In a time of rapid disruption and complexity, association leaders gathered at Solutions Day 2025 to explore the big question on everyone’s mind: how do we stay focused, forward-thinking, and human-centered while navigating uncertainty and change?

Held in Schaumburg, IL and streamed virtually through BeSpeake, this year’s event challenged attendees to rethink long-standing assumptions about leadership, member engagement, operational efficiency, and innovation. From stress resilience to AI adoption and culture change, the day was a powerful reminder that although the pace of transformation is accelerating, associations have the tools and the talent to keep up.

Finding Clarity in the Chaos

The day began with a grounding message from keynote speaker Eliz Greene, who invited attendees to acknowledge the physiological and emotional toll of uncertainty. She offered science-backed strategies for managing stress in high-pressure environments, and her keynote struck a chord. During political, economic, and social disruption, calm and resilience are no longer optional for effective leadership. They are essential.

This set the stage for a day focused on transformation at every level—from individual behavior to organization-wide change.

Culture, Curiosity, and the Courage to Let Go

One theme echoed throughout the event: transformation does not begin with new technology or tools. It begins with people.

In a standout panel discussion, Sharon Rice, .orgSource’s managing director of business strategy, led a conversation with ASSP’s Jennifer McNelly, IREM’s Zack Wahlquist, and Kevin Martlage from .orgSource. The panelists emphasized that lasting change requires leadership buy-in, intentional communication, and a willingness to address the human side of resistance. Culture change is not a project. It is a mindset that must be reinforced daily.

The importance of intentional change was echoed in a session about streamlining operations. Carole Herzog and Jason Vance, from re:Members, and NARI’s Carol Desmond  shared how eliminating legacy processes created unexpected gains in NARI’s efficiency and member satisfaction. Innovation, they argued, often starts with subtraction.

When Innovation Gets Real

Several sessions focused on real-world innovation and practical execution.

NAHQ and Apti discussed how they built an experiential micro-credentialing program that made NAHQ’s complex framework digestible and actionable. NextUp and NimbleAMS offered a strong model for tracking ROI and engagement metrics across member experiences. ASSP and Onyx Point Systems demonstrated how they turned static handbooks into smart, searchable AI tools. And in one of the day’s most candid conversations, ISBA and Higher Logic walked through what can go wrong when online communities are not proactively managed. All the day’s sessions featured takeaways that were insightful and useful.

AI: Hype or Help?

In a highly interactive session, Joanna Pineda, from Matrix Group and Kevin Ordoñez, president and managing director of digital strategy for .orgSource, explored how associations navigate AI adoption. Attendees were able to share where they are in their AI journey and what challenges remain. It was clear that while excitement is high, successful implementation will depend on thoughtful experimentation and cross-functional collaboration. Pineda and  Ordoñez emphasized progress over perfection.

Reframing Disruption as Opportunity

To close out the day, .orgSource Founder and CEO Sherry Budziak invited attendees to step into the Rug Revolution — a call to stop tripping over the habits, processes, and fears that quietly hold organizations back. Using the simple but powerful framework of Name It. Reveal It. Move It., Sherry showed how identifying “RUGS” opens the door to new strengths and untapped opportunities. Through real-world examples, Sherry demonstrated how even small shifts can turn barriers into breakthroughs and reminded us that the path to growth begins when we choose to move forward. (Visit rugthebook.com to find out more and preorder Sherry and Kevin’s new book!)

What Comes Next?

Solutions Day 2025 left attendees with more than just ideas. It offered a roadmap for action.

  • Simplify what no longer serves your mission
  • Build cultures that support continuous change
  • Use data and technology to elevate—not replace—human connection
  • Explore AI and automation with intentionality
  • And above all, lead with resilience, empathy, and curiosity

Don’t forget: .orgSource specializes in helping associations turn disruption into opportunity. Contact us to learn more at orgsource.com.

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