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AMPED Association Management selected to manage Woodworking Machinery Industry Association

WMIA logo

AMPED Association Management, an accredited full-service association management company with offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Metro Washington, DC, has been selected to manage the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA).

As a partner with WMIA, AMPED will bring a wealth of trade association experience and provide full management services, including leadership, strategic planning, governance, policy, membership development, meeting planning, industry relations, financial management, and communications.
WMIA is one of many stand-alone associations that AMPED has helped transition into the AMC model. In fact, two-thirds of their 18 clients were stand-alone organizations before joining AMPED.

“For the past few years, and especially during the pandemic, we’ve seen a trend of more stand-alone associations looking to AMCs to manage their operations,” said AMPED President and Owner Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE CAE. “AMCs have the experience and resources to not only take their organizations to the next level in terms of growth and initiatives, but also to showcase the value of association membership during times of uncertainty.”

Donté P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE will serve as President and CEO of WMIA, overseeing operations of the organization and working directly with the Board of Directors, members, and sponsors. He will be supported by a team of four at AMPED who will focus on WMIA’s operations, finance, partnerships, meetings, trade shows, industry relations, and growth.
“AMPED is very excited to be working with WMIA,” said Shannon. “We look forward to communicating the value of WMIA and working in partnership with the volunteer leaders so that they can focus on advancing WMIA and its mission with confidence, knowing that management and operations are in experienced hands.”

According to Jim Besonen, WMIA Chairman of the Board, “AMPED provides a more cost-effective structure for WMIA and will deliver the highest quality services and benefits to all our members, while achieving our long-term goal of being the premier trade association for woodworking machinery and supplies providers in North America. With AMPED, we will have the strength in technology, creativity, and focused management that will ensure WMIA’s value and relevance for years to come.”

Since 1978, the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA) has represented importers and distributors of woodworking machinery and ancillary equipment in North America. WMIA is the recognized voice of importers and distributors and serves as a vital communications link between suppliers and manufacturers of wood products in North America.

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AMPED is Recertified as a Woman-Owned Business Enteprise

AMPED is proud to once again be certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise.

WBE FB

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Michael Battaglia earns certified nonprofit accounting professional credential

Battaglia headshot 2017AMPED Association Management is pleased to announce that Account Executive Michael Battaglia, CAE has earned the credential, CNAP.

Battaglia recently completed the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) program, designed to recognize excellence in the not-for-profit industry through comprehensive qualification, training, and examination. 

AMPED stresses the importance of fiscal responsibility and sound accounting principles as part of its commitment to transparency. The CNAP designation ensures that Battaglia delivers on this commitment while applying strategic management and expert decision making for AMPED clients.  

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2020 year-end client infographs 

NIBA 2020 Infograph WITF 2020 infograph
WSAE 2020 Infograph LC 30th Anniversary Infograph

 

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Future-Focused: How AMPED Met Virtual Meetings Head-On

pivot

The word of the year for successful associations? Pivot.

For AMPED and our association clients who rely on annual conferences and trade shows to deliver education and grow membership, 2020 was a chance to explore virtual meeting options, try something new without fear of failure, and, yes, pivot.

It started in March, when the pandemic stay-at-home orders hit just weeks before the annual conference of one of our newest association clients. Staff immediately moved the meeting online and partnered with a virtual platform company to deliver four days of education with both live and prerecorded content. The result was a successful event whose net income was 28 times higher than was budgeted for the original in-person meeting!

With the tremendous success and knowledge gained from that first conference, and signs of a worsening pandemic, staff and client leaders made the decision to move all scheduled events online.

AMPED isn’t a stranger to change and innovative thinking. Nor do we rely on one-size-fits-all solutions. This was an important change for our clients and one that required customized solutions for each.

Throughout 2020, AMPED explored dozens of virtual platforms, mindful of the goals and priorities of each client and their meetings. By year’s-end, we had executed dozens of major conferences online for audiences of up to 9,000 attendees, gaining experience on at least nine different platforms, with costs ranging from $2,000 to $175,000.

Without a doubt, the virtual aspect of association meetings will remain vital through 2021 and beyond, whether as a key component or hybrid. And our clients will be ready for it.

AMPED is proud of our innovative culture! It encouraged us to “pivot” and seamlessly deliver virtual meeting experiences to our association clients using solutions customized for them.

