The Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC) and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) are leading organizations dedicated to advancing journalism and mass communication education.
Together, they serve more than 2,500 members, including educators, researchers, administrators, and institutions. Despite their scale and impact, both organizations operate with a lean staff of just seven full-time employees — making efficiency, automation, and system reliability essential to their success.
Challenges Before MemberSuite
Prior to implementing MemberSuite by GrowthZone, both organizations relied on outdated and largely manual processes for managing membership and operations.
- Membership tracking was inconsistent and time-consuming
- Data lived in fragmented systems (including Excel-based records)
- Staff spent significant time on repetitive administrative work
- Limited technical capacity made modernization feel risky
“The way we used to put in membership was totally backward," said Felicia Brown, Assistant Director for both organizations.
Without automation or a centralized system, staff capacity was stretched, and opportunities for growth and engagement were limited.
Selecting the Right Platform
As a nonprofit organization, cost was an important factor—but long-term value became the deciding lens.
“You might be able to find a cheaper company, but it will not give you what you need," Felicia said.
The team ultimately chose MemberSuite because of:
- Scalability for future growth
- Strong automation capabilities
- User-friendly member experience
- Ability to serve as a centralized system of record
“You really need to look at it as you can’t afford not to do it,” Felicia said.
Implementation & Onboarding Experience
The implementation process was smooth overall, with most challenges stemming from data cleanup — not the system itself.
“The technical upload itself was straightforward," Felicia said "Preparing and cleaning the data required time and attention.”
Key strengths during onboarding included:
- Highly responsive support team
- Step-by-step guidance (including Loom videos)
- Clear documentation and training resources
- Ability to test workflows in a Sandbox environment
The platform also integrated seamlessly with Higher Logic, creating a connected ecosystem for membership and engagement.
Ease of Use & Staff Adoption
Despite varying levels of technical expertise across staff, adoption was strong.
- System ownership was distributed across team members
- Sandbox testing enabled confidence before launching changes
- Training for new staff became manageable over time
“Our staff and stakeholders have adapted well," Felicia said. "Overall adoption has been smooth and manageable.”
The platform’s intuitive design helped reduce friction for both staff and members.
Membership Management & Operations
MemberSuite now supports:
- Tiered, anniversary-based memberships
- Annual conference registration
- Payment processing (via Card Pointe)
- Centralized historical and demographic data
This has resulted in a significantly more professional, streamlined member experience.
Auto-Renewal & Retention Insights
While AEJMC and ASJMC do not track a precise auto-renewal decline percentage, their operational experience provides strong insight into member behavior.
- Renewal processes are stable and predictable
- Members encounter minimal friction when renewing
- No patterns of widespread confusion or disengagement
Based on internal observations and industry benchmarks:
- Estimated auto-renewal declines: ~10–15%
- Upper range: ~20%
This aligns with organizations that have:
- Clear renewal processes
- Predictable pricing
- Engaged membership bases
To reinforce this, the team actively monitors renewal performance:
- Regular reporting reviews
- Ongoing trend analysis
- Periodic system spot checks
This allows them to quickly identify issues and maintain a healthy renewal cycle.
“We feel confident that the platform supports a strong and stable retention environment," Felicia said.
Support & Ongoing Partnership
Support has been a standout feature of the MemberSuite experience.
- Fast, responsive assistance
- Clear, visual troubleshooting guidance
- Strong knowledge base
- Consistent post-implementation support
“The onboarding experience, customer support, and knowledge base have been outstanding—truly among the strongest support services we use,” Felicia said.
'Our Eighth Staff Member'
The impact of MemberSuite on operations has been transformative.
Automation now supports:
- Membership renewals
- Reporting and tracking
- Workflow efficiency
- Data accessibility
“We often joke that MemberSuite functions as our ‘eighth staff member,’” Felicia said.
With a small team, this level of operational support has been critical.
Results & Organizational Impact
Since implementation, AEJMC and ASJMC have seen:
- Increased operational efficiency
- Improved data accuracy and access
- Enhanced member experience
- Strong internal adoption across staff
- Reliable and predictable pricing
The system has effectively paid for itself through time savings and improved productivity.
“I don’t foresee us going to anybody anytime soon or ever,” Felicia said.
Strengths & Considerations
Key Strengths
- Ease of use for both staff and members
- Centralized, cloud-based database
- Seamless integration with Higher Logic
- Strong automation capabilities
- Highly responsive support team
Considerations
- Initial data migration required significant cleanup
- Some desire for expanded reporting customization
These challenges have been manageable and do not outweigh the overall benefits, Felicia said.
Overall Satisfaction & Recommendation
AEJMC and ASJMC report a highly positive experience and would unequivocally choose MemberSuite again.
- Implementation stayed on track
- Budget expectations were met
- Training was effective and accessible
- Annual pricing has been predictable
“MemberSuite has significantly enhanced the look, feel, and overall operations of our association," Felicia said.
Final Takeaway
For AEJMC and ASJMC, MemberSuite is not just a software platform. It is a core operational partner.
“You can’t afford not to do it,” Felicia said.
By investing in a scalable, user-friendly, and well-supported system, both organizations have positioned themselves for long-term growth, stronger member engagement, and sustained operational success.
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