Reimagining the Future of Association Events and Member Experiences

Rich Vallaster III, CEM, DES, the Senior Director of Industry Relations and Community Engagement at Personify, is our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. He helps us envision what a brighter future for association events and member experience can—and should—look like. As a dedicated tech advocate, Rich highlights how technology can empower associations to enhance member engagement and improve event experiences throughout today’s chat with our host Lucas McCann. Rich also discusses the significant impact that live events have in advancing community connections within an association, especially among younger members who are still eager for in-person experiences in the aftermath of Covid. Rich emphasizes the importance of data-driven insights for tailoring experiences and ensuring that events meet diverse member needs. A self-proclaimed Disney fanatic and trade show wonk, Rich has built a reputation in the association space (and beyond) for implementing innovative strategies that drive impactful events. He is a regular contributor to industry events, often speaking at major conferences.