Association Leadership Academy

As an association professional, have you considered:

Serving on or chairing a board of directors?
How you would guide a team of volunteer leaders, work with a Chief Staff Executive, and your fiduciary responsibilities of serving on a non-for-profit board?
Taking the Certified Association Executive (CAE) exam?
How to read financial reports, manage your team, and better understand board governance?

If so, then ALA is the program for you! Registration Open for 2023-2024! You are YOUR best investment!

Application Deadline for 2023-2024 Cohort: September 2023. You may also audit one or two sessions. Sign-up for via the same registration form.

October 13, 2023: Executive Leadership
November 17, 2023: Governance
January 19, 2024: Organizational Strategy / Operations
February 9, 2024: Business Development / Engagement & Management
March 8, 2024: Advocacy / Marketing & Communications
April 26, 2024: Career Development and Independent Project Presentations

The 6-month leadership program is designed to help association professionals develop essential skills while creating a community within ESSAE. It is a great way to formalize and update everything you know about running associations — and to learn in areas you want to grow. Ideal candidates for the academy are dedicated to growing within the association community and learning skills needed to be a leader in this environment.

The Association Leadership Academy (ALA) is an accelerated program for association professionals, executives, and emerging executives in the association management field. The academy offers a unique learning experience over a series of monthly educational forums led by accomplished association and corporate leaders. The academy includes:

Updated academy curriculum featuring ESSAE leaders and industry experts
Capstone project enables participants to explore an area of particular interest
Six day-long classes
Session facilitated by ESSAE leaders, graduates, and subject specialists
Open to both ESSAE members and non-members
Limited to no more than 20 professionals
Up to 30 credit hours to qualify to sit for the CAE exam or to re-certify

Academy graduates become part of a group of distinguished association professionals who have completed the program. Graduates are recognized among their peers and receive a certificate of completion. Academy credits count toward the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. Graduates are encouraged to remain involved by connecting with peers, engaging in ESSAE committees, and helping formulate future educational programs.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

The Academy is a 6-month program designed to help association professionals develop essential skills while creating a community within ESSAE. It is a great way to formalize and update everything you know about running associations — and to learn in areas you want to grow. The quality of the Academy’s instructors and the information-sharing among peers sets association professionals on a new path.

Ideal candidates for this program are dedicated to growing within the association community and learning skills needed to be a leader in this environment. Candidates must currently be employed by a nonprofit organization or an association management company.

The ideal candidate for this program:

Is interested in developing as an association leader
Has some understanding of associations
May be new to the executive director role
May bring non-association experience
May occupy the manager or director role at an association
May be an aspiring executive director and association leader
May be an association board chair
May be interested in pursuing the CAE certification.

The Association Leadership Academy is open to all ESSAE members and non-members.

The Academy will comprise up to 20 association professionals who, but not limited to, have a minimum of five years of work experience and/or three years of association experience. Association experience might include professional, trade, or other non-for-profit association and/or membership based organization experience.

We invite association executives, senior association staff, support staff with management potential or interest in studying association management, and current and aspiring Certified Association Executives (CAEs) to enroll in the program.

2023- 2024 COHORT CURRICULUM

Participants in the Association Leadership Academy will emerge with the knowledge and critical decision-making ability on timely and significant topics relevant to association management. Participants will also have:

Experiential learning opportunities;
A capstone project based on learning outcomes; and
Sessions facilitated by ESSAE leaders, past graduates, and subject specialists.

Independent Leadership Projects

Each member of the ALA cohort will undertake an independent leadership project over the course of the program to learn more about an area of association leadership of particular interest to them as an emerging association leader. Each project will mix theory with practice and will provide an opportunity to roll up the sleeves and “do” the work of an association leader. Projects will fit within one of the eight general CAE Domains.

All Academy sessions will be held from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (eastern) and be held in person at the All Academy sessions will be held from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (eastern) and be held in person at the ASBO New York Offices, located at 7 Airport Park Blvd, 2nd Floor, Latham, NY 12110 (please note location change).

October 13, 2023: Executive Leadership
November 17, 2023: Governance
January 19, 2024: Organizational Strategy / Operations
February 9, 2024: Business Development / Engagement & Management
March 8, 2024: Advocacy / Marketing & Communications
April 26, 2024: Career Development and Independent Project Presentations

Complete session details, assignments, and suggested reading will be provided to all participants in advance of each session.

