Through the Noise

"If you've seen one Chamber, you've seen one Chamber." That's how today's guest, Chris Mead of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives describes the culture of the more than 7000 Chambers that exist around the United States. As independent and unregulated community organizations, any person is free to start and operate a Chamber of Commerce. Our conversation takes an unexpected turn as we delve into the fascinating -- and not always so pretty -- history of the Chambers around the United States. Al Capone, Eliot Ness, the Cherry Blossom parade, Golden Gate Bridge, and the internment of Japanese Americans star in today's episode as Mead gives us a sneak peak into his book on the history of the Chambers, Magicians on Main Street. Chris Mead has nearly 20 years' experience working with associations. He handles mostly sponsorships and memberships. And he's also fascinated by chambers of commerce and their role in the building of the United States. The surprising influence of chambers on American history is something he uncovered in his recently published book, The Magicians of Main Street: America and its Chambers of Commerce, 1768-1945. ACCE, founded in 1914, is an association of 1,200 local, regional, and state chambers of commerce, mostly in North America.

Grab a cold one and settle down for our conversation with Lester Jones of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. Are you ready? It's incredibly easy in the United States and much of the rest of the world to find beer with nearly unlimited varieties and Lester Jones breaks down the elements necessary to turn water into a delicious beer and get it from the brewer all the way to you for your podcast-listening enjoyment. His organization represents those who distribute the beer, tier 2 of the 3-tier system of beer development and delivery. As Chief Economist of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, he analyzes the trends in beer brewing and consumption and provides insights into the ever-evolving world of beer, making the distributors, retailers, and even the brewers and importers more successful. For an insider-look into the world of beer, don't miss this episode with Lester Jones. Lester Jones serves as the Chief Economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, a national trade organization that represents the interests of America\u2019s 3,300 independent, licensed beer distributors that service every state. He has more than 20 years of experience in research, survey methodology and applied economics. The purpose of the National Beer Wholesalers Association is to provide leadership which enhances the independent beer distribution industry; to advocate before government and the public; to encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol; and to provide programs and services that will benefit its members.

Immigration is an issue frequently mentioned in the mainstream media but it's almost always covered in a superficial way, overlooking the fact that there are many different circumstances that would prompt a person to leave their home to move to the United States or anywhere else. The Council for Global Immigration helps companies of all varieties ensure they comply with immigration laws while hiring international professionals. Lynn Shotwell is the Executive Director of the Council and speaks with us today about the tremendous difficulty faced by companies trying to hired skilled workers and those individuals who are attempting to secure visas to accept positions. We continue to operate under laws from 50 years ago that don't address many of today's challenge. Lynn Shotwell has been an advocate for the free movement of highly-skilled talent for two decades. She works with policymakers in the United States and around the world to persuade them to reform migration systems so they work for employers, employees and the economy. She is particularly interested in how migration, education, technology and other changes work together to shape the workplace of tomorrow. The Council for Global Immigration is the leading employer network dedicated to immigration. CFGI is a strategic affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management, the biggest HR organization in the world.

America's Charities is one of the preeminent organizations working to connect nonprofits with donors from the private and public sector to increase their reach and grow the funds available to achieve their mission. Today we talk with Jim Starr who is both "running the show and making the show keeps running." He emphasizes out a well-known fact of development: that people give when they are asked and America's Charities helps multiply the opportunities for nonprofits and charities to have their "ask" heard. If you are part of a nonprofit that is not raising enough to meet the demands of your mission -- and what organization ever has enough? -- you should check out this episode and consider membership in America's Charities to get your message and your mission in the ears of the right people at the right time. As an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience and a proven track record in the nonprofit and healthcare sectors, Jim has served in national and field executive leadership roles with multi-million dollar revenue and expense targets. He has led efforts to bring corporations and nonprofits together in meaningful and impactful ways. He also brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, business development, and partnerships. America's Charities, a mission-driven organization, connects public and private sector employers with nonprofit organizations to engage employees in greater charitable giving.

With the advent of new technology, there is often a wave of fear which Rob Atkinson calls the "Privacy Panic Cycle." In the 1960s, some people were afraid of transistor radios, thinking that small radios could be slipped into their drinks so that others could listen to their conversations. While this may seem laughable, technology continues to evolve and there is a growing struggle between those who advocate for all technological advances while others assert that "private" life becomes increasingly less private as innovations become integrated into our lives. Where do we draw the line? Should we even draw a line? Check in today for a discussion of these issues with Rob Atkinson of The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Robert Atkinson is the founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and is also author of Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage (Yale, 2012) and The Past and Future of America's Economy: Long Waves of Innovation That Power Cycles of Growth (Edward Elgar, 2005). Before coming to ITIF, Dr. Atkinson was Vice President of the Progressive Policy Institute. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and productivity internationally, in Washington, and in the states.

