Knowledge Sharing: 5 Minutes with Megan Turcotte, CAE, Executive Director, Association Management

by Mike Groth

KGL recently welcomed Megan Turcotte, CAE as Executive Director, Association Management. Megan draws on her extensive membership and management experience at academic and professional associations to ensure the success of KGL’s society customers. I had the opportunity to speak with her about her new role, the challenges associations are facing, her proudest achievements in the field, and helping to make an impact on research and policy.

MG: Welcome to KGL! Please tell us about your new role on the association management team.

MT: As Executive Director, Association Management, I am responsible for overseeing and managing KGL’s association management team. In KGL’s association management unit, we help associations engage and retain members, develop long-term strategic plans, and host in-person and virtual meetings and events. We also provide publishing support for member publications with full-service subscription management, and advertising and sponsorship sales and marketing. I am excited to be working with the entire association management team to help our customers deepen their connection with members, and to appeal to new customers with our top-notch KGL association management services.

MG: You’ve spent nearly 20 years supporting scholarly societies. What standout experiences brought you to this moment?

MT: Starting my career in association management right after college was a thrilling leap into a lesser-known career path. I eagerly embraced the opportunity, finding deep satisfaction in collaborating closely with healthcare professionals dedicated to enhancing the healthcare system and improving patient access to quality care. Each day brought fresh challenges: driving membership growth and engagement, organizing continuing education, working closely with leaders and policymakers on policy development, and fundraising for crucial community projects. Being part of the associations’ impactful missions was incredibly rewarding.

Equally fulfilling was the chance to establish a dedicated membership department that aimed to connect mathematicians with opportunities for research support and career advancement. I came to understand the true significance and impact of scholarly publications in this new position. It is gratifying to know that my efforts contributed, even if in a small way, to enabling gifted professionals to achieve and disseminate their important research.

The pinnacle of my career came when I received a letter from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). It confirmed that all the years of dedication and hard work in the dynamic field of association management had paid off: I had achieved my Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. I am proud to have earned this credential as a dedicated association professional, demonstrating the comprehensive knowledge necessary to effectively manage an association in today’s complex environment.

MG: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges membership associations are facing?

MT: Associations are steadily recovering from the challenges of recent years. While many are seeing growth, a prevalent issue among them is effectively communicating the value of membership. A vague value proposition can impact member retention and engagement negatively. This underscores the importance of diversifying income streams and strategically innovating to meet member needs. Despite these challenges, it is an exciting era in association management. In my experience, there is greater potential now than in the past two decades to innovate and stay relevant.

MG: How will you get started engaging with the community?

MT: I am swiftly adapting to my role at KGL, actively engaging with current customers to understand their challenges and requirements. Looking ahead, we are strategizing on effective community outreach. Attending the ASAE Annual Meeting from August 10-13 in Cleveland, OH, will provide an excellent platform for me to network with current and prospective customers. I invite interested attendees to reach out to me.

MG: What do you do for fun when you’re not helping associations engage their members and run their operations?

MG: I am a firm believer in the revitalizing power of the outdoors for both mind and body. During my free time, you will often find me at the beach, tending to my garden and landscaping, taking long power walks, and enjoying playtime with our three dogs: two Golden Retrievers and an Olde English Bulldogge, who is convinced that he is equally as athletic as the rest of the gang. I also stay active playing beach or indoor volleyball, which helps me reset mentally and physically. Music’s ability to transport me back in time has always fascinated me, so I make it a point to attend live performances whenever possible. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance keeps me energized and prepared for a job where surprises are just part of the journey.

The KGL Association Management team works with scholarly societies and professional associations to forge direct and personal connections with their communities through dedicated customer service, timely communication, and a secure e-commerce platform. Megan and the team can be reached at info@kwglobal.com.