Register by April 1

The Strategic Power of Community

A Roadmap for Veterinary Association Leaders

Veterinary associations play a critical role in offering high-quality and credible expert learning opportunities that contribute to the profession’s long-term competitiveness and adaptability.

At ThinkWORKS 2026, we’ll dive into the strategic value of “community” by presenting a roadmap to help VMA executives explore:

    • Where you are today;
    • What capabilities or gaps define your current stage; and
    • What it looks like to advance toward higher-impact community practices.

The workshop will demonstrate how associations can leverage community to:

    • Strengthen competitive advantage;
    • Increase member engagement and loyalty;
    • Improve organizational and member performance outcomes; and
    • Expand value propositions across the member lifecycle.These principles can be applied across the board to events (in-person and virtual), learning programs (formal and informal), membership, advocacy, professional development, and any other functions that naturally support or can be repurposed to support community building.

These principles can be applied across the board to events (in-person and virtual), learning programs (formal and informal), membership, advocacy, professional development, and any other functions that naturally support or can be repurposed to support community building.

On the second day, we’ll explore where veterinary medicine is heading and how VMAs can play a leading role by equipping members with the insight, education, and confidence needed to thrive in a rapidly changing profession.

ThinkWORKS 2026 will also feature:

    • Collaborative Innovation: Association Executive Think Tank is a unique opportunity to share your successes, swap tools, and brainstorm solutions. This interactive session will cover key issues you identify in advance.
    • Social Event: Sweet Connections: A ThinkWORKS Chocolate Social hour offers a relaxed opportunity to unwind and connect with peers while enjoying a guided chocolate tasting experience together.

Why Attend?
ThinkWORKS 2026 is your chance to ThinkWORKS 2026 is your chance to gain practical strategies and fresh ideas to strengthen member engagement and build more impactful communities. You’ll leave with actionable insights and meaningful peer connections you can put to work right away.

Register by March 30, to ensure you receive your chocolate tasting kit in time for the social event. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the full experience and connect with fellow attendees during our guided chocolate tasting!

Featured Speaker

Mary Byers, CAE, CSP

Mary Byers, CAE, CSP, is co-author of Race for Relevance: Five Radical Changes for Associations and Road to Relevance: 5 Strategies for Competitive Associations. She’s the former director of communications and member services for the Illinois State Dental Society and served in that capacity for nine years prior to starting her consulting business in 1998. Since then, she’s worked with over 300 associations, including the Million Dollar Round Table, American and Illinois Farm Bureaus, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Medical Society Executives.

Mary specializes in working with volunteer association leaders and chief staff executives to help define their roles and clarify their vision through leadership conference programming, facilitating strategic planning retreats and coaching. She’s a skilled listener and able to help initiate and manage difficult conversations and to articulate a preferred future.

Mary is a certified association executive, a certified speaking professional, and a certified virtual presenter. She is also the author of seven books.

 

 

Pricing

  • Member

  • $295/mo
    • Early-Bird pricing through 4/1/26.
    • Member Pricing is $495 after 4/1/26.

  • Non-Member Staff*

  • $395/mo
    • Early-Bird pricing through 4/1/26.
    • Non-member Pricing is $595 after 4/1/26.

Strategic Initiative Partners

Partners receive attendance opportunities to VMAE meetings based on sponsorship level:

Titanium: 8 per sponsorship year
Platinum: 4 per sponsorship year
Gold: 3 per sponsorship year
Silver: 2 per sponsorship year
Bronze: 1 per sponsorship year

* ThinkWORKS is open to any VMAE member and their staff