Dan Ratner Email & Phone Number

Us

Joining FMI at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to accelerate my knowledge of the food industry focusing on the food retailer and wholesaler segments for membership growth. The organization experienced growth in member counts, retention rate, and dues revenue in these categories of membership throughout those challenging years and beyond. The membership team’s attention was on implementing a robust and effective onboarding program for new members, gathering data on engagement opportunities for active members and reaching deeper inside the member companies to engage key personnel reducing the risk of losing a member for lack of multiple connections. My role also includes efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the membership renewal system, expand the tracking of membership metrics, and improving the accuracy and currency of the data in the association management system.

Manassas, Virginia, Us

My role within this startup company was to work with non-profit and for-profit businesses to help them grow through innovative approaches and strategies gaining a step up on their competition. My unique perspectives and experiences (past and present) are shared regularly in related podcasts and digital products offered by The Next Steps, LLC including Meminars™ (meminars.com). Our clients included: Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), American Chiropractic Association (ACA), and the National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA).

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

My position at AGB was a good marriage of my experience working with organizations in the field of education and my recent shift to working within a trade association model. My role included responsibilities for determining the strategic direction of the organization with a focus on membership development and retention. I worked closely with our constituents who are presidents and board chairs of higher education systems, universities, community colleges, and their affiliated foundations. I implemented a membership concierge service to provide personalized customer and member care and generating additional revenues through cross-selling and up-selling activities. I presented to the board of directors on the topic of membership retention and was the liaison to the board’s Enterprise Risk Management team. My work involved creating more transparency between membership sales and data management efforts among leadership and staff. I continued my work with AGB as a contracted consultant for two years after leaving as a full-time emplyee to bring them closer to their goals for the membership program.

Washington, Dc, Us

In an effort to diversify my experience in the association sector, I intentionally shifted my career path away from individual membership organizations and the field of education and took on the role of membership director again when joining ANSI’s staff team. In this role I led and directed the membership sales team in conducting outbound marketing and sales efforts by phone and email to corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies of all sizes. I was responsible for the member forums and a chemicals regulation network and transitioned their monthly meetings from teleconferences to online meetings improving engagement and participation levels. I also planned and managed in-person multi-day in-person events held at Fortune 500 corporations around the country. Member counts increased 15% during my tenure and retention rates surpassed 95%. A comprehensive analysis of the membership value proposition and dues structure was conducted and used by the board of directors to make significant changes to the membership offerings.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

As a member of the executive leadership team at CEC, I oversaw all membership development and retention activities, the customer service call center, and the robust constituent relations program of this professional membership organization. The constituent groups included 17 special interest divisions that are separately incorporated nonprofit organizations and 56 state and provincial affiliates all tied to the national organization through membership dues. My team planned and presented an annual, multi-day Summer Leadership Institute for volunteer leaders of these constituent groups. In my role, I was involved in all meetings of the board of directors, participated in crafting the strategic plan, and was liaison to the Canadian committee and Inter-Divisional Caucus. The customer service team was realigned and new standards of practice were established that focused on cross-selling and upselling strategies.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

During my 11 years at ASCD (see previous position below), the organization’s membership model was transformed from an individual-based membership to a hybrid of individual and institutional memberships. The organization experienced membership growth each year achieving an overall 25% increase in counts to a record 175,000 paid members prior to my departure. The membership offerings were expanded to include an online category and institutional category. Dues revenues improved each year of my tenure with only one dues rate increase during that time period. I oversaw the implementation of extensive personalization and customization to enhance the membership experience and we conducted complex testing activities on recruitment and retention efforts. I was involved in a comprehensive organization-wide rebranding effort and co-chaired the team developing the organization’s first online community. I also participated as a core member of the Association Management System Conversion Team, Strategic Planning Team, and the Website Redesign Team. Additionally, I was a leader of the organization’s staff charity drive one year raising a record $25,000 from the multi-month campaign. I also opened the first Twitter account connected to ASCD which was responsible for the first-ever (organically created) Tweetup at the organization’s annual conference that year.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

see description above.

Reston, Va, Us

As manager of the organization’s student programs, I oversaw the operations and marketing of the collegiate membership program which included 16,000 students in 600 chapters within higher education institutions nationwide. I also managed the Tri-M Music Honor Society program for more than 12,000 middle school and high school students in music programs throughout the country. The position involved marketing and promoting the programs, strategic planning and creation of annual budgets, solicitation of sponsorships and partnerships, administration of the awards programs and scholarship endowment, and supervision and recruitment of program staff.