Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

[ai_chat_window]

My most recent posts

Improvement is never linear

By Wes Trochlil | June 10, 2026

Improvement is never linear One of the many lessons one learns over a lifetime is that improvement, regardless of what you’re trying to improve, is never linear. That is, you’ll always have days where you’re better, and days where you don’t improve, or maybe even fall back. And so it is with data management. Even if you […]

Don’t forget to take a “before” picture!

By Wes Trochlil | June 3, 2026

Don’t forget to take a “before” picture! Whenever I start on a big home clean up or renovation project, I like to take a “before” picture, so that I can see the progress that was made when the project is complete. (Ironically, even though I’m the son of an award-winning amateur photographer, I often forget […]

Are you being penny wise and pound foolish?

By Wes Trochlil | May 27, 2026

Are you being penny wise and pound foolish? Two quick customer service stories to illustrate a point: First story: I’ve used the same email provider for more than 20 years. But for technical reasons, recently I needed to switch providers, so I canceled my service with them a few weeks in advance of my renewal. […]

AMS Products are getting better – and what that means for you

By Wes Trochlil | May 20, 2026

AMS Products are getting better – and what that means for you I’ve been working in and with AMS products for 36 years (27 years of consulting, nine years as an association staffer). And I can say with great confidence that the systems available today are much better than they were 36 years ago! (Shocking, I know.) But […]

Using AI beyond content generation

By Wes Trochlil | May 13, 2026

Using AI beyond content generation Recent surveys by ASAE and others suggest nearly 90% of associations are using AI for some type of content generation (e.g., creating blog posts, newsletter articles, “canned” responses to inquiries, etc.). That is great, but when it comes to data management, there are so many more opportunities for leveraging AI. Here are some ideas […]

Older Posts

See me at the September 4 ASAE Idea Swap

August 4, 2014

On September 4, I’ll be the featured speaker at the Loudoun County Idea Swap hosted by ASAE and held at […]

REMINDER: Free Seminar on Data Management

July 28, 2014

Tate & Tryon is hosting a FREE seminar on data management, designed especially for C-suite executives, this Wednesday, July 30, […]

Don't get hung up on exceptions

July 16, 2014

I was once working with a client during implementation of a new association management system. At one point we got into […]

How a good AMS can help trade associations with membership

July 14, 2014

In my almost-ten-years as an association professional, I worked for three different associations whose membership was based on organizations rather […]

Data conversion made easy

July 10, 2014

One of the biggest challenges associations face during a transition from one AMS to another is data conversion. Deciding what data […]

Use CRM functionality to track calls and promote the value of membership

July 8, 2014

Almost every AMS on the market today has some form of CRM (customer relationship management) functionality that allows staff to […]

When drawing a picture is better than using words

July 7, 2014

My oldest son (age 16) is interested in rebuilding our wooden swing-set, which is over 12 years old and in […]

Sometimes context is required

July 2, 2014

Recently I met my daughter at the bus stop after school and walked her home. As we approached my house, we picked up […]

Perfection kills

June 30, 2014

Some 25 years ago, I published a printed directory for the association I worked for which ultimately won an ASAE […]

Scroll to Top