Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Guardrails can be helpful!

By Wes Trochlil | October 7, 2026

Guardrails can be helpful! When selecting a new AMS, I find my clients are often very tempted by custom software or “platform” systems (e.g., built on Salesforce or MS Dynamics) because these systems are infinitely configurable. After all, if I can make the system do anything I want, that’s a good thing, right? Well, maybe. In […]

“If you knew this information, what might you do differently?”

By Wes Trochlil | September 30, 2026

“If you knew this information, what might you do differently?” I had a conversation with a client recently about developing KPIs, reports, and queries from their forthcoming data warehouse. My client said: “We have a ton of requests for KPIs and reports. How do we determine which to focus on first?” My response: “When someone requests a dashboard […]

Showing is not teaching

By Wes Trochlil | September 23, 2026

Showing is not teaching In my experience, when new staff members are taught how to use their AMS (or LMS, CMS, FMS, etc.) they aren’t really taught how to use the system, they are shown how to use it. So what’s the difference? In a nutshell, showing only covers the “how” and “what.” But teaching […]

Data management is improvisation

By Wes Trochlil | September 16, 2026

Data management is improvisation I was listening to a podcast recently featuring TV writer Rob Long. During the podcast he said (I’m paraphrasing) that, in order to be successful, one needs to learn to improvise, because nothing in life ever goes as planned. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want to make God […]

Who own the AMS company is like the weather…

By Wes Trochlil | September 9, 2026

Who own the AMS company is like the weather… When I work with clients to find a new AMS, one of the most common questions I get is: “Is the software company owned by private equity or is it privately owned?” While I think this is a legitimate question to ask and have answered, it […]

Older Posts

Interview with Thomas Howard of memberclicks

February 12, 2009

This is the seventh in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Interview with Amith Nagarajan of Aptify

February 6, 2009

This is the sixth in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Just how important is your AMS?

February 3, 2009

It would seem, according to this recent article in Associations Now, that a properly functioning association management system is critical […]

Interview with Joanna Pineda of Matrix Group International

January 28, 2009

This is the fifth in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Interview with Kevin Hostutler of ACGI Software

January 26, 2009

This is the fourth in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Interview with Don Turner of ARC Solutions

January 23, 2009

This is the third in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Interview with Edi Dor of TMA Resources

January 21, 2009

This is the second in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Interview with Brian Bruffey of Protech Associates

January 19, 2009

This is the first in a series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association […]

Shocker! Poor customer service drives customers away

January 15, 2009

Sometimes I read things that are so patently obvious, I wonder why they’re even news. Accenture has released a survey […]

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