Lessons learned and tips for delivering a successful virtual meeting

  • Set goals and priorities for the event and keep them top of mind when comparing platform vendors.
  • Be future-focused. Can you use the platform later for ongoing or hybrid meetings?
  • Allow enough lead time to secure vendors given the heightened demand for these services.
  • Know that pricing can be tied to service levels. For example, less expensive products tend to put more onus on staff to execute.
  • When budgeting, know your registration numbers. They may be higher in a virtual setting when barriers such as time and travel costs are removed.
  • Most platforms have similar features. Consider factors such as the look and feel of the platform, budget, and support availability.
  • Support is very important. You don’t want your customer/client staff left to build or execute the meeting because the platform team is spread too thin.
  • Look for vendors that provide reliable customer service and tech support the day of the event.
  • Consider your staff resources. Can people be “reskilled” to take on new roles?
  • Recognize the needs of your speakers. Are they comfortable with technology? Who will train and prepare them? Staff or vendor?
  • Know whether you plan to pre-record all or some of the event and understand the pros, cons, and risks of doing so.
  • Plan ahead if you want to make content available post-meeting. Will you be able to archive sessions for on-demand access? Also, know whether your organization requires LIVE training for CE credits.
  • Don’t rule out the DYI model. Zoom, for instance, is familiar to most. Plus, it has added security features, such as waiting rooms and passwords.
  • Most members are more tech savvy than we give them credit for.
  • Be creative! Try new things and don’t be afraid of the technology.
  • Engage sponsors with unique offerings like video showcases or hosted breakouts.
  • Review the post-meeting metrics: individual session attendance, how long participants viewed each session or were on the virtual platform in general, polling metrics, exhibitor/attendee engagement, etc.
  • Got swag? Consider sending gift boxes to your attendees to set the mood and enhance engagement.

Published in AMC Institute's Member Matters newsletter.

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Challenges and Triumphs During COVID-19

0920 BRAVA Cover 231x300AMPED President and Owner Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE was featured in Madison's Brava Magazine for a piece on how local small businesses are faring during COVID-19. She shared that shifting to online meetings and emphasizing strategic planning have helped AMPED's clients maintain value for their members.
Read the full article, here.

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Michael Battaglia Earns Certified Association Executive Credential

Battaglia headshot 2017The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has announced that Michael Battaglia, an executive director at AMPED Association Management, has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.

As the Executive Director of NIBA-The Belting Association (NIBA) and the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA), Battaglia has over 12 years’ experience in non-profit management, leading associations in strategic planning, governance, marketing and communications, membership development, financial management and more.

“I’m very pleased to join the CAE community and advance my knowledge of association management,” said Battaglia. “This credential will help me deliver high-quality experiences for our boards and volunteer leaders and I appreciate the support of AMPED in seeking professional development opportunities.”

To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years’ experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. More than 4,500 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential. The CAE program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 35,000 association executives and industry partners representing 7,400 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit asaecenter.org.

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Strategic Planning: Creative and Awesome Solutions for When You Can't Meet Face-to-Face

AMPED has distinguished itself as a leader in hosting and executing strategic planning sessions for associations and nonprofits. Depending on the needs of the client, a typical session may last two days, back-to-back and require that leaders and staff travel to meet face-to-face.

So what happens when conditions are such that you can’t do back-to-back and face-to-face? The results can be surprisingly awesome!

With the help of AMPED, the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) held its strategic planning session in June 2020, amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel was impossible, so it was quickly determined that a video conference was the way to go.

Using Zoom, UMA leaders and AMPED met for two days, one week apart – a structure that proved to benefit the session as a whole.

Thanks to some extensive pre-meeting preparation by AMPED, the participants kept to the agenda and knocked out the whole of the strategic session in less time than expected. “After day one in UMA’s virtual session, we got as much accomplished as we normally do in-person,” said Emily Petersen, AMPED Chief of Staff and a contributor to the UMA strategic planning process. For instance, she pointed to 15-minute breaks that can easily grow to 30 minutes when in-person. In this virtual setting, the video was turned off and then back on after the break, indicating the session was ready to continue.

With the 2-day agenda nearly accomplished on the first day, there was ample time for discussion on day two. Plus, where participants in a typical strategic session would only have overnight to reflect on the results of the day, holding the two sessions a week apart provided more time to digest ideas, concluding in clearer strategy development on day two.

