Expert insights. Personalized for you.
1) WHAT DO YOU DO AT VIRTUAL? I’ve been a Training Specialist at Virtual for five-plus years, I’m part of a team that manages the coordination and administration of the Global Certification Programs for one of our largest clients, a security standards council for the payment card industry. MORE
New York Yankees pitcher, Mariano Rivera, retired at the end of this baseball season. After all the years Rivera he’s spent in the league—he’s retiring at age 43—it’s easy to forget where he came from. But I won’t make you look it up. MORE
Ever really think about the agenda for a meeting? Often, agendas aren’t created with a lot of thought, they’re just a list of things that an association or consortium needs to cover in its meeting. MORE
It happens every time businesses join forces. The leaders talk about “synergies.” In many cases, they’re referring to the cost savings they expect to be realized as the previously discrete organizations’ operations are combined. Of course, that kind of synergy is important. MORE
I’ve written before about how Boards need to be willing to drop bad members from the Board. Deadwood can kill a Board. But what makes a good Board member? Think QUICK. Q uestions: The best Board members have the courage to ask the hard questions of staff and their fellow Board members. MORE
“If you build it, they will come.” In the film “Field of Dreams,” a voice in Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella’s cornfield convinces him to turn his acreage into a baseball diamond, and sure enough, once he’s done it, the ghosts of the 1919 Chicago White Sox do appear. MORE
This week I’m speaking on a panel at the New England Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting. I’ll be honest, I’m not entirely sure what the session title is. But I know it has something to do with “innovations in meetings and programs.”. MORE
5 Minutes with Andy (Podcast) Welcome to the second episode of Virtual’s new podcast, 5 Minutes with Andy, in which our CEO, Andy Freed, offers you tips, tricks, and insights into leadership, management, and business skills. In Episode Two, Andy discusses Patrick Lencioni’s book Getting Naked, which explores the management of professional services and how. View Article. MORE
We all know one, or maybe we are one. You know – the person that plans for all eventualities, including the most unbelievably improbable situations or opportunities. I like to think I’m that person now, but that wasn’t the case many years ago. MORE
We’ve all had one of those days when you think that your job has no meaning. And I’m sure some people look from the outside at someone working in technology consortia and think “Wow…that’s pretty arcane.”. MORE
Reimagine What’s Possible Virtual’s strategic consulting and operational expertise ignite your organization’s growth. MORE
Some would say I’m a glutton for punishment. Others would say I must have some kind of a PowerPoint fetish. A small handful think I’m trying to do something good. MORE
Analyze. Correct Course. Even in the Middle of Action. By all accounts, World War I was one of the deadliest armed conflicts in the history of mankind, a four-year campaign in which the technological capabilities of the combatants far surpassed military strategy. MORE
Sometimes you can find information for best practices for Boards and working groups in the most unusual of places. A recent article in a scientific journal entitled “ Why too much evidence can be a bad thing ” talks about how sometimes too much evidence can be a bad thing. MORE
I’m not quite old enough to have seen the television commercials for Fletcher’s Castoria children’s laxative when they aired in the ‘60s. They carried the memorable tag line “Better than Prunes.” MORE
Finding and Creating a Great Place to Work Thursday, May 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 600 Wakefield, MA 01880. Virtual, Inc. MORE
Before your association starts a social media account on every existing medium, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish. Simply having a social media account won’t add value to your association, and if not done correctly, social media can actually inhibit progress. MORE
Here at Virtual, our mission is to achieve long-term success by ensuring that every client we serve achieves or exceeds its strategic objectives. This can be boiled down to two words: clients first. Every move we make as a company is driven by our purpose to help clients succeed and thrive. MORE
The Oscars. The Nobel Prize. The Palme d’Or. The Man Booker Prize. The Pulitzer Prize. The world is captivated by the bestowing of awards for achievement. MORE
The Virtual Family Virtual’s strategic consulting and operational expertise ignite your organization’s growth. What’s powering that is a team of highly passionate and highly collaborative team members. MORE
5 Minutes with Andy (Podcast) Introducing the new Virtual podcast, 5 Minutes with Andy, in which Virtual, Inc.’s ’s CEO, Andy Freed, will be offering you tips, tricks, and insights into leadership, management, and business skills. In Episode One, Andy discusses the various benefits and lessons learned in Virtual joining forces with the Drohan Management Group. View Article. MORE
