Friday, March 6, 2026
8:15 am - 11:30 am
Registration:  $95 for Members / $195 for Non-Members
Beginning March 3: $105 for Members / $205 for Non-Members
Three high-impact speakers / Will be applied for three CAE credits

Register Today

CSAE’s Spring Future of Associations Virtual Symposium, Presented by BizStream is built for association professionals who can’t afford to plan for yesterday. In just three high-impact hours, you’ll get a fast-moving, highly relevant look at what’s changing across the association landscape—and what to do about it. Expect practical insights, fresh frameworks, and real-world ideas you can bring straight into your next planning cycle, board conversation, staff retreat, or leadership meeting.

This symposium is designed to strengthen your strategic planning muscle while scanning the horizon across the topics that matter most: evolving member expectations, volunteer and workforce shifts, new revenue pressures and opportunities, technology and AI, governance, learning models, and reputation risk. You’ll leave with a clearer view of the forces shaping 2026–2027, plus concrete next steps to help your organization stay resilient, relevant, and ready, no matter what comes next.

Register Today!

Agenda:  

8:15 -8:30 am  Welcome with Attendees and Introductions from Sponsors
8:30 - 9:15 am  Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, and CEO, Vista Cova: Evolving Strategy: Building Frameworks Instead of Plans and How Strategy is a Year-Round Process
9:15 - 9:30 am Sponsor Break
9:30 - 10:15 am Sherry Whitaker Budziak, AAiP, and Founder and CEO, .orgSource:  Stop Tripping. Start Leading.
10:15 - 10:30 am  Sponsor Break
10:30 - 11:15 am  Eric Curtis, CEO & Managing Partner of Curtis Strategy: Leading Through Association Disruption - 5 Steps for Every Association
11:15 - 11:30 am Final Sponsor Break

More About Our Speakers
8:30 - 9:15 am
Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova:
Evolving Strategy: Building Frameworks Instead of Plans and How Strategy is a Year-Round Process

In this session, Lowell will share from the numerous associations and their leaders and how he helps flexible strategic frameworks + check-ins help smart associations move forward versus the old processes of static plans.  He also will help you make strategy the organization's "north star," and an ongoing practice.  Lowell's presentations are fast-paced, in depth and full of content that CEOs, Presidents, EDs and all professionals will benefit from hearing - and you will walk away with numerous ways to be a forward-thinking association.

Lowell is a sought-after national speaker, and was a keynote speaker for CSAE's 2022 Annual Conference, and provides presentations that are engaging, packed with content, and highly relevant for association leaders and their teams.
Vista Cova is a strategy, governance, and facilitation firm that partners with nonprofit organizations, associations, and foundations to design strategic vision, strengthen governance systems, cultivate board culture, and create powerful learning experiences.

As an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator, Lowell is known for designing and leading highly engaging, experiential sessions that bring volunteers, members, and staff into deeper dialogue, shared understanding, and collective action.

After beginning his career in informal education, Lowell spent more than a decade working inside associations, serving as a COO and leading in the areas of membership, volunteer leadership development, and global alliance building. His passion for facilitation and organizational design led to the founding of Vista Cova, where he has since partnered with hundreds of associations—from local and state societies to large national and global organizations—supporting boards, executive teams, and volunteer leaders at pivotal moments of growth, transition, and transformation.

His client work spans a wide range of association types and industries, including professional societies, trade associations, credentialing bodies, and philanthropic organizations. Examples include partnerships with organizations such as the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the American Public Gas Association (APGA), and numerous state and regional societies navigating governance evolution, strategic planning, and board effectiveness.

In addition to his role as CEO, Lowell is deeply engaged in advancing the association profession through volunteer leadership and thought leadership. He has served as Chair of the ASAE Research Committee and is currently completing his term as Past Chair, and previously served as Chair of the overseeing commission for the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. He also chaired ASAE’s Task Force on CEO Pathways and led as Chair of ASAE’s Component Relations Council. Lowell serves on the Curriculum Committee and as an instructor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM) program.

A frequent author and contributor, Lowell co–executive edited and contributed to ASAE’s Component Relations Handbook (2nd Edition) and has written chapters for the latest editions of Professional Practices of Association Management and Membership Essentials. His work focuses on governance, board culture, leadership development, facilitation, and strategic foresight. He is committed to building a stronger and more inclusive future for associations, co-founding the CAE Scholarship and serving as a mentor in ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP).

