TripleM Institute – Session DescriptionsThis companion page provides expanded descriptions of educational sessions offered as part of the ESSAE's TripleM Institute. These details are intended to help attendees better understand session focus areas and select sessions during registration that are aligned with their professional roles and interests. Session titles, speakers, and descriptions are subject to refinement as final programming is confirmed during early bird registration (through Friday, February 13). Meetings. Membership. Marketing.TripleM is ESSAE’s annual convergence point for association professionals who are responsible for moving organizations forward — strategically, sustainably, and with intention. Grounded in ESSAE’s three core pillars — Meetings, Membership, and Marketing — TripleM delivers a focused, one-day learning experience that combines practical education, peer exchange, and community connection. The 2026 TripleM program also intentionally recognizes that effective leadership is both strategic and human. Empathy, emotional intelligence, and attention to well-being are not soft skills—they are essential leadership competencies, particularly for professionals navigating increasingly complex organizational environments. Aligned with Women’s History Month and Endometriosis Awareness Month, this lens provides a broader framework for understanding invisible challenges in the workplace and how leaders can respond with awareness, clarity, and care. These considerations inform conversations about inclusive leadership, team management, communication, and organizational culture—while remaining firmly grounded in professional practice and operational realities. This programmatic lens also reinforces CAE-aligned competencies, including Leadership, Organizational & Revenue Development, and Professionalism, highlighting how high EQ and inclusive leadership behaviors strengthen teams, relationships, and organizations alike. What Is TripleM?TripleM is ESSAE’s annual convergence point for association professionals responsible for moving organizations forward—strategically, sustainably, and with intention. Grounded in ESSAE’s three core pillars—Meetings, Membership, and Marketing—TripleM delivers a focused, one-day learning experience that blends practical education, peer exchange, and community connection. Sessions are designed to be immediately applicable, while also supporting long-term leadership growth. The TripleM ExperienceAt TripleM 2026, attendees can expect:
The result is a full day that feels intentional, relevant, and connected—designed to support both individual leadership growth and organizational impact. Community Components (Mid-Day)ESSAE Annual Awards Luncheon - Awardee Info Coming Soon!A celebration of excellence, leadership, and service across New York’s association community, recognizing individuals and organizations that exemplify ESSAE’s mission and values. More info coming soon! Celebrate with a table for 8 here. ESSAE Annual Membership Meeting - Your Vote Counts!An opportunity for members to engage in Society governance, receive organizational updates, and reaffirm ESSAE’s commitment to transparency and shared leadership. Please review the Annual Membership Meeting formal notice (issued Friday, February 6, 2026) here. Companion Session SummaryThe Power of the NODPetergay & Zoraida de Souza This engaging keynote explores how connection, communication, and intentional engagement influence outcomes across meetings, membership, and marketing. Through storytelling and practical insight, participants will examine how listening, acknowledgment, and presence shape trust, collaboration, and professional relationships—often in subtle but powerful ways. Attendees will leave with new perspective on how small behavioral shifts can create outsized impact in leadership and engagement environments. Breakout Workshop: The New Membership Equation – Engagement First, Revenue FollowsAvi Olitzky In this forward-looking workshop, Avi Olitzky reframes membership growth not as a transaction, but as the natural outcome of intentional engagement, relevance, and trust. Drawing on his work across associations, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, Avi challenges participants to rethink how—and why—people choose to belong. Rather than focusing solely on renewals, dues structures, or acquisition tactics, this session examines the behavioral and emotional drivers that precede membership decisions. Through case studies, participant journey mapping, and real-world examples, attendees will explore how engagement shows up before the join, how value must be immediately visible, and how associations can design experiences that organically lead to advocacy and revenue sustainability. Participants will also consider how engagement choices ultimately affect the metrics leaders report to boards—retention, pipeline strength, program ROI, and long-term financial health. Key takeaways include:
CAE Domains Covered: Best for: Association professionals across membership, marketing, programs, and leadership roles who want actionable strategies that strengthen both engagement and the internal story told to senior leadership and boards. CEO / Executive Director Roundtable: Redefining Value in a Post-Membership EraFacilitated by Avi Olitzky As dues-based models evolve and revenue diversification accelerates, association leaders are confronting a deeper strategic question—one that increasingly surfaces in boardrooms: What does “member value” really mean now? This facilitated, peer-only roundtable creates space for CEOs and Executive Directors to step back from tactics and engage in strategic dialogue about how associations across sectors are redefining value, measuring success, and balancing mission with financial sustainability. Anchored by a pre-roundtable pulse survey, the discussion is shaped by real data from peers in the room—ensuring relevance, candor, and immediacy. Participants will explore how engagement, revenue mix, governance expectations, and member trust intersect—and how leaders can more effectively communicate these shifts to boards that may still be oriented around traditional membership metrics. Rather than prescribing solutions, this session emphasizes reflection, peer learning, and practical leadership insight—helping executives sharpen the language, frameworks, and questions they bring into board discussions. Roundtable discussion will focus on:
