Hosted by Showcare  •  OLC Education & Conference Center  •  Map Your Show  •  Shepard  •  CNTV
Rethinking Your Association's Growth Potential: The Next Steps — Association Executive Lunch
📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (2 Hours)
🍽 Lunch Provided
📍 OLC Education & Conference Center · 9400 W. Higgins Road, Suite 100, Rosemont, IL 60018
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About This Event
Association Executive Lunch

Building Your 2027 Competitive Advantage in a Changing Landscape

Session one surfaced the growth obstacles holding associations back. Now it's time to tackle them.

This is a working lunch for association executives. Not a sales pitch, not a webinar. Over two hours, a panel of industry leaders will move the conversation forward: from understanding what's holding associations back to the actionable steps and plans that actually drive growth. Come ready to work through what this means for your 2027 priorities.

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Photos from a previous Association Executive Lunch — working lunch, panel discussion, and roundtable conversation
Setting the Stage

What's Changing for Associations?

The environment associations operate in has shifted meaningfully. This session grounds participants in the forces reshaping expectations, competition, and resources — so the rest of the conversation is anchored in reality.

Featured Panelists

Hear From Leaders Who've Been There

Michael Moran

American Society of Anesthesiologists
Executive, Business Development

Ronny Kay

American Society of Nephrology
Senior Exhibits Manager

Rachel Bowers, CPA, MBA
Donna Malert, CAE

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Chief Financial Officer  |  Chief Governance Officer
Moderator

Dean West, FASAE

Association Laboratory · President
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Full Agenda

Two Hours, Structured for Action

A mix of presentation, facilitated discussion, and peer interaction — designed so you leave with more than just ideas.

1Welcome & Lunch Settling
2Setting the Stage: What's Changing for Associations?
3The Biggest Growth Obstacles for Associations Today
4How Associations Can Outperform Competitors
5Roadmap for Achieving 2026–2027 Goals
6Long-Term Strategic Goals Beyond 2026
7Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
Example Roadmap Framework

2026–2027 Roadmap Framework

2026 Q4: Maintain Momentum

  • Focus on value proposition for member retention
  • Plan improved member events
  • Implement technology and data governance

2027 Q1–Q2: Focused Growth

  • Launch 1–2 high-impact membership/growth initiatives
  • Highlight member experience opportunities
  • Pilot new revenue experiments, partnerships

Ongoing (Year-Round)

  • Improve first-year experience for new members
  • Continuous stakeholder communication
  • Include/enhance enterprise level memberships
Why Attend

More Than Takeaways From a Panel

Two hours with association leaders who've faced what you're facing — real conversations, real experience, not a pitch. You'll leave this working lunch with more than takeaways from a panel — you'll leave with what only a room of your peers can give you.

Come ready to learn from people solving the same problems, not just hear from people talking about them.

Event sponsored by OLC Education & Conference Center, Showcare, Shepard, Map Your Show, and CNTV
Community Giving

Leave Knowing You Gave Something Back.

For every confirmed attendee onsite, Showcare, OLC Education & Conference Center, Map Your Show, CNTV and Shepard will jointly contribute $10 to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to support mental health awareness and advocacy.

$10 per attendee, contributed by: Showcare  •  OLC Education & Conference Center  •  Map Your Show  •  Shepard  •  CNTV