When four California chapters of the Club Managers Association of America took the bold step to merge and create the Golden State Chapter, they knew they needed to create a strategic plan and as importantly an operational plan. The Institute of Internal Auditors believed there had to be another model for chapters but couldn’t quite visualize it. The Medical Group Management Association wanted to craft a new vision for its components and its volunteer leadership path. The American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics needed a brand marketing strategy and a helping hand to establish a marketing/communications effort.

These are fours  associations that drew on Mariner’s thinking and experience for strategic and program services. It’s not just that we know how to conduct meaningful strategic planning and craft effective marketing plans but that we look at the path that’s not been taken.

Let us assist your association in growing.

Strategic Planning & Research— We help your leadership ensure that the association focuses its resources on the most beneficial products, programs and services for its members. We conduct environmental scanning, leading edge surveys, membership surveys and market research to identify critical industry trends and membership needs. Then we assess your ability to address those trends and needs.

Effective Association Components — Whether you call them chapters, sections, affiliates, SIGs, communities of practice, boards or subgroups, components are a lifeblood of associations. Too often associations are struggling with their components – and may even consider them a drain rather than a contributor. We will help end the struggle, rebuild components or create components. Read more about the Chapter of Future or visit our section on Chapters for a look at new ideas and solutions. Whether it’s working one-on-one with a component or with the national office, we will bring our experience building successful components to help you achieve success.

Creating Member Value — Maximizing member retention or growing your membership begins with the value proposition. We’ll help you uncover the value proposition and then explore how you can address that in your offerings and communicate that throughout your association.

Effective Marketing & Communications — There are many resources for creating a brochure or building a website. What we do is help you focus on where you want to be and then build the marketing/communications that will get you there. We can also provide the writing, design and technical support (or work with your preferred vendors), but bring us in because you want new thinking and you’re ready to ask the tough questions.