We couldn’t be more honored to welcome Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), to this week’s episode of the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. Katie shares her journey from studying dance to practicing occupational therapy, and then to her current role as an association leader. She emphasizes the importance of belonging and highlights the value of authentic credibility that stems from hands-on experience and a background in the arts. Katie also reflects on her transition into the association world, lessons learned from her mistakes, and her vision for the future of occupational therapy.

Greg Melia, CAE, CEO of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), is our guest on the Six Degrees of Associations this week. With a stated goal of supporting CX professionals to share, learn, inspire, and grow throughout their entire careers, Greg is at the helm of this premier non-profit with a global reach that serves the customer experience profession. Greg shares his journey to association leadership with us and discusses the evolution of his career. He explains the significance of customer experience in associations, highlighting the need for seamless processes across touchpoints to improve member retention and satisfaction.

Related Resources to Explore:CXPA Book of Knowledge and other publications: https://www.cxpa.org/grow-your-knowledge/bookstore CX definitions: https://www.cxpa.org/grow-your-knowledge/whatiscxTodd Unger’s book: https://www.toddunger.com/

As we learn in this week’s episode of the 6 Degrees Podcast with Stephen Gold, the President and CEO of Manufacturers Alliance, mindfulness, like life itself, is a journey, not a destination. There are no winners or losers. There are many elements of mindfulness that association professionals will find helpful, and we are honored to have longtime association community thought leader Stephen Gold join our show this week to provide a crash course on how incorporating better mindfulness principles into our lives can benefit ourselves and those around us.Here are some resources to keep in mind if you’d like to learn more:Books on or Related to Mindfulness1. Living With Your Heart Wide Open, by Bob Stahl and Steve Flowers2. Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratana3. A Path with Heart, by Jack Kornfield4. The Wise Heart, by Jack Kornfield5. When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron6. The Places that Scare You, by Pema Chodron7. Learning to Fall, by Philip Simmons8. 10% Happier, by Dan Harris9. Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer10. Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn Business Management Books Whose Underlying Principles are Based on Mindfulness1. Ego Free Leadership, Shayne Hughes2. An Everyone Culture, Robert Kagan3. Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott4. Non-Violent Communications, Marshall Rosenberg5. The Mindful Leader, Michael Carroll6. The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Jim Dethmer7. One Second Ahead, Rasmus Hougaard8. How to Know a Person, David Brooks9. Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek10. Conscious Business, Fred Kofman Also, a handful of TED talks that are based on the concepts of mindfulness: “The Benefits of Not Being a Jerk to Yourself,” Dan Harris: https://youtu.be/NuhIzO57HVk?si=EHkzmGS6OEXN0wQ4“My Stroke of Insight,” Jill Bolte Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYD7Y9CXeUw“This is Water,” David Foster Wallace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC7xzavzEKY“Making People Feel Seen,” David Brooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6d0Vx0N0Sw“The Power of Vulnerability,” Brene Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

A highly respected voice and leader in the association community, Sharon Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE, is our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. As the Executive Director of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Sharon joins the show to share her story as an association professional reaching the pinnacle of our industry and the lessons she's learned throughout her career.Sharon highlights the many rich and fulfilling paths to executive leadership in the association world, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all route, and adaptability is a major key to longevity and success in this industry.Learn more about the American Academy of Pain Medicine: https://painmed.org/

Janelle Julien is an executive-level communications specialist in the association space, known for driving impactful communication plans within both nonprofit and for-profit corporate sectors. She joined us this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast to discuss what she’s learned given her rich background spanning publishing and association communications. Janelle discusses the evolving landscape of content delivery, emphasizing the importance of trust and credibility as associations face the challenges of misinformation and technological advancements, including AI, and how we can engage younger demographics, adapt to changing information consumption patterns, and leverage short-form media like Reels and TikToks effectively.

Justin Moore, PT, DPT, the CEO of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), brings his passion to the Six Degrees of Association Podcast this week. As a physical therapist by trade, he walks us through the advantages—especially on the public policy front—that he has enjoyed while leading an association that helps build a brighter future for this profession, which is the fifth-largest healthcare occupation. He also discusses how the discipline he learned as a wrestler helps him in his leadership duties as CEO of APTA, an association with more than 100,000 members.

He is passionate about the use of legislative initiatives and public policy's role in making massive change. Early on in his physical therapy career, he wanted to be in associations and sought out a leadership role within this field and we are grateful for his contributions and insights in this memorable interview.

Learn more about APTA: https://www.apta.org/

The keys to ensuring your association is on the path toward a vibrant future—and avoiding the common traps of stagnation—are outlined in depth with our Six Degrees of Associations Podcast guest this week, Vincent Talucci, CAE, the thoughtful and strategic Executive Director/CEO of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Vince highlights the IACP's commitment to modernizing policing, emphasizing the importance of listening to members’ needs, especially in light of recent movements to reform policing practices. He also shares insights on trends such as recruitment, retention, while showcasing the association's achievements, including membership growth despite challenges.Learn More: https://www.theiacp.org/

Lori Anderson, FASAE, CAE, the President & CEO with the International Sign Association (ISA) is our fantastic guest this week on the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast. Lori’s career began as a music teacher before transitioning into government relations and ultimately taking the helm at ISA. Lori draws parallels between her experiences in music education and leadership, noting that running an association is a lot like conducting an orchestra where each member has a vital role to play. She highlighted the joy of bringing people together for a common purpose, actively engaging with members, and building community—which she believes is the heartbeat of any successful association. She spoke highly of the value of peer networks, emphasizing how vulnerability and open communication among colleagues can significantly impact one’s leadership journey.With over 20 years at ISA, Lori’s passion for her work has not waned; instead, she sees each day as a new adventure. Her tenure reflects a commitment to collaboration and continuous growth, underscoring the importance of creating a culture where everyone feels valued. As Lori said, "If you can be your authentic self, there’s no reason to leave."Learn more about ISA:https://signs.org/