AI at the Crossroads of Human Connection: Green Light or Red Flag?

By Elizabeth Pullman, Director of Talent, Parthenon Management Group, LLC

At IMEX Frankfurt 2026, emerging leaders from across the association and meetings industry gathered for a thought-provoking session during the IAPCO & AMCI Joint Associations Emerging Leaders Workshop titled “AI at the Crossroads of Human Connections: Green Light or Red Flag?” The session explored one of the industry’s most pressing questions: how can organizations embrace artificial intelligence while preserving the human connection that defines events and associations?

Small but Mighty: Recognizing the Power of Extra-Small and Small AMC Members

Tina Wehmeir, CMP-Fellow, CAE, President & CEO, AMC Institute

One of the things I love most about this community is that it defies the notion that size determines significance.

A Small AMC Perspective from the Board

About a year and a half ago, I was invited to join the AMCI Board of Directors. This is an honor for anyone, but even more so for me, as I own a small AMC. Part of my role is to be the voice for the extra-small, small, and even medium-sized AMCs. I would be lying if it did not feel it daunting at times. But it does show the commitment this board has to hearing everyone’s input in making AMCI the best it can be. There is so much AMCI has to offer, especially to smaller AMCs. While large organizations are critical to AMCI, they face vastly different challenges from small AMCs. Even when I took the position, I was unaware of all the benefits for smaller AMCs. Just being part of AMCI and taking advantage of all the networking opportunities, including the Annual Meeting, the Engaged Conference, Regional Meetings, and online webinars, offers prime opportunities to learn industry best practices from AMCs of all sizes. Of course, one of the most popular breakout meetings is always the AMC by size, where AMCs can get together with their peers and discuss confidential information as well as challenges that they are facing in their organization, and allow for the beginning of a personal network of colleagues that you can lean on, regardless of the challenges that you face in your business. 

As a small AMC, one of the challenges is where to put your resources, especially with limited finances. This is always a question of the value of your investment relative to its return. AMCI again leads the industry in value. First, the Accreditation, while challenging and time-consuming, does allow a small AMC to differentiate itself from other AMCs. Showing that you are a leader in the industry and are held to higher standards helps your business grow. There is no better way to lead than to adopt the best practices in the industry and leverage the knowledge that AMCI has acquired over the years. 

There's no better time than today to secure your spot at the year's most anticipated gathering for association management professionals. Early bird discounts for AMCs Engaged end June 15th — so act now and lock in your savings before time runs out.

Where Bold Ideas Meet Real Solutions

This July, our community comes together in Milwaukee to do something powerful: design what's next for our industry. Inspired by Milwaukee's legacy of visionary architecture, this year's program is built to spark fresh perspectives, strengthen connections, and equip you with strategies you can bring back to your team from day one.

Veritas Association Management Team Member Denise Herdrich Receives Prestigious John Hinckley Outstanding Service Award

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists honors longtime association leader for exceptional service and impact

EduSeries Announcement: Safeguarding Your Association: Governing and Managing Cyber & AI Risks   

Thursday, June 18| 2:00 PM (Eastern)  

Join us for an insightful EduSeries session you won't want to miss!

Celebrating Our 2026 Awards of Excellence Winners!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of AMCI's 2026 Awards of Excellence! Since its launch in 2023, this program has honored the outstanding achievements of AMC firms and professionals who are shaping the future of our industry — and this year's honorees are no exception. From rising executives already making their mark, to seasoned leaders whose talent and vision continue to advance our field, to firms transforming client success in extraordinary ways, our 2026 winners represent the very best of the AMC community.

Spreading the Word: How AMCI's Market Development Domain Is Changing the Story of Association Management

Jeanne Sheehy, CMO at Bostrom and Marketing Advisory Board Director

It started with a bold declaration. About four years ago, Board Chair Mark Engle stood before the AMC Institute community and issued a challenge that was equal parts audacious and inspiring: by 2050, AMCs should manage 50% of the associations in our target size range. Just like that, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal or BHAG was born.

Scope Creep: The Industry Conversation We Need to Have

Sarah Timm, CAE, CMP-HC, Parthenon Management Group, AMCI Board Chair

Scope creep rarely arrives dramatically. It doesn't usually come as a sweeping demand or an overwhelming initiative. More often, it appears quietly — one additional committee call, an expanded conference deliverable, another "quick" marketing request, a last-minute board initiative added with the best of intentions.