I went to the beach last week. That’s nothing new for me—I surf year-round in New Hampshire, sometimes trudging through snow to get to the beach. This beach was a bit farther away from my usual surf spot. MORE
The “bad” Board member. Every Board has one. Just say their name and people roll their eyes. This person exists on nearly every Board, but takes on different forms. Sometimes it’s a person who is intentionally disrupting the group’s activity. Sometimes it’s a person who monopolizes discussion. MORE
RSA Conference is this week in San Francisco. This event is like the annual prom for the security industry—part conference, part trade show, part “place to be.” MORE
The budget: The lifeblood of any organization. Nonprofit and for-profit organizations wrestle continually with maintaining and improving their overall operations. Regardless of tax status, organizations must constantly strive for sustainability while keeping the mission in mind. MORE
Too many professional associations function without a strategic plan. And whether they know it or not, they suffer major consequences. MORE
I know the rest of the country doesn’t want to hear it, but all I’ve watched on TV this week is Super Bowl highlights. I’ve watched the replay of the game. I’ve watched the NFL films featuring the mic’d up players. And I’ve watched endless post-game analysis. And I learned quite a bit. MORE
Q&A with Brittney Burns, Events Manager at Virtual. What do you do at Virtual? At Virtual, I manage events for a technology-focused, non-profit association management company. This might mean planning conferences and member meetings. MORE
My neighbor is a spinach farmer. Because his work is so much different than mine, I ask him about it whenever I can. What I’ve learned most through our conversations is that in farming, timing is everything. This past week is a great example of that. MORE
At Virtual, we pride ourselves on the long-term success of each of our clients. To achieve that, our individual team members have been given a voice and the agency to help clients succeed. MORE
Our team just wrapped up another PCI Security Standards Council Community Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. With hundreds of attendees, scores of speakers and dozens of exhibitors, the meeting—and its counterparts in the US and Asia—have a ton of moving parts. MORE
We’re fortunate at Virtual to be in a position to support many worthy causes in the Boston area. MORE
Here’s how I spent mine: This past week, we organized the PCI SSC North American Community Meeting. This annual event brings together over 1200 people in the payment security space—we’ll repeat it next week in Tokyo and in two weeks in Nice. The video says it all—it’s a pretty big production. MORE
As someone who’s worked around technology associations for a long time, I often get asked: “So what are the secret traits of the groups that are the most successful?” ” Quite honestly, these secrets traits aren’t really so secret. MORE
What’s an eight-letter word for association management? Strategy. And even though it should be the driving force behind your professional association’s agenda, strategic plans are often lacking in their most basic elements—including the imperative to stay current. MORE
On today in 1883, time zones launched in the United States. Prior to the time every major city had a "noon stick" where the sun being overhead set the time for noon and time was extrapolated from there. MORE
Technology associations based on standards efforts share many common goals and challenges. Over the years, through the shared experiences of literally hundreds of such efforts, a set of best practices has emerged, including strategies on: How best to set up a new association. MORE
In Boston sports, these are “the good old days.” With the Sox winning championships, the Bruins contending for the Cup and Tom Brady slinging passes, it’s pretty fun to be a sports fan here. MORE
One of my favorite urban legends (actually a true story) concerns my business partner’s next-door neighbor’s teenage daughter and the quiet “little party” she planned to have while her parents were out of town. MORE
There are two truisms that affect association finances. First, most associations are financed primarily by dues. And second, when a member organization needs to cut its budget, the first line item they often look at is “Dues, fees and subscriptions.” MORE
Association Management
APRIL 25, 2017
1) WHAT DO YOU DO AT VIRTUAL? I’ve been a Training Specialist at Virtual for five-plus years, I’m part of a team that manages the coordination and administration of the Global Certification Programs for one of our largest clients, a security standards council for the payment card industry.
Association Management
APRIL 20, 2017
I went to the beach last week. That’s nothing new for me—I surf year-round in New Hampshire, sometimes trudging through snow to get to the beach. This beach was a bit farther away from my usual surf spot.
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Association Management
DECEMBER 9, 2016
We’re fortunate at Virtual to be in a position to support many worthy causes in the Boston area.
