Week #50 – Association Professional

This week I am in Austin, Texas working with the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) as an Association Professional.

What exactly is an Association Professional? That’s a good question.

When President/CEO Beth Brooks first contacted me about coming to Texas to work with TSAE, I had a difficult time wrapping my head around what they do.

“So, you are an association?” I asked. Beth replied, “Well yes, though we are the association of associations.”

While I was intrigued simply by the fact this actually existed, I didn’t give it much thought and put it on the back burner.

Over the past year of job offers, Beth was probably one of the most persistent people. She made a great case to come to Austin.

There are 24,000 associations in the US, 1,600 of which are in Texas. TSAE is the association of associations – meaning they provide educational training for the professionals who work for all the associations in Texas.

The land of associations sounds like a unique world in itself – I am looking forward to discovering it.

http://www.visityakima.com John Cooper

Hey Sean,

As you know, I have worked as a tourism association executive for most of my career and even served on the board of the Washington Society of Association Executives. They do great work in professional education and advocacy. As the motto goes, associations advance America! Enjoy your time in Texas. Austin is a great town, soak up the nightlife and music scene while there!
http://www.louisrburns.com Louis Burns

Sean,

It was good meeting you this morning at Toastmasters.

Thanks for helping pave the way for those of us who’ve hopped from job to job over the years. Maybe my mom will someday accept my not having become an engineer for the rest of my life.

I’ll be reading your blog and looking forward to your book release.

Louis
http://www.challenge-management.com John Swinburn

Sean,

I hope your experience with TSAE has acquainted you with the remarkable scope and value of associations. I’m delighted that Beth Brooks was sufficiently persistent to persuade you to give association management a try…and I hope you seriously consider association management as a career.

I admire your creativity and spirit of adventure in launching your 52 weeks of job-testing!

John
Ginger Nichols

Congratulations on your week in association management. When you complete your year, you’ll have experience in 52 of the thousands of industries and professions represented by associations in the U.S. The only problem with a career in association management is explaining what you do to your friends and relatives!