Who It's For
The Association COO Roundtable is a confidential, member-driven community where senior association executives come together to share candid insight, benchmark approaches, and solve challenges with peers who understand the complexity of the role.
Members meet quarterly in the Washington, DC metro area to exchange ideas, learn from one another’s experience, and build a valuable network of fellow operating leaders.
About the Group
For many COOs, the most valuable guidance comes from peers who have faced similar operational, organizational, and leadership challenges and can offer real-world perspective in a confidential setting.
The Association COO Roundtable was created to support that kind of exchange. This curated cohort helps members share best practices, pressure-test decisions, and strengthen their leadership through ongoing peer engagement.
Group size: 50 members max.
Member Benefits
- Quarterly in-person COO meetings in Washington, DC.
- Facilitated peer network.
- Private, members-only LinkedIn group.
- Print and online subscription to CEO Update.
- Access to Association Insight.
- Complimentary postings on CEO Update for Senior Director to C-suite roles.
- Complimentary copies of the annual CEO and Senior Executive Salary and Compensation Guide and U.S. Association and Nonprofit Compensation Report.
- Complimentary registration for all fee-based CEO Update LIVE events, Association TRENDS events, and invitations to members-only C-suite events and workshops.
- Discount on all job postings at Association Jobs.
Membership Prerequisites
Invitations are extended to COOs and those with similar responsibilities at mid-sized and large associations.
MEET THE MEMBERS
Jennifer Ahearn
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Shaine Anderson
NAIOP - Commercial Real Estate Development Association
Andrew Architect
National Pest Management Association
Shani Armon
Insured Retirement Institute
Don Auerbach
Investment Company Institute
Alicia Auerswald
International Sign Association
Keniece Barbee
Corn Refiners Association
Robert Bartel
Chief Operating Officer
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions - SCAI
Roundtable Meetings
Meeting content is member-driven and focused on peer exchange, including staff management, talent development, coalition building, project management, non-dues revenue, communications, advocacy, membership, and administrative functions such as finance, HR, and IT. Relevant subject-matter experts also join meetings to discuss trends and emerging issues affecting association operations.
Get Inside the Conversations Association Leaders Are Having Right Now
CEO Update Roundtables bring association COOs together for candid, peer-to-peer conversations about the challenges shaping their organizations—and members get exclusive access to briefings that capture the key insights, strategies, and questions emerging from those discussions.
These briefings go beyond high-level trends to capture the candid perspectives and practical approaches association executives are sharing with one another. Become a CEO Update Roundtable member to access the full Roundtable Briefings—and gain an inside look at how your peers are navigating the decisions shaping the future of association leadership.s
FAQs
The roundtable is designed for COOs and senior association executives with comparable operational responsibilities at larger or more complex associations.
Members meet quarterly in the Washington, DC metro area for in-person, facilitated discussions focused on COO-level challenges and opportunities.
Meetings feature member-driven conversations on staff management and talent development, coalition building, project management, non-dues revenue, and best practices in communications, advocacy, membership, finance, HR, IT, and other core administrative functions.
To keep conversations candid and valuable, membership is intentionally capped at 50 association COOs and senior operations leaders.
Members gain access to a confidential peer network, quarterly in-person roundtable meetings, CEO Update subscriptions and research, complimentary or discounted postings and events, and other tools that support better decision-making and organizational performance.
Invitations are extended to COOs and executives with similar responsibilities at larger associations; if you oversee day-to-day operations and cross-functional execution, you're likely a good fit.
Complete a brief interest or application form (or contact the CEO Update team) to share details about your role and organization; a staff member will follow up to confirm fit and discuss next steps.