Open to association professionals from Chicago associations, Shared Interest Groups — or SIGs — offer a no-pressure environment in which to learn from, network with and find support from like-minded peers. Small, member-focused gatherings, there are groups devoted to a wide variety of constituencies, including CEOs, young professionals, association marketers and more. Continue reading for a list of available SIGs:
The #2 Executives/COOs SIG deals with the myriad issues facing chief operating officers in associations. Some topics are related to functional areas of associations and others to the unique nature of being second in command.
Chair
Marla J. Isaacs, CAE
misaacs@dmaonline.org
Executive Vice President
Dietary Managers Association
Vice Chair
R. Norris Orms, FACHE, CAE
norms@HIMSS.org
Executive Vice President & COO
HIMSS
This SIG focuses on idea-sharing and networking of those involved in book publishing at their associations to keep them informed of current developments and issues. Topics can include any aspect of book publishing: acquisitions, editorial/production, marketing, and distribution. Electronic publishing is currently a major focus.
Chair
Maureen Glass, FACHE, CAE
mglass@ache.org
Vice President, Publications
Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives
Vice Chair
Katherine A. Muench, CAE
kayemuench@gmail.com
This SIG focuses on the exchange of information and networking among appointed chief executive officers who manage associations headquartered in the downtown Chicago area and have annual budgets under $2 million. Membership is open to all CEOs with budgets of under $2 million. All meetings will be held in the downtown area.
Chair
Edward Stygar, III
estygariii@aol.com
Executive Director
American Biological Safety Association
This SIG provides an opportunity to meet, learn and share ideas with people who are actively involved in certification. Topics may include; implications of a program on your association, scoring methodologies, evaluation process, trends, recertification, technologies for the certification process, staffing, budgeting and many more.
Chair
Geraldine Piskorski
geraldine.piskorski@ascp.org
Director of Certification Activities
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Vice Chair
Jim Kendzel
jkendzel@aspe.org
Executive Director/CEO
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
This SIG focuses on the idea-sharing and networking of those involved in communication activities at their associations to keep them informed of current developments and issues. This includes publications, public relations, media relations, advertising, marketing, and other related areas.
Chair
Bruce Hammond
bhammond@nsga.org
Director of Marketing & Communications
National Sporting Goods Association
Vice Chair
Susan Fritschi
sfritschi@ache.org
Marketing Communications Specialist
American College of Healthcare Executives
This SIG deals with information and idea sharing around the management of any affiliated or independent unit of a bigger organization. The names for these units vary from association to association. Some common ones are chapters, branches, special-interest groups, divisions, practice specialties or even the division of international, national, regional, state and local subsidiaries of the same association.
Chair
Leslie Whittet
lwhittet@acg.org
Vice President, Chapter Operations
Association for Corporate Growth
Vice Chair
Melissa Arthur
marthur@irem.org
Manager, Chapter Services
Institute for Real Estate Management
This SIG provides members with information on the development and management of curriculum in continuing education, training, professional development and/or staff training for their organization.
Chair
Barbara Choyke
bchoyke@aaoms.org
Associate Exececutive Director, Continuing Education
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Vice Chair
Susan Jankovsky
sjankovsky@asge.org
Assistant Manager, Education & Training
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
This SIG focuses on a variety of issues related to association finance. CFOs, directors, managers of finance and others with accountability for financial issues are welcome.
Chair
Donna Rebeck
rebeck@oref.org
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer
Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation
Vice Chair
John O’Loughlin
joloughlin@acg.org
Chief Financial Officer
Association for Corporate Growth
This SIG’s discussions will concentrate on independent foundations, subsidiary foundations and relations with parent associations and the place of development within them. Topics may include: engaging the non-profit board; foundation and fundraising resources; research and proposal preparation; and corporate and foundation relations to name just a few. Learn the varied methods and techniques necessary for successful fundraising.
Chair
Kate Dockins
kdockins@dmaonline.org
Director of Leadership Development
Dietary Managers Association
Vice Chair
Jeff Borchardt
jborchardt@adsfundraising.com
Executive Director
Association Development Solutions
This SIG is for individuals involved in governance activities who want to share ideas and network with others in this field. Meeting topics focus on a variety of issues related to association governance like elections, committee appointment process, by laws, and referendums. Board policies and procedures, board relations and affairs, and board minutes are also covered by this group.