In Winter 2023, Lowell completed his Doctorate in Education with a focus on Organizational Leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, further deepening his practice and research in leadership, governance, and learning systems. He has served on the board and in volunteer leadership roles with Shepeard’s Table and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and currently serves on the Brain Ball organizing committee for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Most importantly, Lowell’s favorite role is being dad to his three amazing kids, who provide daily reminders, perspective, and highly candid feedback on the quality of his dad jokes.

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9:30 - 10:15 am Sherry Whitaker Budziak, AAiP, Founder and CEO, .orgSource:  

Stop Tripping. Start Leading. is a practical, high-energy session for leaders and teams who are tired of stepping around the same problems and calling it normal. A “RUG” is the unspoken rule, outdated habit, or avoidable friction that keeps costing you time, trust, and momentum.

In this session, you will learn how to spot the RUGS hiding in plain sight, uncover what is really driving them, and make small, specific moves that create real momentum fast. No theory spiral. No perfection required. Just clear language, shared ownership, and a way to move forward together.  Attendees leave with a simple method they can use immediately, plus a set of micro moves to start leading with clarity, courage, and traction.

Sherry Whitaker Budziak is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and visionary strategist who helps organizations 10X their productivity by aligning people, process, technology, and purpose. As the founder and CEO of .orgSource, Sherry has spent two decades guiding more than 350 organizations to reimagine how they work, integrating human potential with the power of AI to unlock growth, innovation, and impact

Recently honored with the Valparaiso University Alumni Achievement Award and Association Trends Award, Sherry is celebrated for her rare ability to translate bold strategy into measurable results.

She’s led digital transformations long before it was a buzzword—launching one of the first association websites, navigating Y2K, leading teams through the dot-com era, and shaping the future of online engagement. Her expertise blends deep technological insight with a human-centered approach that empowers teams to thrive in the age of intelligent automation.

A trailblazer in the association and nonprofit world, Sherry co-founded .orgCommunity, a dynamic network that connects leaders, inspires collaboration, and accelerates innovation across the sector. Her influence extends beyond consulting—she’s a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and thought leader whose message inspires leaders to lead with both head and heart.

Sherry is the co-author of RUG: Move What You’re Tripping Over and Lead with HEART, (just released February 1, 2026!) where she shares her transformative H.E.A.R.T. Powered Leadership® Method—Humanize, Empower, Ascend, Reimagine, Transform—helping leaders turn disruption into growth and courage into strategy. She also co-authored the acclaimed Association 4.0® book series, which redefined what it means to lead in an era of rapid change.

With over 30 years at the intersection of technology and leadership, Sherry’s mission is clear: to help organizations move faster, think smarter, and lead with heart in a world where AI and humanity must rise together.

Sherry was a Keynote Speaker at CSAE's 2024 Annual Conference, and we are delighted to hear the newest trends and leadership approaches from her.

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10:30 - 11:15 am
Eric Curtis, CEO & Managing Partner of Curtis Strategy:
Leading Through Association Disruption - 5 Steps for Every Association

In a landscape defined by rapid digital shifts and global expansion, traditional strategies are no longer sufficient. This session equips Association Leaders with the strategic foresight and practical toolkit necessary to thrive in an evolving global landscape.

 We will move beyond theory to explore how to modernize business models by transitioning from traditional membership tiers to value-driven ecosystems that prioritize professional evolution.  Participants will learn to drive strategic growth by unlocking high-impact partnerships that extend their reach. The session further equips leaders to optimize performance by establishing role clarity, implementing result-driven accountability, and auditing the internal capabilities essential to building a resilient, future-ready association in a borderless market.

Don’t just adapt to the future—design it. Join us to transform your organizational challenges into a competitive advantage and walk away with a clear blueprint for sustainable growth in 2026.

Eric is a visionary consultant who guides associations toward achieving exponential growth and measurable mission impact. With over 20 years of experience spearheading strategy services across the multifaceted 501(c) landscape—including associations, health and human services, credit unions, higher education, and foundations—Eric brings a nuanced understanding of the unique dynamics driving the social sector.

His approach is defined by a powerful blend of strategic intelligence and a people-centered methodology. Eric recognizes that a plan is only as effective as the people behind it; he expertly balances clear strategic direction with a focus on the success and empowerment of the team. By fostering bold and exponential thinking, he helps organizations move beyond incremental shifts to unlock new possibilities, co-creating innovative strategies that leverage their specific strengths.

A sought-after speaker at national and regional conferences, Eric is a recognized voice in the association community. His credentials—anchored by advanced degrees and active board service—allow him to deliver integrated solutions that navigate complex challenges, build operational capacity, and steer organizations toward sustainable, mission-aligned growth.

Register Today!