2023 American Associations Day - ASAE's annual legislative fly-in. Registration includes two days of policy education, advocacy and networking. American Associations Day is also a terrific opportunity to network with peers from around the country. More information.

Check Out These Opportunities Currently Posted

in WSAE's Career Headquarters

WSAE welcomes an average of ten new members monthly, on top of a steady base of members - WSAE enjoys a 93% retention rate. This means that sponsors and advertisers have the opportunity to continually make new contacts while building on the relationships they have already established. If you are interested, contact Chris Caple at ccaple@wsae.org with any questions or to discuss other Partnership opportunities.