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

Finally: An "Ombudsman" at an AMS Vendor

October 20, 2009

I wrote about the concept of a “client ombudsman” a couple of years ago (you can read it in its […]

New Listing of Vendors Just Published

October 15, 2009

I’ve recently added to my website a page that lists the 40+ AMS vendors that I track. The page includes […]

Magazine Subscriptions and the Accumulation of Data

October 13, 2009

I read a lot of different magazines. Business magazines, political magazines, so-called “lifestyle” magazines (e.g., Car and Driver). Each was […]

Reflections on NiUG/Improvements in iMIS

October 8, 2009

I had the honor of speaking at the opening general session for NiUG International’s Discovery Conference last week in Baltimore, […]

Mindless Rules Make Me Mental

October 6, 2009

Last weekend I was sitting on the sidelines as I watched my six-year old daughter play soccer. This is the […]

AMS Learning and Demo Days

September 30, 2009

ASAE is hosting AMS Learning and Demo Day son Monday and Tuesday, October 12 and 13, 2009, at the Rockville […]

I've Answered the Survey; Now What?

September 24, 2009

I hate surveys. I’ve made it clear to anyone who will listen that I only answer one-question surveys. If your […]

My Theory on Why Associations Won't Invest in Technology

September 10, 2009

In a blog post last week I discussed a handful of AMS packages available at very low cost to associations. […]

I'll be the General Session Speaker at NiUG Annual Discovery Conference

September 3, 2009

I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be the general session speaker for the NiUG International 2009 Annual Discovery Conference, September […]

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