As noted, preparation was key. In order to build an agenda with a clear focus for the strategic session, AMPED collected data using a variety of methods:

  • Interviewed UMA staff to learn what’s working well and what isn’t
  • Gathered financial data to better understand operating ratios
  • Developed a survey to members and nonmembers asking then to look beyond the pandemic to what they see as most impacting the industry
  • Held live interviews with a dozen members to determine the strengths of the organization and areas for improvement
  • Benchmarked UMA against other related organizations

Results from the interviews and survey pointed to common themes that helped steer the planning process. In a typical strategic planning session, that process would involve the utilization of flipcharts and Post-it notes - not something easily reproduced in a virtual meeting.

The advantage of virtual, however, is that multiple AMPED staff could attend without the extra travel costs.  More staff meant more expertise and more hands on-deck. When the association leaders separated into three Zoom breakout rooms, an AMPED staff member was there to facilitate and add notes in a prepared Google doc. Petersen monitored the doc and could see instantly the results of each group’s discussion and identify the most common themes. As soon as the breakouts ended, she was ready with organized notes to move the exercise forward — a task that would have taken far more time to complete in-person.

“We were so happy with the outcome of the strategic session for UMA,” said Petersen. “Given the circumstances, we pulled it off with creative solutions that we might not otherwise have tried. And many that we’ll continue to utilize in our strategic planning going forward.”

The end-result of the two-session virtual meeting was broad engagement, a clear strategy to move the association forward, and a happy client.

How can AMPED help your association discover new strategies for growth and success? Find us at www.manageassociations.com.

Published in AMC Institute's Member Matters newsletter.

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AMPED Partners with Make-A-Wish Wisconsin; Provides In-Kind Space, Services

Make A Wish Wisconsin Logo1Make-A-Wish (MAW) Wisconsin has moved its Madison Regional Office to Middleton, occupying in-kind space at the offices of AMPED Association Management, an accredited full-service association management company headquartered in downtown Middleton, Wisconsin.

In addition to providing office space, AMPED is looking forward to adopting MAW as its “built-in” charitable organization, volunteering at local events and offering its professional services such as meeting planning, graphic design, and strategic planning.

“The Make-A-Wish mission is compelling and something we can all get around and support,” said Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE, President and Owner of AMPED. “AMPED has always supported a variety of charitable causes, mostly driven by the connections of our employees and families. MAW gives us another opportunity to build the culture and camaraderie of our team, while supporting an organization that’s close to home.”

Joining MAW in Middleton will be its Madison Regional Director Carol McChesney Johnson. This is a new role for Johnson who is the former President and CEO of Taliesin and former Executive Director of Mount Horeb Area Economic Development Corp. She will oversee services in Dane, Columbia, Sauk, Iowa, Lafayette, Green and Rock Counties.

“Wishes have been making a difference in the greater Madison area for more than 30 years, impacting hundreds of families and thousands of donors, volunteers and supporters,” said Patti Gorsky, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin President & CEO. “We are excited to move to Middleton and work with AMPED Association Management to continue and grow the impact of a wish in this region. We know that hope is essential, and wishes offer significant hope to kids battling critical illnesses, their families and our community.”

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children between the ages of 21/2 and 18 who are battling critical illnesses. Since the Wisconsin chapter was founded in 1984, more than 7,100 Wisconsin families have experienced the power of a wish, resulting for many in a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. 

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Client Growth: A Retrospective

AMPED is proud to contribute to and share in the growth of our client partners. Here's a snapshot of growth one of our clients enjoyed over a 10-years with AMPED.

 

Client Case Study Infograph 2018

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Fast Transition to a Virtual Meeting Yields Educational and Financial Success

Using the resources of the AMC model, AMPED staff are able to pivot and learn quickly to support our client organizations in times of crisis and change. In the example below, the AMPED team paved the way and cleared many hurdles toward transitioning to a virtual meeting environment, sharing successes and challenges with other AMPED teammates along the way. 

 

American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) - Spring 2020

The original American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) Annual Meeting was originally planned for April 3-7, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Westin Charlotte. At the time the decision was made to fully cancel the in-person meeting, there were 542 registrations and $30,000 in sponsorships.

As part of the decision process, the AMPED team worked very closely with the AAAA Board and hotel to present with three different scenarios:

  • Reschedule the meeting to the Fall of 2020 or Spring of 2021 at the Westin Charlotte
  • A hybrid meeting approach – using a combination of Marriott brand hotels in centralized locations to deliver meeting content
  • Complete meeting cancellation using the Impossibility/Force Majeure clause

It was vital that AMPED and AAAA move quickly with back-up plans as the meeting was CME-accredited and the attendees needed to submit their credits to renew their medical licenses by June.

