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

$15K of research for a $30K project

August 24, 2011

An association recently contacted me to help them review some proposals they’ve received from some AMS vendors. The association is […]

Trust is EVERYTHING

August 22, 2011

I was reminded of this again recently while shopping for a new car. Working with a local car dealer, I […]

Should your customers be able to cancel online?

August 18, 2011

Working with a client recently, I was surprised to learn that the association allows individuals who are currently registered for […]

ASAE Annual Re-Cap

August 10, 2011

I just returned from the ASAE Annual Meeting in St. Louis, and wanted to share some quick thoughts on the […]

DC Budgets and Sacred Zombie Cows (R)

July 26, 2011

The current debt ceiling debate going on in Washington right now has me thinking about how associations manage their budgets. […]

New Article Posted – Are we really insane?

July 25, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. Albert Einstein is supposed to have said the definition of insanity is doing […]

Success is measured by….?

June 20, 2011

According to this poster, which hangs in my childrens’ school (and I’ve seen it in other schools, too), success is […]

New Article Posted – No AMS Ever Failed on Selection

June 16, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. There is a classic management aphorism that no strategy ever failed on design; […]

The path to the best database

June 14, 2011

Here’s a good article in ASAE’s recent Associations Now Technology Guide supplement, including some good advice from yours truly.

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