ACADEMY DEANS

Academy deans are executive staff and presidents/CEOs of statewide, regional, or national associations who represent professional achievement and accomplishment. Each educational forum will be moderated by an academy dean.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

Enrollment in the Association Leadership Academy is a commitment to learning and professional development in the association management field. To be recognized as an ALA graduate, you must attend all six sessions. Participants who are unable to attend all six sessions should contact the ESSAE office at (518) 463-1755 or [email protected] for information regarding makeup opportunities.

GRADUATION

Participants will receive a certificate of completion, graduation pin, and be listed on the Academy website by graduating class year. Are you looking for even more advanced training? ALA Masters will be offered in 2023!

CAE CREDIT

Up to 30 CAE credit hours will be earned by attending all six sessions of this Academy which can be used toward your CAE exam registration or CAE recertification.

TUITION

Full Program
$750 Members | $1,400 Non-Members

Single Session Audit
Auditing Sessions: $150 per session (Members); $300 per session (Non-Members)
Only one audited session allowed per program cycle

Full Series Registration includes up to 30 clock hours of professional development, all materials, lunch, and access to celebratory lunch at the 2023 Annual Conference. Non-members are encouraged to join ESSAE and receive the full benefit of membership in the organization plus the member program rate.

Cancellation Policy: Registrants are applying for the ESSAE Association Leadership Academy and agree to pay the stated fees. Cancellations received on or before September 8, 2023, will be refunded less a $100 cancellation fee. Cancellations received on or after September 11, 2023, will not be refunded. Replacements will be considered. Refunds will not be available for registrants who choose not to attend (no-shows). Cancellations will be accepted in writing only and must be received by the stated cancellation deadline. All refund requests must be made by the attendee or credit card holder. Refunds will be credited back to the original credit card used for payment.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Need financial help? It's been an incredibly tough year and we understand you may need financial help when it comes to professional development. ESSAE has established a scholarship program to ensure the continued professional growth of colleagues who represent and are dedicated to our profession. Details can be found online: www.essae.org/rita-lashway-scholarship.

HOW TO APPLY

What do employers think?

"I have used the ALA as an accompaniment to staff training, especially for new hires, to provide them with Association 101 programming. Oftentimes I am hiring team members that are not from the association world. ALA has been a worthwhile investment because it saves me time from teaching the basics. It provides opportunities to have discussions with them after the programs to compare to real world scenarios within our specific organization." Jennifer Martin, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, NYS School Nutrition Association

What do graduates think?

If you want to assess what you and your organization are doing right and identify the areas of opportunity for improvement, I would highly recommend ALA. - Cynthia Kimble, Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance

I highly recommend ALA to anyone who has a desire to spend their career in associations. The ALA exposes you to all of the topic areas that you need to know in order to lead a successful organization. Not only were the sessions informative, but they were interactive, which made learning easier and more fun! I enjoyed meeting all of my fellow ALA classmates, and their journey in the association world. The connections and lessons learned throughout the class left a positive, long-lasting impression on me and my future in associations. - Ashley Ranslow, NFIB

ALA is a comprehensive program that provides association professionals with much-needed knowledge relating to all areas of association management. - Katie Bradley

When I first registered for ALA, I had the expectation that I would learn from a few professionals about how to improve in my job and my career. After finishing the course, I can say that was achieved along with much more that I didn't anticipate. I have gained confidence in myself, my knowledge and my skill set, increased motivation to continue to advance in my career and pursue my CAE, and a network of professionals to use as a resource. - Meagan Bowker, CAE, Capitol Hill Management Services

It was clear from the topic selection, the content, and the high-quality presenters that ESSAE and the team that prepared the ALA curriculum REALLY put in the time to develop a top-notch program. The topics were relevant and timely. We received practical advice based on real-life situations. ALA challenged me to think about ways I can become a more effective manager and how I can develop my leadership skills. The deans that opened each session and introduced the presenters were outstanding. They are in the association "trenches" and spoke with authority. Ignore their advice/wisdom/guidance at your own peril! The presenters were fantastic - from within the Capital Region and of national renown. Invest in yourself, your association, and your career, and participate in the ALA. You will learn and be challenged. - Mark Amodeo, The Business Council of NYS, Inc.