There was a time not too long ago when associations often felt more like sterile governing bodies than they did like a warm, welcoming environment. In today’s discussion on the 6 Degrees of Association podcast, we sit down with Vicki R. Deal-Williams, MA, CCC-SLP, CAE, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), to discuss how associations can continue to serve people while acting more like, well, people! Vicki is a venerable association leader and a strong advocate not only for the entire community of speech-language-hearing professionals throughout her career but also cares deeply for the patients these professionals serve. Does your association have an annual meeting or marquee event? Tune in to this episode and find out from Vicki how these experiences can be less “cliquey” and more personalized and warm.

We couldn’t be more honored to welcome Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), to this week’s episode of the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. Katie shares her journey from studying dance to practicing occupational therapy, and then to her current role as an association leader. She emphasizes the importance of belonging and highlights the value of authentic credibility that stems from hands-on experience and a background in the arts. Katie also reflects on her transition into the association world, lessons learned from her mistakes, and her vision for the future of occupational therapy.

Greg Melia, CAE, CEO of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), is our guest on the Six Degrees of Associations this week. With a stated goal of supporting CX professionals to share, learn, inspire, and grow throughout their entire careers, Greg is at the helm of this premier non-profit with a global reach that serves the customer experience profession. Greg shares his journey to association leadership with us and discusses the evolution of his career. He explains the significance of customer experience in associations, highlighting the need for seamless processes across touchpoints to improve member retention and satisfaction.

Related Resources to Explore:CXPA Book of Knowledge and other publications: https://www.cxpa.org/grow-your-knowledge/bookstore CX definitions: https://www.cxpa.org/grow-your-knowledge/whatiscxTodd Unger’s book: https://www.toddunger.com/