A Decade of Growth: AMCI's Canadian Chapter Marks Ten Years of Progress

Peter Waite, CAE, Principal at Association & Events Management International and AMCI Board Director

Ten Years of Expanding Reach

2026 marks the tenth anniversary of AMCI’s first — and to date, only — Chapter. Over the past decade, the Canadian Chapter has doubled its membership to 22 firms and now has representation from coast to coast. Collectively, our members manage nearly 300 associations representing approximately 125,000 association members.

 This is one of the most valuable tools AMCI has ever put in members' hands. 

Don't leave it on the shelf.

When a client asks, “How do our costs compare?” — you need more than a gut feeling. You need data. And AMCI has invested in giving you exactly that.

The AMCI Benchmarking Tool is the only on-demand benchmarking resource built specifically for AMC members — developed and validated by renowned researcher Dr. James Gaskin. It gives you instant access to the most current income and expense data across more than 50 categories for approximately 200,000 C3 and C6 nonprofits annually. Filter it to match the exact client profiles you work with, and you’ll walk into every proposal and renewal conversation armed with real numbers that tell a compelling story.

Join us on Wednesday, June 10 at 2:00 PM (Eastern) for an insightful eduseries on the future of AI-powered email marketing for AMCs!

Email marketing is evolving -- and association management companies can't afford to fall behind. In this on-demand webinar, we'll show you how AI is reshaping the way AMCs build, send, and optimize email campaigns across their entire client portfolio.

INDIANAPOLIS – Raybourn Group International is honored to have been named one of Indiana’s Best Places to Work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for the sixth year in a row. The Chamber revealed nominee rankings at an awards dinner on May 13, 2026, naming Raybourn Group International (RGI) as the 22nd best small-medium company (35 – 74 employees) to work for in Indiana.

“Being named as one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana for the sixth consecutive year is such an honor, and I am so proud of what we’ve built and continue to maintain in our pursuit of serving our clients and our RGI community,” says President Leslie Murphy, CAE, FASAE. “RGI would not be who we are today without the dedication and talents of our team. We as a company are committed to helping our employees advance themselves even further by investing in education, professional development opportunities, and by creating an environment focused on collaboration.”

AMCI Charges into Q2: Celebrating Our Members,

Growing Our Community, and Advancing the Industry

Tina Wehmeir, CMP-Fellow, CAE, President & CEO, AMC Institute

As we move into Q2 of 2026, the energy across the AMC Institute is unmistakable. April brought new members, new educational milestones, exciting event momentum, and perhaps most meaningfully, a new initiative to formally recognize the remarkable firms that make AMCI what it is. The 50 by 50 Strategic Plan continues to gather strength, and every step forward is a testament to the dedication of this community.

Join us on Tuesday, May 19 at 2:00 PM (Eastern) for an upcoming EduSeries designed to help Association Management Companies move beyond experimentation and into real, strategic AI adoption. In this session, we'll explore how to turn curiosity into capability and create meaningful value for both your AMC and your clients.

Many AMCs remain stuck between basic experimentation and limited implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Now is the time to define a clear, strategic path to AI-driven value.

Architects of What’s Next: Why You Should Be at Engaged 2026 in Milwaukee

Kay Whalen, MBA, CAE, President, Executive Director, Inc. and AMCI Board Director

From July 27-29, the AMC community will gather in Milwaukee for one of the most anticipated events of the year—AMCI’s Engaged Meeting. More than a conference, Engaged has become the place where ideas are tested, relationships are strengthened, and the future of the association management industry takes shape.

40 Years Strong: IMI Association Executives Expands Impact in a Changing Nonprofit Landscape

Celebrating four decades of continuous leadership, nonprofit partnership, and a future focused on growth and expanded client impact

We're thrilled to announce that Rachel Druckenmiller will open AMCs Engaged 2026 as our keynote speaker.

From Deliverables to Direction: What’s Next for AMCs

Sarah Timm, CAE, CMP-HC, President & CEO, Parthenon Management Group, AMCI Board Chair 

Community Engagement and Development: Building AMCI as Your Professional Home 

Mike Dwyer, CAE Chief Client Officer & Partner, Association Headquarters, AMCI Board Director