Since the onset of COVID 19, associations that relied on conventional growth strategies and member benefits had to overhaul their plans. That’s when the value of association management companies (AMCs) increased manifold. Top AMCs provide you access to a wide network that can help you create new programs, explore new ways of generating revenue, and boost operational efficiency. According to a report by AMC Institute, in the first year under AMC management, associations realized an increase in gross revenue of 9.6% on average.
WJ Weiser & Associates, Inc (one of the top AMCs in the world) defines an association management company pretty succinctly:
It is a professional service company that specializes in providing management services for associations on a fee-for-service basis. Association management companies provide the professional staff, administrative support, office space, technology, and equipment an association needs to operate efficiently. An AMC typically manages several associations from one company location, providing a wide range of benefits, including shared technology systems, access to expert staff, and shared purchasing power.
Since association aanagement companies will be playing a crucial role in streamlining your operations and strategic planning, the selection process becomes very crucial. Deep research and background checks need to be done and feedback from your wider community goes a long way in the shortlisting process. Are you looking to partner with an association management company? Here are 5 actionable tips to help you hire the best:
1. Ensure proper accreditation or license
If you are in the US, many states require AMCs to carry licenses. Even when such a rule doesn’t exist in your state, it is important to know that licensed AMCs would be more battle-tested when compared to the ones that are unlicensed.
Do check out if the association management company is accredited by reputed establishments like the Community Associations Institute (CAI).
2. Look for similar values
Since the association management company will be interacting with your employees and association members directly/indirectly, it is important to make sure you align with them on the core values you believe in – like transparency, honesty, diversity or other cultural aspects. A good way to assess this during the hiring process is to present them with some challenging hypothetical scenarios where their response or reaction can be gauged.
3. Find the right association management company with experience in your community
When shortlisting, look for AMCs that have proven experience with the specific community that you are serving or onboarding as members. So if you are an association working with healthcare workers, best to look for AMCs that meet or exceed expectations established by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
4. Review their approach to customer success
Your association members appreciate it when you have an accessible customer success team. It helps in building trust with the community. To evaluate the association management company on this front, be sure to call their office and evaluate for professionalism and responsiveness. Also, check out the support options they provide in case of emergencies. As we all know, the biggest challenges in management come without notice.
5. Ability to create innovative new programs
It is high time to look for an association management company which has the people and skills to visualize new ways to boost the value for your members. Evaluate them on the types of virtual events and virtual mentorship programs they have enabled in the last year. It’s not easy to generate revenue that would otherwise be lost due to canceled in-person events during the pandemic.
It’s not easy to look for association management companies that have adapted themselves to offer new and innovative programs for their clients to manage their operations and boost memberships.
To help you recruit the best, we dug through multiple association management company directories and shortlisted 15 of them who have showcased their experience with innovative programs and widely adopted virtual/hybrid events for membership engagement. Read through company descriptions, check the information on their website and explore the services they offer to create your shortlist.
About the AMC: ASMI helps organizations position themselves to optimally serve members of their profession, industry or cause. The staff from ASMI holds a wide range of certifications and recognitions from leading organizations like Certified Association Executives, Qualified Association Specialists, Certified Meeting Planners, and others. ASMI is among 74 AMCs worldwide who have achieved AMC Institute Accreditation.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Federal Forest Resource Coalition, American Trauma Society And International Ballistics Society
About the AMC: Association Management Solutions (AMS) has 20+ years of experience in providing association startup, management services, and technology solutions. It also has rapidly evolved to offer virtual and hybrid event production services. They are known for offering exceptional world-class customer service.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: National Down Syndrome Society, LoRa Alliance and AIR Alliance
About the AMC: AMR is a full-service association management company with a deep specialization in event management. They have proven experience and expertise in working with small and medium-sized nonprofits. They believe in a growth model that is customer-centric and they are obsessed with providing an amazing customer service experience to their clients.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Potato Association of America and Michigan Music Conferenc
About the AMC: Association Management Center offers a wide range of management and consulting services. They offer customizable programs and support services to manage day-to day management needs. We liked the way they highlighted their focus on creating an environment that is diverse and inclusive.
Key services offered:
About the AMC: CHMS is a full-service consulting firm that helps associations, nonprofits, and provides a range of services across the US from different locations.
They specialize in association and nonprofit management, professional credentialing, financial management, strategic planning, virtual/hybrid event management, and membership training.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: American Association of Airport Executives, American Cannabis Nurses Association and American Society for Precision Engineering.