Chair
Betty Sanders
betty.sanders@ascp.org
Program Manager, Membership Councils
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Vice Chair
Gayle Irvin
girvin@aha.org
Associate Director
The Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development of the AHA
This SIG provides an opportunity to meet, learn and share ideas with people who are actively involved in government relations, public policy and advocacy. Topics may include; trends, lobbying rules and regulations, technologies for grassroots mobilization, communication efforts, policy development and management and more.
Chair
Meryl Sosa
msosa@ilpsych.org
Account Executive
Bostrom Corporation
Vice Chair
Dan Buksa
daniel.buksa@agd.org
Academy of General Dentistry
The Human Resources SIG provides an opportunity meet, learn and share ideas with human resource professionals who are actively involved in recruiting, benefits, compensation, training, employee relations and performance management. Topics may include: employment policies, new legislation, trends in human resource management, succession planning, employee morale and more.
Chair
Joy Silverman
jsilverman@hrsource.org
HR Services Advisor
The Management Association of Illinois
Vice Chair
Pam Marshall
pmarshall@hrmac.org
Membership Director
Human Resources Management Association of Chicago
The purpose of this SIG is that of support, communication, expanding the knowledge base, sharing, and using online communication to add value to the services of our associations and ultimately to benefit members.
Chair
Jason Paganessi
jpaganessi@pcma.org
Vice President, Business Innovation
Professional Convention Management Association
Vice Chair
Dan Pietroske
dan@apps4meetings.com
CEO and Chief Software Architect
Association Applications Group
This SIG assists Chicagoland associations in responding to global issues and opportunities of concern to them through information, education, contacts and networking.
The Marketing SIG provides an exchange of ideas and effective practices for marketing professionals in all types of membership organizations. Expert speakers, as well as Marketing SIG members, share effective practices in marketing and research methods for all association activities and programs, including member retention and recruitment, event and education program marketing, publication sales, dues renewals, and advertising, sponsorship and exhibit space sales, and other related areas.
Chair
Sheri Jacobs
jacobs@avenuemgroup.com
President & Chief Strategist
Avenue M Group LLC
Vice Chair
Laura Davis
ldavis@aahpm.org
Senior Manager
Association Management Center
This SIG explores the many areas of association meeting management from logistics to site selection, international meetings, technology, the law, and much more.
This SIG provides Forum members who have a membership/marketing interest with a professional support network for professional growth. It also serves as an idea laboratory for all participants.
Chair
Erika Joyce
ejoyce@ache.org
Senior Marketing Specialist
American College of Healthcare Executives
Vice Chair
Matthew Hornberger
mhornberger@aha.org
Manager, Membership Services
American Hospital Association
This SIG brings together CEOs of trade and professional associations that have offices in the suburbs to discuss topics of common interest, such as CEOs and the Web, performance appraisals of CEOs, and creative board orientation programs. Membership is open to all interested CEOs.
This SIG provides an opportunity to meet, learn and share ideas with people who are actively involved in providing products and services to associations and non-profit organizations.
Chair
Gregg Witt
gregg.witt@cbre.com
Senior Vice President
CB Richard Ellis
This SIG focuses on issues unique to trade associations and their CEOs. Meet with your peers to discuss these issues in a local setting.
Chair
Rob Paterkiewicz
robp@selectedfuneralhomes.org
Executive Director
Selected Independent Funeral Homes
The Young Professionals SIG is designed for association professionals under the age of 35 looking to meet with peers to share experiences, learn more about the association industry, and network in a fun, social environment. The purpose of the SIG is to help young association professionals establish contacts and develop leadership skills to succeed in the association industry.
The SIG has monthly meetings on topics relevant to members' career and personal development needs interspersed with social events.
Chair
Kristine O’Sullivan
kosullivan@osteopathic.org
Director
American Osteopathic Association
Vice Chair
Carly Hurd
hurd@aisc.org
Director of Membership Services
American Institute of Steel Construction