On March 14, 2020, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order that outlined a ban on mass gatherings, allowing AAAA to claim force majeure and cancel the hotel contract without penalty. Our team worked closely with all stakeholders to determine the right timing to cancel the meeting and how to communicate that with members/attendees. Further, pressure was felt from the AAAA member community, continuing news coverage about the pandemic, and the significant financial impact we would face from cancellation fees with the hotel.

Meanwhile, the AMPED team was preparing to “go virtual” and weighing platform options by participating in demonstrations from virtual learning companies like Digitell, Matchbox and Zoom. It was important to AAAA that the chosen platform:

  • Have an easy to use interface/platform
  • Be able to facilitate the distribution of presentations in order to qualify for CME credits
  • Include some interactivity for exhibitors, sponsors and attendees.

Our team recommended that the AAAA Board invest in Digitell: They hit all of our must-haves, their team of technicians would be able to supplement our staff team on delivery, they had great confidence in putting the virtual meeting together on a fast-tracked timeline and the total investment enabled us to break even at a minimum.

The Board quickly approved AMPED's recommendation and staff moved forward to develop the meeting with the Digitell team. In tandem, we worked very quickly with the AAAA Program Committee to prep the previously secured speakers to deliver their content virtually, as well as replace a handful that needed to cancel.

Behind the scenes, our team also refunded all of the original registration fees to the in-person meeting registrants. It was important to AAAA that the original fees be refunded and a lower fee be collected for the virtual meeting.

After canceling the original meeting on March 15, registration for the virtual meeting on the new platform went live on March 23. Fees were $175 (fellows) and $35 (students). We budgeted $15,000 in revenue for the virtual meeting. We surpassed that goal, taking in $60,000 by the start of the live meeting. Additional income was made from on-demand content offered through early June. 

A few results from the AAAA virtual meeting that kicked off on April 18:

  • Over four days, we scheduled a combination of sessions, including live panels and recorded presentations with speakers (some that included live Q&A).
  • Following the presentation, sessions were archived on the AAAA website for on-demand viewing through June 10.
  • AAAA was approved for 24.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) — 4.5 more than what are typically offered at an in-person meeting
  • The chat was active for all sessions and was been very lively with many questions and supportive/positive comments for speakers
  • Additional functionality included an exhibitor/sponsor area, association information, technical support, and instructions on how to donate to AAAA's legislative fund.

The virtual meeting (non including on-demand content) brought in $47,250 in net income for AAAA — 28 times higher than the net income budgeted for the original in-person meeting! 

Additional statistics:

  • Average number of attendees per session: 150
  • Number of recorded sessions with a live speaker answering questions: 14 of 18
  • All sessions were packaged as enduring content with a shelf life of 3 years
  • $6,500 raised in donations during the event

 

 

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Lynda Patterson to Serve as Badgers United Executive Director

Badgers United for webAMPED Association Management is pleased to announce a new partnership with Badgers United that includes Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE, President and Owner of AMPED, serving as the Badgers United Executive Director.

Badgers United is a 501c3 organization founded by Wisconsin residents who recognize the University of Wisconsin - Madison as one of the largest economic engines in the state, providing over $15 billion in economic impact to all 72 counties. Badgers United is data-driven, focusing on key issues to ensure that Wisconsin’s flagship university remains healthy and continues to grow.

Prior to joining AMPED, Badgers United was supported by a single staff person and outside services. The transition to AMPED and the association management company model means that Badgers United will now have access to a full team of association experts, bringing additional value and support to the organization.

Patterson shares her excitement to work with the organization.

“As a graduate of UW-Madison and a parent of two “baby Badgers,” I take great pride in the University and have a strong personal connection to Badgers United’s mission of minding the future of our land-grant institution,” said Patterson. “I am thrilled to be helping Badgers United further that mission and educate Wisconsin citizens, legislators and other stakeholders on the incredible economic impact UW-Madison delivers to our state.”

AMPED’s Kim Striebel and Sarah Peterson, both UW-Madison alumnae, will manage the finances and day-to-day operations of the organization. The team will also manage Badger Advocates, the lobbying arm of Badgers United.

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AMPED Adds Sarah Peterson as Executive Assistant

AMPED Association Management is pleased to announce that Sarah Peterson is joining the team as the Executive Assistant to President and Owner Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE.

Peterson is no stranger to AMPED. She joined AMPED last summer as a college intern, assisting with communications, social media, podcast editing, and design. She worked so well with the team, that she was a natural choice when the Executive Assistant position was created.