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About the AMC: Elevanta specializes in providing a proven approach towards board leadership, administrative support, and building government relations. They also provide a cost-effective and efficient pathway to achieving growth with seamless event management. They claim to provide unprecedented membership satisfaction across membership programs.
Key services offered:
Notable clients:
Franchisee Association for Qdoba, National American Association of Subway Franchisees and Emory Healthcare Network
About the AMC: DMS is one of the most established association management companies in the US as they have provided customized services for a wide range of nonprofits since 1978. The DMS executive staff on its own has 90+ years of experience in association and not-for-profit consulting and management.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Association of Management Consulting Firms, Association of Personal Consultants of New York and American Pet Products Association (APPA)
About the AMC: IMN Solutions is a full-service association and event management company that provides a wide range of services for associations, professional societies and faith-based groups. IMN believes in association management as they seek to define goals, efficiently manage change, and strive for excellence in execution.
Key services offered:
About the AMC: Ngage Management is located in Michigan and it is one of the largest full-service association and event management companies in the state. Its team comprises highly skilled professionals who will look to integrate with your organization as seamlessly as possible.
Key services Offered:
Notable clients: Oklahoma Nurses Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment and American Nurses Association
About the AMC: Paragon Events has gathered 30+ of experience in offering comprehensive services and with specialization in event planning. They operate in the US and internationally as well. They work with the leadership team of associations to achieve goals like member engagement, strengthening thought leadership, and developing winning sponsorships.
Key services Offered:
Notable clients: Meeting Planners International, Top President’s Association, South East Florida Apartment Association
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About the AMC: PIAM offers strategic and operational management to nonprofit associations. They also specialize in providing customized consulting services based on specific requirements. Their highly experienced team comprises 12 CAE’s and CMPs and they claim < 1 % overall client turnover or churn rate.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Florida Ground Water Association, Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida and Florida Surplus Lines Association
About the AMC: RGI is one of just 15% of association management companies accredited by the AMC Institute. Since 1988, they have worked with a wide range of trade and professional associations, individual membership societies, foundations, nonprofits and other membership-based organizations.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Corporate Housing Providers Association, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
About the AMC: Status Plus, with offices in the US and Europe, specializes in delivering management services to professional medical associations. They have almost 30 years of experience in managing (inter)national non-profit associations and have extensive experience in planning and executing virtual and in-person conferences, symposia, meetings and events.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, Sexual Medicine Society of North America and Int. Symposium on Cutting Edge Gynecology
About the AMC: TMG has been working with associations for over 33 years and has leading associations as clients in the US and internationally as well. Their passionate staff comprises more than 50 team members and 18 full-service management client-partners. It is proud to be a fully employee-owned company.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: Renal Healthcare Association, African Society of Association Executives and National Council for Measurement in Education
About the AMC: WJ Weiser & Associates, Inc. (Weiser) has been a leading association management company since 1988, and currently manages over 80 organizations on the international, national, and regional levels in the United States.
Key services offered:
Notable clients: AACU Political Action Committee, Academy of Physicians In Clinical Research and American Association of Clinical Urologists, Inc.
The association management industry in the US is rapidly evolving and adapting to the changing landscape of virtual and hybrid events. According to a report by IBISWorld, the association management industry in the US is valued at $14 billion and has grown at an average annual rate of 2.4% over the past five years.As organizations continue to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, these top 15 association management companies stand out for their expertise and experience in delivering successful virtual and hybrid events.
From large global firms to boutique agencies, each of these companies offers unique strengths and capabilities to help associations achieve their goals and engage their members in innovative ways. Whether it's leveraging cutting-edge technology, providing strategic guidance, or delivering exceptional customer service, these companies have demonstrated their ability to meet the needs of associations in the current climate.
One company that stands out, in particular, is Hubilo. With its comprehensive suite of virtual and hybrid event solutions, Hubilo has emerged as a leader in the industry, enabling organizations to create engaging and immersive experiences for their members. Whether it's hosting a large-scale conference or a more intimate workshop, Hubilo's platform provides the tools and support needed to ensure success.
If you're an association looking to take your virtual or hybrid events to the next level, check out Hubilo and requesting a demo to see our platform in action. With our innovative solutions and commitment to customer satisfaction, we will surely be a valuable partner in your association's success.
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