How do you provide member benefits during a pandemic when your value proposition is built on in-person meetings? And how do you take the helm of an organization when you can’t meet your staff face to face? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Mike Copps, President & CEO, of the Analytical, Life Science & Diagnostics Association (ALDA). Mike discusses: The different sectors of the healthcare industry that ALDA members are involved with: Analytical, Life Science, and Diagnostics. How ALDA evolved to match the evolution of the member companies. How involvement in ALDA is by the senior executives of member companies, usually the CEO. How he has been working for associations since graduating from college. His experience working for the largest AMC (association management company) 15 years ago and how different it is to work for a self standing organization. He relies on his small team and outsourced partners to run the organization. How ALDA’s value proposition is built on their in-person events and the networking available there. How ALDA had to pivot very quickly when the pandemic happened, including setting up a zoom account, because they had never even held a webinar before 2020. How ALDA created “collaboratives” for executives running different departments within member organizations, e.g., HR, operations, etc. How ALDA holds two major conferences a year, one in Boston and one in San Francisco, the two major biotech hubs. They also host regional dinners throughout the year. How the organization is at a crossroads because their events are becoming very popular. ALDA is questioning how to expand the events while keeping them intimate. How ALDA provides a quarterly market assessment, compensation survey, and a D&I survey. These reports are key to member value. ALDA’s diversity initiative to attract more women and people of color into the membership and their conferences. How he’s headed to Japan to attend an international conference for a partner association which aligns with ALD’s strategy to hold a meeting, breakfast or reception within the confines of a partner organization conference. References: ALDA Website Japan Analytical Instrument Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA) Website ALDA Market Data