What’s CO-ing On?

A Catalyst for Success

CEOSync launched at a critical time when leaders were navigating the demands of a changing association landscape and the unity and support of peers proved invaluable. We’ve heard many times that it can be lonely at the top; CEOSync is a platform for dialog with respected peers, confidentiality for difficult leadership conversations and accountability for continuous improvement.

Over the past ten months, the Associations North CEOSync pilot program has evolved into a collaboration hive where leaders in the association community are invested in each other’s success. “Having immediate access to a team of colleagues that can verify you’re headed in the right direction or, on the flip side, help you course-correct is so valuable,” said Cassie Larson, CAE, Executive Director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. “Also, the sharing of resources during this program has saved our own association both time and money ̶ what works for one typically works for others,” she continued.

No topic is off-limits, from operations and financials to designing the future of work, board composition, governance, and marketplace disruptions. CEOSync is a gateway to game changing information and resources from leading experts in a variety of subject matter areas.

Strategy for leaders today is about finding a balance of new and old while navigating a spectrum of how we serve. How can leaders be proactive vs reactive, not go back but have a future-forward strategy with a sustained commitment and energy to reinvention? CEOSync is committed to elevating top leadership and organizational performance. “I’m truly grateful for the experience I’ve had in this cohort and the relationships I’ve made. CEOSync has helped connect me with people and perspective-shifting ideas that have made me a stronger leader,” noted Andrew Leitch, VP of Operations, Greater Public.

Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the America shared, “There’s no one part of CEOSync, in my opinion, that I find most beneficial. Each month, it is the structured approach to tackling the most relevant and timely topics that has helped me guide our business. One month, it may be the golden nuggets we take from the expert presenter, a best practice that one of our colleagues shared or a simple idea presented during a strategy seat conversation. No matter what, every single month of CEOSync has given me some insight or idea that I have applied to our organization almost immediately.”

CEOSync is a model for strengthening and challenging yourself as a leader, finding unity among a group of peers, and dedicating time to work on your organization - not in it. “This isn’t just value, this is real, applicable value. You want value, CEOSync is for you,” stated Mark Neeb, CEO at ACA International.

Want to be part of CEOSync in 2022? Let us know. The Associations North Board of Directors recently participated in a strategic planning session with Mary Kay Delvo, INspiring SIGHT, where we identified key priorities based on member interviews, data and trends. We’ll share more highlights in the next issue of Focus North, but one thing you can bet on is the return of CEOSync. As Mark said, if you want real value, this program is for you. Learn more and find key details at: associationsnorth.com/ceosync.

Speaking of cohort groups, we launched our pilot Creating and Advancing Equity, Diversity + Inclusion (EDI) program with 15 participants last month. Feedback was unanimous – it was great to meet in-person! Top-takeaways included contemplating the definition of equity, asking the question ‘who is missing from the table when determining these definitions?’, and identifying bridges and barriers that hinder measurable improvements. Meet the cohort committed to furthering EDI at associationsnorth.com/EDICohort.

We look forward to seeing many more members in the upcoming months at the Moving Meetings Forward event (see page 27) and NEW Celebration (with education) event in December.

Meet some smiling faces of CEOSync 2021!