Centers for Professionalism and Service

An association management company is a firm of skilled professionals whose goal is to provide management expertise and specialized administrative services to trade associations and professional societies in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

Based on the concept of shared resources, an Association Management Company (AMC) provides volunteer organizations with the expertise they need when they need it. The AMC typically assigns executives and administrators to conduct the association's day-to-day operations.

Specialists are drawn from the pool of personnel resources and are assigned on an as-needed basis to special projects. For example, a publications editor coordinates a monthly newsletter or annual report; an exhibits manager oversees the annual meeting and trade show; a research team is created to assist with special projects; or additional support staff is utilized to help with membership programs. Each association pays only for the hours the staff specialists work on the tasks and benefits from the professional expertise for a fraction of what it would cost to hire full-time staff.

An association management company also provides a centralized office that serves as the client association's headquarters. The overhead costs for the professional offices are shared by many associations and societies, increasing their resources and capabilities without major capital investment.