PAR Member Accelerator Groups
PAR members receive access to these structured peer-to-peer groups for industry insights, guidance and collaboration
The PAR Member Accelerator Groups focus on specific aspects of association business and are designed to promote direct exchanges among practitioners and leaders in those areas. By facilitating these direct exchanges, the Business Development Accelerator Group and the Marketing Accelerator Group create a dynamic, peer-to-peer learning environment that enhances and accelerates professional growth within specific areas of association business.
Business Development Accelerator Group
The Business Development Accelerator Group, within the PAR community, is tailored for ambitious business development professionals aiming to sharpen their skills, broaden their professional connections, and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic sales landscape. This collaborative platform empowers account executives and sales managers to exchange insights, learn from fellow practitioners, and craft innovative strategies that drive sales success, both for their organizations and throughout their careers. By fostering a supportive environment rich with opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth, the Business Development Accelerator Group enables its members to thrive alongside like-minded peers.
Leadership
Chair: Dan Cole
Senior Director, Exposition Sales, AVIXA
Topics Covered
SEPTEMBER
Outbound Membership Sales
Elevate your membership sales approach from order taking to impact making. This session reveals strategic techniques to turn routine sales interactions into meaningful value-driven partnerships. Discover innovative approaches to needs assessment, relationship building, and measuring true membership impact.
Outcome: You’ll leave with consultative sales strategies to share with your membership colleagues
Guest Speaker:
Amy Lestition Burke
Executive Director & CEO
Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
Amy is the Executive Director and CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). She is an association executive specializing in change management, revenue development, growth & strategy.
NOVEMBER (at the RevUP Summit)
The 2025 class of Business Development and Marketing Accelerators Groups will convene at the RevUP Summit for collective learning and to celebrate a year of success.
Bridging the Gap: Aligning Sales and Marketing for Growth
Achieving growth and advancing your organization’s mission requires a unified approach to marketing and sales. This session explores how nonprofits, professional societies, and trade associations can enhance the overall customer experience by creating a seamless journey that integrates marketing and sales touchpoints. Discover how to implement effective lead scoring and handoff processes, develop shared key performance indicators (KPIs) and unified reporting frameworks, and foster a culture of collaboration that breaks down silos between teams. Participants will gain actionable strategies, tools, and frameworks to improve communication, drive synergy, and measure success—ultimately leading to increased revenue, greater customer satisfaction, and stronger mission impact.
Previous Topics
January 2025: What does success look like for you in 2025?
- Group Discussion
March 2025: Prospecting: Convert Connections into Opportunities
- Guest speakers: Melissa Matalon, CTA; Tripp Taylor, RILA
May 2025: LinkedIn for Lead Development
- Guest speaker: Colleen McKenna, Intero Advisory
July 2025: Organizational Synergy: Driving Collaborative Success
- Guest speaker: Brittany Shoul, MCI USA
Application period for the 2026 class of Business Development Accelerator Group will open in November 2025.
Marketing Accelerator Group
From member prospecting to event registration goals and strategic partnerships, marketing executives are at the intersection of customer value and revenue maximization for their association. The Marketing Accelerator Group, within the PAR community, is designed for revenue-savvy marketers who drive financial growth through strategic marketing initiatives. This exclusive group brings together forward-thinking marketing leaders who understand the critical role of marketing in maximizing customer lifetime value and generating sustainable revenue streams.
Leadership
Chair: Nikole TenBrink, MPA, CAE
Vice President, Marketing, Advertising Research Foundation
Topics Covered
AUGUST
Breaking Down Walls: Building Relationships for Success
This session explores strategies for fostering collaboration and communication across departments. Learn how to identify and address common barriers that create silos. Discover practical techniques for building strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. We'll discuss the importance of shared goals, transparent communication, and mutual respect in creating a cohesive and effective work environment.
Outcome: Leave with actionable steps to promote teamwork, improve efficiency, and develop stronger interdepartmental relationships and open communication channels.