Peterson graduates from UW-Madison in spring 2020 with a degree in Communication Arts and an Entrepreneurship certificate. Among her accomplishments, while a student, was supporting the expansion of the mobile app, LUM (Live Undiscovered Music), a project she helped develop with her brother and one that received the 2018 Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce award for Most Innovative Startup Company. Her experience with this and other startups in the Madison area has given her a leg-up in providing effective customer relations and innovative thinking.

Her role will be to support the President/Owner of AMPED and personally extend the culture, professionalism and welcoming environment that AMPED is known for out to clients, volunteer leaders and into the community.

“We are very excited to welcome Sarah back to AMPED in this new role,” said Patterson. “She brings a can-do attitude that will be evident in everything she touches. I’m looking forward to working with her to  implement new ideas that will perfect operations and accelerate growth for AMPED and our clients.”

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AMPED’s Donté Shannon Selected for ASAE 2020 Class of Fellows

Donte Shannon square LRAMPED Association Management is excited to share that Donté P. Shannon, CAE is one of five association professionals selected for the ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) 2020 Class of Fellows.

Shannon is an account executive with AMPED and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Association of Equipment Management Professionals.

The ASAE Fellows program bestows this honorary recognition on fewer than 1 percent of ASAE's membership. Those who are named ASAE Fellows are called to continued service to the community—as authors, mentors, conference facilitators, and leaders.

“I am thrilled that ASAE has recognized Donté as a Fellow and I’m so proud to have him on the AMPED leadership team,” said AMPED President and Owner Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE. “Donté has a remarkable passion and vision for association management that shows with every interaction — whether with staff or association leaders and members. He is truly one of a kind!”

“It is such an honor to be selected as a 2020 ASAE Fellow,” said Shannon, “representing the enormous amount of talent at AMPED, and following in the footsteps of the company's esteemed founder, Lynda Patterson. I look forward to continuing my contributions to the association management profession and the associations we serve at AMPED.”

The Fellows program recognizes individual accomplishments and contributions to ASAE and The Center and the association community. The goals of the Fellows are:

  • To represent a diverse community of thought leaders who contribute knowledge and insight into the strategic issues of the profession and industry.
  • To identify and develop future association leaders, including by mentoring Diversity Executive Leadership Program scholars and Future Leaders Conference participants.
  • To take an active role in identifying future association trends and issues.
  • To serve through their active leadership and support of ASAE and Fellows activities and programs.

The Fellows selection process includes nomination by a peer; an in-depth application describing the individual's innovation, leadership and commitment to the profession; an interview with a member of the selection committee; and ultimately selection from among a group of highly-qualified candidates.  

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AMPED Announces Partnership with the United Motorcoach Association

uma logoAMPED Association Management is pleased to announce a new partnership with the United Motorcoach Association (UMA). AMPED, an accredited full-service association management company (AMC), will provide both strategic and financial management, as well as lead the group in planning their first virtual Sales Summit.

UMA serves the informational, legislative, regulatory and business needs of its member companies. Members range from those with one and two vehicles to those with many hundreds of coaches; from small tour-specific companies to those performing intercity route service, charter and tour operations on a coast-to-coast scale.

"UMA is at a pivotal point in our journey, shifting our focus to meet the needs of our members as the motorcoach industry changes drastically due to the impact of COVID-19,” said UMA President and CEO Larry Killingsworth. “We are excited to have AMPED in our corner as we evolve our systems, processes, events and future plans."

“Our partnership with UMA is a true story of integrated management and the ability of AMCs to ‘flex up’ and shift support of changing organizations,” said AMPED President and Owner Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE. “The relationship began when they had an immediate need for leadership in financial management and has evolved to guide them through a strategic operational assessment and plan for how UMA supports its members in a post-COVID world.”

AMPED’s Finance Manager Kim Striebel, MBA, will work closely with UMA to manage finance-related matters, while Patterson and a team of experienced association executives within AMPED take UMA through a 90-day strategic planning process, developing a success plan for the organization’s future. Michael Battaglia, an aspiring Certified Association Executive (CAE) will lead the strategy and development of UMA’s 2020 Virtual Sales Summit.

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Patterson Urges Congress to Aid Associations and Non-profits Impacted by Coronavirus

ACTRIMS conference room

AMPED President and Owner, Lynda J. Patterson sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders Sunday asking that they include associations, nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations in any federal aid packages or supplemental measures.

"Many have and will be harmed by event cancellations and reduced meeting attendance as a result of COVID-19," she wrote, noting that in the last week, six of her company's client association meetings were canceled and more are expected to come.

