Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

[ai_chat_window]

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

Business Intelligence Matters

October 11, 2011

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the desperate need businesses have for workers skilled at analyzing data. […]

Little things can make a big impact

October 7, 2011

I was recently helping a client of mine with an AMS system selection. After a thorough review of needs and […]

Great article in Associations Now

October 6, 2011

David J. Martin, CAE, is CEO of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He has written a great article for […]

Is your database holding you back on growing membership?

September 21, 2011

Apparently, a lot of associations feel this way. In Marketing General’s recently released 2011 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report (available here), […]

New Article Posted – Three Keys to a Successful System Implementation

September 16, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. I’ve got several clients going through the process of implementing a new association […]

From listservers to forums/communities

September 1, 2011

I’m seeing a growing trend among my clients, moving from listservers (the old-style Lyris-type lists that are completely email-driven, and […]

In case you've missed it…

August 30, 2011

There’s a great discussion going on here about the pros and cons of Salesforce.com in the association market. Scroll down […]

I've said it before, but it bears repeating…

August 29, 2011

Working in a homegrown system is malpractice. (Click here to read why.) I continue to marvel at the number of […]

"They ask, we deliver."

August 26, 2011

I was meeting with an association executive recently to discuss how I might help them with the selection of a […]

Scroll to Top