About

Association Inc., despite its name, is a personal site maintained by Kevin Holland where you’ll find any number of discussions, ideas, tips, and ruminations about association management, membership, marketing, communications, technology, and lots of other stuff. Feel free to join in the conversation. (Opinions expressed are my own and don’t represent anybody else’s.)

Why Association Inc.?
The domain was available. And the old name of “The Association Blog” sounded too generic. But really, because it sums up my own interest in associations as unique business entities, especially as associations face growing and aggressive competition. (Not that I think competition is a bad thing … stick around and you’ll see otherwise.) And, as a communicator, I like the fact that “Association Inc” sounds like “Association Ink.”

Where It Came From
This site was originally developed as a blog called, appropriately enough, “Blogging for Associations,” in conjunction with a workshop I conducted with a colleague on association blogging in December 2004. Once the workshop ended I kept blogging about a variety of topics of interest, including association management, marketing, communications, and anything else that strikes my fancy.

At some point (I can’t now remember exactly when) the site became “The Association Blog,” and was moved in July 2005 to its current site. I changed the name yet again to “Association Inc.” in November 2005.

So, Who Am I? (Boooring!)
I grew up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and graduated from Washington College in 1991. I got my start in the association world in 1992 when I answered a classified ad. In other words, like most people who work in associations, I stumbled into it. I’ve been very fortunate to work for some truly great people as well as organizations. From ‘92 to ‘98, I was director of public affairs for the Maryland Motor Truck Association, a state association of 1,200 companies. From ‘98 to ‘01, I was director of technology policy for the American Trucking Associations, one of the nation’s largest trade associations.

In 2001, after nine years working with the trucking industry, I left to accept a position with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, a national trade association of small businesses. I joined to head up their communications department, took on membership in 2002, and in 2005 was named head of the Business Operations & Membership division.

In my career I’ve been fortunate to get involved in just about every facet of association management. On the state level, I founded and ran a successful insurance subsidiary, created direct marketing programs that grew membership by 20%, and worked with state and federal regulators to create award-winning public service campaigns.

On the national level, I managed the trucking industry’s response against a proposed technology mandate that would have cost the industry billions of dollars (we won), and at ACCA, have been part of a phenomenal team that has grown membership by more than 60%, more than doubled revenues, created a whole new web-centered communications and member service program, and have had a lot of fun trying new ideas in an atmosphere that promotes entrepreneurial thinking (including launching the first trade association blog).

Of course, I’ve also made my share of mistakes, and thank god, or else how would I have learned anything?

All that said, let me repeat that opinions I express on this blog are entirely my own. I reserve the right to change my mind.

Hey, Where’s the Cow?
This pretty feller was the masthead mascot over at the Association Blog (don’t ask me why — I guess I just liked the defiant way she parked herself in a no-parking zone) but, alas, has been retired. However, in deference to Sue Pelletier, who pleaded with me to “keep the cow,” she will remain here on the about page as a symbol of restless rebellion.