Association Leader: Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association
From food safety recallsthe latest of pistachiosto an economy that has thrown small restaurateurs and national chains alike into a tailspin, Dawn Sweeney has a full plate.
Read MoreExpert Opinion: Reclaiming 100 senior executive work hours per week
By Francie Dalton Lets assume theres not an ounce of fat left in your association. Youve redlined, streamlined and realigned, all the while continuing to deliver indisputably high value for your members. Even if youve somehow managed to convince everyone in your organization that the hemorrhaging is over, malaise has permeated your senior team, bringing a sense of insurmountable workload and a presumption that the straitened state will continue for a long time to come.
Read MoreGroups follow swine flu, worry about meeting turnout
Trade groups across all industries are monitoring the spread of swine flu and keeping members informed of developments, fearful that the threat of a pandemic will have a chilling effect on already faltering meeting attendance.
Read MoreIn first 100 days, K Street troubled by Obama actions
A sample of trade and industry group leaders say President Obama must do more to reach out to the business community to restore American jobs and get the economy up and running again. Association leaders also say the debate so far on health care reform, the presidents support for the Employee Free Choice Act, or card check, and climate change policies are worrisome signs for the business sector, already suffering effects of a severe economic downturn.
Read MoreMergers spike in associations seeking efficiency, unified voice for members
With dark economic clouds hovering overhead for members and associations themselves, many overlapping trade and professional groups entered into merger discussions in the first quarter of 2009, seeking to band together to weather the storm.
Read MorePork groups launch effort to combat rumors
Facing an industry backlash after the spread of swine flu around the world, the pork industry is galvanizing members around a messaging campaign to counter negative information about the disease and their industry. In mid-May, the National Pork Board kicks off a $1 million national advertising campaign to spotlight the safety of the other white meat.
Read More