Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

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 […]

“As good or better than me.”

By Wes Trochlil | September 2, 2026

“As good or better than me.” I was recently speaking with a software developer working on AI and we were discussing using natural language querying in an AMS. I told him, “The biggest challenge you face is that the first time the AI is wrong, staff will never use it again.” He agreed but then added: “The […]

Documentation is insurance

By Wes Trochlil | August 26, 2026

Documentation is insurance In a conversation with a client about their data management needs, the client pointed out that if they lost one or two key staff members, so much institutional knowledge would go with them that the association would have real difficulty managing their AMS. I recommended that they should document all of their key processes so […]

It all comes down to fundamentals

By Wes Trochlil | August 12, 2026

It all comes down to fundamentals I’m preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting in a couple of weeks, on using data to improve marketing and communications. This is a presentation (in one form or another) that I’ve made for nearly 20 years, and it includes an excellent case study of one association that dramatically improved their […]

Older Posts

It requires discipline to succeed

February 13, 2012

I was sitting in a  meeting recently for an organization I do volunteer work with. The organization was explaining that […]

Interview with Bill Stover of YourMembership.com

February 8, 2012

This is the fifth in my 2012 series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association management […]

Job Listing in DC area (Reston, VA)

February 7, 2012

My colleague Jen Johnson at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is seeking to fill a senior manager position, overseeing customer service […]

Interview with Charlie Vinal of Euclid Technology

February 6, 2012

This is the fourth in my 2012 series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association management […]

Interview with Dmitry Buterin of Wild Apricot

February 3, 2012

This is the third in my 2012 series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association management […]

Interview with Brian Choate of Timberlake Membership Software

February 1, 2012

This is the second in my 2012 series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association management […]

Why I don't recommend parallel processing

January 31, 2012

Every so often, a client of mine will ask me about parallel processing. Generally they’ll ask something like “How long […]

Interview with Richard Davis of Avectra

January 30, 2012

This is the first in my 2012 series of podcast interviews that I’ve been conducting with CEOs from providers of association management […]

Don't you know who I am?!?

January 27, 2012

I recently received an online survey from a free newsletter that I subscribe to. The very first question asked me […]

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