Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Why bother with a consultant when I have AI?

By Wes Trochlil | October 14, 2026

Why bother with a consultant when I have AI? As AI becomes increasingly powerful, the value of using an AMS selection consultant (and many other types of consultants!) starts to come into question. After all, with very well-constructed prompts and responses, an association could develop a very solid needs analysis and RFP that could be used to […]

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 […]

Older Posts

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 […]

Very often, it's the nickels and dimes that matter

June 26, 2014

AMS vendors often point out that, when considering the selection of a new AMS, the association needs to look at […]

"It's like a loaded gun; very powerful and very dangerous."

June 24, 2014

That’s what one of the AMS vendors said to me when describing the flexibility of their system. Sure, it’s hyperbole, […]

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