Speaker:
Erin Pressley, CAE
Senior Vice President, Education, Training and Events
NRECA, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
As Senior Vice President for Education, Training and Events at NRECA, Erin leads the organization’s extensive meeting and events programming and education and training curriculum for nearly 900 electric cooperatives nationwide. Erin has spent most of her professional career generating the right content for the right people to inspire the right action. From print magazines to digital newsletters, from main stages to virtual group gatherings, Erin helps curate and tell stories that deliver tangible and profitable results to organizations. Erin joins NRECA following a 15 year career with the National Association of Convenient Stores (NACS).
Speaker:
Brittany Shoul
SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations
MCI USA
Brittany Shoul serves as SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations for MCI USA. She leads the full-service sales team that partners with associations to deliver outsourced media, advertising, sponsorship, and exhibit sales. Brittany oversees transition management for incoming association relationships, training and development of sales talents, and sales management for full-service sales clients. During her time with MCI, Brittany has worked with more than 50 associations to help them maximize their non-dues revenue. Her approach to sales operations drives success for each client relationship. Brittany earned a double major in Mass Communications and Communication Studies with a minor Psychology from Towson University and is a member of ASAE and PAR.
OCTOBER
Metrics that Matter: Proving Marketing's Value
We'll explore how to demonstrate marketing's impact through key performance indicators (KPIs) tailored to your organization's mission. Learn to leverage analytics for actionable insights that drive decision-making and improve campaign effectiveness. Discover which metrics truly matter in the nonprofit world and how to communicate them effectively to stakeholders. We'll share practical strategies for measuring and showcasing marketing's contribution to engagement, recruitment, and mission advancement.
Outcome: Leave equipped with tools to quantify your marketing efforts and amplify your organization's impact.
NOVEMBER (at the RevUP Summit)
The 2025 class of Business Development and Marketing Accelerators Groups will convene at the RevUP Summit for collective learning and to celebrate a year of success.
Bridging the Gap: Aligning Sales and Marketing for Growth
Achieving growth and advancing your organization’s mission requires a unified approach to marketing and sales. This session explores how nonprofits, professional societies, and trade associations can enhance the overall customer experience by creating a seamless journey that integrates marketing and sales touchpoints. Discover how to implement effective lead scoring and handoff processes, develop shared key performance indicators (KPIs) and unified reporting frameworks, and foster a culture of collaboration that breaks down silos between teams. Participants will gain actionable strategies, tools, and frameworks to improve communication, drive synergy, and measure success—ultimately leading to increased revenue, greater customer satisfaction, and stronger mission impact.
Previous Topics
February 2025: Defining Success Together for the Year Ahead
- Group Discussion
April 2025: Transform Your Marketing Through Emerging Technologies
- Speaker: Chris Gloede, CAE, Chief Consultant, Ricochet
June 2025: Maximize your marketing impact on a budget
Application period for the 2026 class of Business Development Accelerator Group will open in November 2025.
7 Ways to Accelerate Your Growth
Targeted Focus
These groups are designed to concentrate on specific aspects of association business, allowing members with similar interests or challenges to connect directly.
Practitioner & Leader Interaction
The groups bring together both practitioners and leaders in particular areas, enabling peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Networking Opportunities
By grouping members with similar focuses, the Accelerator Groups create a platform for professionals to build relationships and expand their professional networks.
Resource Sharing
Members can directly share resources, experiences, and best practices related to their specific area of association business.
Problem-Solving
The direct exchange format allows members to collectively address challenges and develop solutions specific to their area of expertise.
Learning & Development
Through peer-to-peer interactions, members can gain new insights and learn from others' experiences in their field.
Collaborative Environment
The groups foster a collaborative atmosphere where members can freely exchange ideas and information without intermediaries.
Access to Accelerator Groups
Access to Accelerator Groups is exclusive to PAR members. New cohorts will be formed in late 2025 for the following calendar year's term.
New members may apply to join an Accelerator Group when PAR membership is initiated. For more information, new members may contact Rita Nabhan.