Events and Conferences

At this year’s ACCE Annual Convention in Philadelphia, three standout chambers of commerce took home the coveted “Best in Show” honors during the annual Awards Show. These awards spotlighted the most impactful communications projects submitted to the 2025 Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) program. The ACE program has long served as a benchmark for excellence in chamber marketing and communications. For over 40 years, ACCE has celebrated innovation and creativity in messaging, storytelling, and outreach strategies that strengthen community engagement […]

We’re thrilled to celebrate the announcement of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)’s 2025 Chamber of the Year award winners! The honors were revealed on Wednesday, July 23, during the awards show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia. As the proud sponsor of the 2025 Chamber of the Year award, GrowthZone was honored to be there in person to applaud and congratulate this year’s exceptional recipients. The Chamber of the Year award recognizes chambers that have demonstrated excellence in […]

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Expo is where the association community comes together—and 2025 will be no exception. This year’s event promises powerful learning, meaningful connections, and practical solutions that will shape the future of associations. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of trends, find tools to boost member engagement, or connect with peers who “get it”—the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting is the place to be. And yes, we’ll be there, and we’ve got big […]

Association networking events are critical to increasing member engagement and demonstrating value. Give your members the tools to maximize the time and energy they put into event attendance. Part two of our two-part series on successful member networking explores post-event tactics to maximize the opportunity. Share these post-event tactics with your members: Add each new contact to your LinkedIn network. Follow up with a quick email or phone call within 24-48 hours. Schedule this on your calendar. Seriously, set aside the […]

Member networking events. Some people look forward to them, others secretly groan when they show up on the schedule. The key to making your association’s events successful is to make them valuable to your members. The long and short of it is: if members are going to attend, give them the tools to make them count. Get free networking resources to share with members. Part one of our two-part series on successful member networking explores strategies for members to put together […]

Frank Kenny Guest Blog: Frank explains how to reverse declining in-person event attendance.

When it comes to finding a conference speaker, associations work with a limited (if any) budget. The challenge, though, is that a talented speaker is a key to increasing attendance and engaging members. Get more tips to engage members with our on-demand webinar: Engaging the Disengaged Member with Shari Pash. Of course, there is an abundance of professional speakers available at a wide range of prices. But, when looking for an interesting, inexpensive presenter, a little creativity can go a […]

Speed networking is an accelerated way for members to network and build community.

The key to driving conference registrations is to make it as easy as possible for potential attendees to get approval to attend. Read the tip sheet: We’ve Got to Stop Meeting Like This and learn how to plan and run efficient meetings. A key component of your overall conference marketing plan should be a letter/proposal template that can be used by potential attendees to pitch the idea to their boss/board, etc. By helping them “sell” the idea, you’ve put the […]

There are a number of trends impacting the association industry. One of the top growth challenges mentioned is attracting young professionals. Regardless of size, budget, or mission, associations continue to struggle with ideas to engage 20-somethings. While there is not a singular answer to the challenge, even the simplest of ideas are worth trying, right? We put on our thinking caps and came up with a list of fun activities to incorporate into events geared toward your young professional members […]

So, you’re in charge of planning and running association meetings. Congratulations! That’s like being the captain of a boat, but instead of navigating the high seas, you’re navigating a sea of opinions and agendas. We don’t envy you, but maybe these tips can ensure a fruitful and pleasant experience for all who attend: 1.     Set a clear purpose and agenda. Before planning any meeting, it is important to define the purpose and agenda of the meeting. What topics will be […]

Our GrowthZone AMS blog series, 6 Proven Ways Associations Improved Member Engagement, explores different tactics that can increase member engagement. In this installment, we dive into programming strategies used by associations with strong member engagement rates. In yearly surveys, over half of respondents reported that their year-over-year engagement rates increased. Of the respondents indicating increased engagement, 11% attributed the improvement to new or updated programming. How they did it: Programming Increased focus on program promotion Updated / improved new-member onboarding […]