The session concludes with each participant identifying one concrete action they will take before their next board meeting. CAE Domains Covered: Best for: CEOs and Executive Directors seeking confidential, high-level dialogue with peers—and practical insight they can immediately apply in leadership and boardroom conversations. Participants will be invited to complete a brief pulse survey in advance to help shape the discussion. Strategic Networking as Marketing: Positioning Yourself and Your Organization for ImpactDiane Darling Networking is one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—forms of marketing available to association and nonprofit professionals. At ESSAE events, networking is not incidental; it is a core mechanism for building community, strengthening professional visibility, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals and organizations alike. Designed specifically for TripleM, this interactive workshop explores how intentional networking functions as a marketing and engagement strategy across ESSAE’s diverse membership. Association professionals and industry partners alike will learn how to represent themselves and their organizations effectively in relationship-driven environments where trust, credibility, and long-term connection matter. In this participatory session, Diane Darling helps attendees prepare for high-impact networking settings—including TripleM, Harvest Highlight, Holiday Celebration, and especially the ESSAE Annual Conference & Trade Show—where conversations directly influence professional growth, organizational awareness, and partnership development. Learning Objectives include:
CAE Alignment: Intended Audience: Association professionals at all career stages and industry partner members seeking to maximize the value of ESSAE events and professional gatherings. Women’s Leadership Roundtable: Voices, Visibility, and InfluenceESSAE Rising Professionals Committee, Chair Chelsea Palmer In recognition of Women’s History Month, this facilitated roundtable—led by the ESSAE Rising Professionals Committee—creates space for open dialogue around leadership journeys, challenges, and opportunities for women in association management. Designed to be discussion-driven and highly interactive, the session invites participants to share experiences, insights, and strategies related to influence, confidence, career growth, and professional visibility. The conversation emphasizes peer learning, mentorship, and community-building across career stages. This session supports emerging and established professionals alike by fostering connection, reflection, and practical insight within a supportive, collaborative environment.
Strength of a Smile: Thriving at Work Through Invisible ChallengesMeaghan Zimmer, CTA, CFMP In Strength of a Smile, Meaghan Zimmer shares a powerful and relatable message about empathy, connection, and choosing how we show up at work—especially on the hardest days. Drawing from her career in hospitality and destination marketing, along with her lived experience navigating invisible pain, Meaghan reminds us that everyone is carrying something unseen. Through storytelling, humor, and practical reflection, she explores how empathy, emotional intelligence, and intentional positivity can strengthen workplace culture, relationships, and leadership effectiveness. Rather than avoiding challenges, this session encourages participants to lead with compassion, assume positive intent, and practice inclusive leadership behaviors that foster trust and connection. Attendees will walk away inspired to discover more joy at work—not by denying difficulty, but by shaping how they respond to it. Aligned with TripleM’s Empathy, Wellbeing & Invisible Challenges at Work theme, this session reinforces that high EQ, kindness, and awareness are not “soft skills”—they are leadership competencies that benefit individuals, teams, and organizations alike. Learning ObjectivesParticipants will be able to:
TripleM is grounded in Marketing. Membership. Meetings. Increasingly, however, association CEOs and senior leaders are naming a critical throughline across all three: management—particularly during periods of transition. This session introduces a natural “fourth M” into the TripleM conversation: Structured as a moderated panel of Association Management Company (AMC) leaders, this discussion brings together seasoned executives who have supported associations through leadership change, growth, and organizational inflection points. AMC leaders offer a uniquely valuable vantage point—they can share real-world insight into what works, what doesn’t, and why, without placing the spotlight on any single organization. Panelists will explore executive leadership models and governance dynamics that emerge during transition, drawing from direct experience across multiple associations and sectors. Discussion topics include:
This session is designed to resonate with association professionals navigating growth, transition, or leadership change—and may also be of interest to executives considering interim or consulting roles in the future. |