Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Blog post themes over 20 years…

By Wes Trochlil | August 5, 2026

Blog post themes over 20 years… I’ve been writing blog posts for nearly 20 years now. WordPress tells me I’ve written over 1,200 posts. So I asked AI to analyze my 1,200+ posts and give me my top three themes. Here’s what it came up with: Data management and data quality – these posts emphasize that data management is […]

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing!

By Wes Trochlil | July 29, 2026

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing! A client in the middle of their AMS implementation said to me: “I’m getting a LOT of feedback from staff about what the system can and cannot do. Is that good or bad?” My response: “Feedback means they’re actually in the system and using it! That’s a good […]

Doing the reps…

By Wes Trochlil | July 22, 2026

Doing the reps… I’m helping a client with the implementation of a new AMS. During a recent call, their internal project manager said “I’m still not as familiar with the system as I’d like to be. I need to get in there more often and play around.” I responded: “That’s exactly right. I suggest you […]

Add one, remove one

By Wes Trochlil | July 15, 2026

Add one, remove one In the world of home-organizing, there’s the “one in, one out” rule. Simply put, for every new item that enters your home, one similar item must leave, helping to maintain a constant level of possessions and prevent clutter accumulation. This would be a great rule for database managers when considering adding new fields […]

Spring cleaning, all year long

By Wes Trochlil | July 8, 2026

Spring cleaning, all year long I talk frequently about “weeding the garden,” the idea that proactively managing your data, consistently, over time, is a better practice than trying to clean up the data in one big effort once every couple of years. But beyond the data itself, weeding the garden should also include making sure all […]

Older Posts

Focus on Outcomes, not Inputs

February 8, 2011

When I work with my clients on selecting a new association management system, one of the first steps we take […]

Are your self-service web pages working?

February 3, 2011

According to research firm Gartner, 65 percent of self-service interactions currently escalate beyond the Web to an agent. In other words, […]

Here's my money, but keep the premium

February 1, 2011

I recently made a donation to my local Boy Scouts of America chapter. In return for my donation (although I […]

New Article Posted – Oh, The Changes I've Seen!

January 21, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. I’ve been working in association management system (AMS) software since 1990. That makes me […]

Make sure you understand TCO (total cost of ownership)

January 20, 2011

On the Edmunds website is a very slick tool that will allow you to calculate the TCO (total cost of […]

Seek Dividends, Not Just Insurance

January 19, 2011

One of the primary services I provide to my clients is helping them select and implement new association management software. […]

Don't Expect EVERYTHING from Your Database

January 18, 2011

I’m working on an RFP for a client for the selection of new association management software system. As I’m working through the list of required functionality, I’m struck by just how much functionality is available

Workarounds aren't always bad

January 13, 2011

When I work with clients on their data management processes, I’m always looking for ways to make life easier for […]

Two Job Openings at DC-area Association

January 12, 2011

My colleague and client Dave Martin of the Electronic Retailing Association is seeking to fill two marketing positions. Marketing Manager […]

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