Association Management
JULY 19, 2018
“If you build it, they will come.” In the film “Field of Dreams,” a voice in Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella’s cornfield convinces him to turn his acreage into a baseball diamond, and sure enough, once he’s done it, the ghosts of the 1919 Chicago White Sox do appear.
Why do organizations managed by Association Management Companies outperform standalone organizations? This paper seeks to answer that question through the results of a study examining the rates of change in the length of chief staff executive tenure and changes in office locations of membership-based organizations between 2009 and 2015.
Association Management
FEBRUARY 16, 2017
RSA Conference is this week in San Francisco. This event is like the annual prom for the security industry—part conference, part trade show, part “place to be.”
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Association Management
NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Our team just wrapped up another PCI Security Standards Council Community Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. With hundreds of attendees, scores of speakers and dozens of exhibitors, the meeting—and its counterparts in the US and Asia—have a ton of moving parts.
Association Management
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
At Virtual, we pride ourselves on the long-term success of each of our clients. To achieve that, our individual team members have been given a voice and the agency to help clients succeed.
Association Management
FEBRUARY 13, 2017
I know the rest of the country doesn’t want to hear it, but all I’ve watched on TV this week is Super Bowl highlights. I’ve watched the replay of the game. I’ve watched the NFL films featuring the mic’d up players. And I’ve watched endless post-game analysis. And I learned quite a bit.
Association Management
SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
Analyze. Correct Course. Even in the Middle of Action. By all accounts, World War I was one of the deadliest armed conflicts in the history of mankind, a four-year campaign in which the technological capabilities of the combatants far surpassed military strategy.
Association Management
AUGUST 9, 2018
We all know one, or maybe we are one. You know – the person that plans for all eventualities, including the most unbelievably improbable situations or opportunities. I like to think I’m that person now, but that wasn’t the case many years ago.
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Association Management
AUGUST 9, 2018
Reimagine What’s Possible Virtual’s strategic consulting and operational expertise ignite your organization’s growth.
Association Management
JULY 18, 2018
It happens every time businesses join forces. The leaders talk about “synergies.” In many cases, they’re referring to the cost savings they expect to be realized as the previously discrete organizations’ operations are combined. Of course, that kind of synergy is important.
Association Management
JULY 16, 2018
The Virtual Family Virtual’s strategic consulting and operational expertise ignite your organization’s growth. What’s powering that is a team of highly passionate and highly collaborative team members.
Association Management
JUNE 28, 2018
The Oscars. The Nobel Prize. The Palme d’Or. The Man Booker Prize. The Pulitzer Prize. The world is captivated by the bestowing of awards for achievement.
Association Management
JUNE 27, 2018
Here at Virtual, our mission is to achieve long-term success by ensuring that every client we serve achieves or exceeds its strategic objectives. This can be boiled down to two words: clients first. Every move we make as a company is driven by our purpose to help clients succeed and thrive.
Association Management
NOVEMBER 18, 2016
On today in 1883, time zones launched in the United States. Prior to the time every major city had a "noon stick" where the sun being overhead set the time for noon and time was extrapolated from there.
Association Management
DECEMBER 12, 2016
The budget: The lifeblood of any organization. Nonprofit and for-profit organizations wrestle continually with maintaining and improving their overall operations. Regardless of tax status, organizations must constantly strive for sustainability while keeping the mission in mind.
Association Management
OCTOBER 1, 2014
Before your association starts a social media account on every existing medium, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish. Simply having a social media account won’t add value to your association, and if not done correctly, social media can actually inhibit progress.
Association Management
DECEMBER 4, 2013
New York Yankees pitcher, Mariano Rivera, retired at the end of this baseball season. After all the years Rivera he’s spent in the league—he’s retiring at age 43—it’s easy to forget where he came from. But I won’t make you look it up.
Association Management
SEPTEMBER 22, 2015
My neighbor is a spinach farmer. Because his work is so much different than mine, I ask him about it whenever I can. What I’ve learned most through our conversations is that in farming, timing is everything. This past week is a great example of that.
Association Management
MARCH 11, 2015
I’ve written before about how Boards need to be willing to drop bad members from the Board. Deadwood can kill a Board. But what makes a good Board member? Think QUICK. Q uestions: The best Board members have the courage to ask the hard questions of staff and their fellow Board members.