According to the Events Industry Council’s 2018 Economic Significant Study conducted by Oxford Economics, more than 1.9 million meetings occur in the United States each year – with more than 250 million attendees. These meetings contribute more than $446 billion to U.S. gross domestic product and directly support 5.9 million jobs nationwide.

Read the full letter.

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Madison Magazine includes Lynda Patterson in their list of Exceptional Women for 2020

Madison Magazine ad March 2020

Read the full article here.

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Patterson is one of "2020 Exceptional Women"

Patterson Exceptional Women pic 2 2020In a special feature, Madison Magazine highlighted local women who go beyond exceptional. AMPED Owner and President Lynda J. Patterson, was selected for starting her own association management firm in Madison and headquartering 17 national associations here. Read more.

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AMPED Association Management Welcomes Kat Lauer as Account Executive

Kat Luaer Jan 2020AMPED Association Management is pleased to announce that Kat Lauer has joined the AMPED team in its Sacramento, California office to lead two women-centric organizations.

As Associate Executive Director of Leadership California, she will support a network of more than 1,700 women leaders and more than 3,000 advocates dedicated to advancing the leadership role of women in California.

She will also serve as Executive Director of the Women In Trucking Foundation (WITF), supporting fundraising efforts that make scholarships available for women in the trucking industry.

“This is an exciting opportunity to lead and be a woman of change for these organizations, all while working for a woman-driven company,” said Lauer. “I have always strived for a seat at the table while seeking to impact the communities I serve. I see my work with AMPED as a perfect culmination of these passions.”

Lauer comes to AMPED with several years of association and fundraising experience, most recently as a Development Specialist with the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF) where she oversaw day-to-day fundraising initiatives, and as a Director for the Bruin Varsity Club (BVC), UCLA’s Athletic Alumni Association, where she spearheaded athletic alumni fundraising initiatives, alumni relations and marketing, and event planning. She has also worked closely with donors and volunteers on major fundraising events for UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital, advancing initiatives for Children’s Health.

As a student at UCLA, Lauer was a member of the Women’s Rowing Team, where she competed in the Varsity 8 and achieved a career high of 7th place at NCAAs in 2012.

In her free time, she enjoys freelancing on various sports production crews, primarily with the Pac-12 Networks, where she was a part of the 2017 Emmy winning team for Live Sports Production.

 “We are thrilled to welcome Kat to our team and our newest office in Sacramento! She is smart and engaging and has some great ideas for moving WITF and Leadership California forward,” said Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE, President and Owner of AMPED. “She will make an excellent addition to the AMPED family.”

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Emily Petersen Promoted to AMPED’s Chief of Staff

 EP for web 2019AMPED Association Management is pleased to announce that Emily Petersen has been promoted to serve as AMPED’s first Chief of Staff.

During Petersen’s tenure, as a direct result of her strategic vision, attention to detail and leadership, AMPED has experienced tremendous growth and success. As President and Owner, Lynda Patterson’s #2, Emily has helped implement new technologies and countless client and staff transitions, all while growing their teams true to the AMPED mission and team-oriented culture.

“Emily is always several steps ahead of the rest of us and is one of the most efficient, action-oriented businesspeople I have ever met,” said Patterson. “We joke that, thanks to her competing on a national level in Excel (yes, it is a thing), she keeps us organized and results-driven. She has a love for mission-driven non-profit management and is passionate about the AMC model. Like most of our team, Emily is truly like family to me!”

Beginning as an intern at AMPED while in college at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Petersen joined AMPED full time after a brief stint with Epic Systems in Madison. It was the culture and ability to do two jobs at once that attracted her back to AMPED. She uses her project management skills to help AMPED achieve AMCI accreditation — meeting and exceeding the standards — while educating staff about the policies and procedures that help maintain it. Over the years Petersen has acquired progressively responsible roles, most recently as AMPED’s Director of Administration, leading the membership and admin teams. Emily also works with Lynda on strategic HR and collaborates with all client execs on transitions and staffing models.

As Chief of Staff, Petersen will serve as strategic advisor and counselor to the President and Owner, and will focus her skills on creating and maintaining cross-departmental relationships to enable AMPED’s leaders to succeed and grow.

“During my ten plus years at AMPED, I have worked in every area of both the business and association management. By doing so, I have a deep understanding of all departments, clients, employees and the various needs of each party,” Petersen said. “I am excited to use this strategic position to better serve our clients, ensuring that our staff has the resources they need to be successful and matching their skill sets to the appropriate client teams.”
 

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