Partners IN THE PROCESS F E AT U R E
How a Florida firm has become an unsung hero in Sunshine State advocacy By Peter Schorsch Photography The Workmans
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or many associations in Florida, Partners in Association Management provides the perfect solution to behindthe-scenes management and helps give industries a presence in Tallahassee. Partners, headquartered in the capital city, helps trade groups stay organized, supporting everything from board and financial management and membership to advocacy efforts and events. Clients include, among others, the Florida Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association, Florida Ground Water Association, Florida Life Care Residents Association and Florida Surplus Lines Association. Partners celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year.
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INFLUENCE Spring 2023
“Twenty-five years in, I am proud of us for sticking to a slow, but steady growth strategy. Like most small businesses, we started with a small stable of clients and our original three associations are still clients,” Partners CEO Bennett Napier said. “As a professional services firm, we wanted to make sure we always delivered for our existing clients and we recognized that we would grow organically with them. As a result, a good portion of our business growth over the years has been referrals from existing client board members. This has been appreciated as our team has a strong commitment to not taking the eye off who got us here.”
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Partners in Association Management was founded in 1998 by Napier, a certified association executive with a master’s degree in applied American politics and policy from Florida State University. He started with just one client: the Florida Life Care Residents Association (FLiCRA). The 14,000-member senior citizens’ advocacy organization remains a client 25 years later. At its founding, the business growth philosophy was, “grow slow but steady.” That idea puts the focus on attracting clients that are a good long-term match, rather than growing just for the sake of it. That strategy works. Partners has had