Association Management
OCTOBER 2, 2013
What’s an eight-letter word for association management? Strategy. And even though it should be the driving force behind your professional association’s agenda, strategic plans are often lacking in their most basic elements—including the imperative to stay current.
Association Management
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Sometimes you can find information for best practices for Boards and working groups in the most unusual of places. A recent article in a scientific journal entitled “ Why too much evidence can be a bad thing ” talks about how sometimes too much evidence can be a bad thing.
Association Management
JANUARY 14, 2014
This week I’m speaking on a panel at the New England Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting. I’ll be honest, I’m not entirely sure what the session title is. But I know it has something to do with “innovations in meetings and programs.”.
Association Management
MAY 1, 2014
As someone who’s worked around technology associations for a long time, I often get asked: “So what are the secret traits of the groups that are the most successful?” ” Quite honestly, these secrets traits aren’t really so secret.
Association Management
JULY 29, 2013
I’m not quite old enough to have seen the television commercials for Fletcher’s Castoria children’s laxative when they aired in the ‘60s. They carried the memorable tag line “Better than Prunes.”
Association Management
MAY 14, 2014
In Boston sports, these are “the good old days.” With the Sox winning championships, the Bruins contending for the Cup and Tom Brady slinging passes, it’s pretty fun to be a sports fan here.
Association Management
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
The “bad” Board member. Every Board has one. Just say their name and people roll their eyes. This person exists on nearly every Board, but takes on different forms. Sometimes it’s a person who is intentionally disrupting the group’s activity. Sometimes it’s a person who monopolizes discussion.
Association Management
APRIL 12, 2017
Finding and Creating a Great Place to Work Thursday, May 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 600 Wakefield, MA 01880. Virtual, Inc.
Association Management
JULY 20, 2018
5 Minutes with Andy (Podcast) Welcome to the second episode of Virtual’s new podcast, 5 Minutes with Andy, in which our CEO, Andy Freed, offers you tips, tricks, and insights into leadership, management, and business skills. In Episode Two, Andy discusses Patrick Lencioni’s book Getting Naked, which explores the management of professional services and how. View Article.
Association Management
JULY 17, 2018
5 Minutes with Andy (Podcast) Introducing the new Virtual podcast, 5 Minutes with Andy, in which Virtual, Inc.’s ’s CEO, Andy Freed, will be offering you tips, tricks, and insights into leadership, management, and business skills. In Episode One, Andy discusses the various benefits and lessons learned in Virtual joining forces with the Drohan Management Group. View Article.
Association Management
OCTOBER 7, 2014
There are two truisms that affect association finances. First, most associations are financed primarily by dues. And second, when a member organization needs to cut its budget, the first line item they often look at is “Dues, fees and subscriptions.”
Association Management
APRIL 2, 2015
Technology associations based on standards efforts share many common goals and challenges. Over the years, through the shared experiences of literally hundreds of such efforts, a set of best practices has emerged, including strategies on: How best to set up a new association.
Association Management
FEBRUARY 10, 2015
Ever really think about the agenda for a meeting? Often, agendas aren’t created with a lot of thought, they’re just a list of things that an association or consortium needs to cover in its meeting.
Association Management
MARCH 25, 2015
One of my favorite urban legends (actually a true story) concerns my business partner’s next-door neighbor’s teenage daughter and the quiet “little party” she planned to have while her parents were out of town.
Association Management
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Too many professional associations function without a strategic plan. And whether they know it or not, they suffer major consequences.
Association Management
FEBRUARY 23, 2017
Q&A with Brittney Burns, Events Manager at Virtual. What do you do at Virtual? At Virtual, I manage events for a technology-focused, non-profit association management company. This might mean planning conferences and member meetings.
Association Management
NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Some would say I’m a glutton for punishment. Others would say I must have some kind of a PowerPoint fetish. A small handful think I’m trying to do something good.
Association Management
OCTOBER 7, 2015
Here’s how I spent mine: This past week, we organized the PCI SSC North American Community Meeting. This annual event brings together over 1200 people in the payment security space—we’ll repeat it next week in Tokyo and in two weeks in Nice. The video says it all—it’s a pretty big production.
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