Tony Martignetti is a pioneer in the world of nonprofit podcasting and he joined us in the studio while in town from New York. Tony's passion is communicating with nonprofits and he has been the host of Nonprofit Radio for over five years -- broadcasting live every Friday at 1pm (EST). With more than 250 episodes under his belt, he's had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of nonprofit leaders from every field. How can podcasting benefit your organization? What are some of the challenges facing nonprofits today? If you're considering getting into podcasting to get your message out to more people, don't miss this episode. And when you're ready, we can help you every step of the way. Tony Martignetti is the host of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio, Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%. He picks the brains of thought leaders for his 10,000+ listeners in small- and mid-size nonprofits. He's also a consultant in Planned Giving and state Charity Registration compliance and he's been helping nonprofits since 1997.

BOMA International is like many trade associations in that community, networking, and the sharing of best practices some of the most valued aspects of membership. But BOMA is the only organization representing the interests of commercial building owners and managers, in the US and abroad, and must remain nimble in order to keep up with rapidly evolving building technology and standards. Today we're joined by BOMA President and COO Henry Chamberlain, whose tenure with the organization stretches back to the days when floppy disks were a major technological breakthrough. Learn what building owners are doing to stay competitive in an era when people are increasingly demanding and expecting buildings to be greener. Henry Chamberlain is president and a 30-year veteran of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and past president of the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and member of Real Estate Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100. BOMA International is federation of 91 U.S. local associations and 17 global affiliates headquartered in Washington, D.C. BOMA represents building owners and managers to advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence and knowledge.

On Through the Noise, we talk with a lot of brilliant people doing great things in their own niche. But no matter how great your idea, how noble your cause, how lofty your goals, your efforts are wasted if no one can hear what you're saying. Today's guest, Stephanie Cerulo, works to solve that problem and put your message in the hands of the people who need to hear it and are likely to support it. Using a cooperative donor database, the Infogroup is able to target potential donors by pinpointing their actual behavior, rather than self-reported. If you are curious about different ways to make a bigger impact and reach a larger audience with your message, don't miss this episode of Through the Noise. Stephanie Ceruolo is Vice President and General Manager of the Nonprofit Solutions business unit within data company, Infogroup. She has over 20 years' experience helping non-profit organizations with fundraising and marketing, most of it focused on direct marketing strategies and the data that drives them. Infogroup Nonprofit Solutions makes "big data" actionable for nonprofits to enable fundraising success.

Meredith Jacobs works to improve the lives of all women and girls. First as a blogger, then columnist, radio host, author, and now as the Communications VP for Jewish Women International, she has had the opportunity to touch a lot of lives. From building libraries around the U.S. for children at domestic violence shelters to working with Greek organizations on college campuses to prevent sexual assault, Jacobs illustrates that there are many creative ways to address a difficult problem and get people to participate. She has a couple more books on the horizon and is launching the campus initiative "Green Light Go" on October 24. Listen up to hear some great ideas and maybe bring some inspiration and energy to your organization. Vice president of marketing and communications for Jewish Women International (JWI) is an award-winning journalist and former editor-in-chief of Washington Jewish Week. She is the author of The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat: Connect and Celebrate—Bring Your Family Together with the Friday Night Meal (HarperCollins) and co-author with her daughter, Sofie of Just Between Us: a no-stress, no-rules journal for girls and their moms (Chronicle Books, Spring 2010). Two more journals—Just Between Us: grandmother and granddaughter and Just Between Us: sisters are slated for 2017 and 2018. Jewish Women International is the leading Jewish organization working to end violence against women and girls domestically and internationally. JWI is a principal leader of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally and a Steering Committee member of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women and a steering committee member of NO MORE. JWI's advocacy efforts focus on the passage of legislation that supports women and girls, ensures their economic security and their ability to live life free of violence. Our education programs focus on financial literacy for women of all ages and healthy relationship programs for teens and college students. JWI supports survivors by providing financial literacy resources to help the women re-build their lives, as well as building children's libraries in domestic violence shelters nationwide.

A few months ago we had John Graham, the president and CEO of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), in the studio and today we sat down with his Chief Marketing Officer, Robb Lee, to hear a different side of the story. ASAE is the association's association and, as Robb Lee succinctly puts it, works to "represent the right of everyone to represent what's important to them." Today's conversation is a compelling listen on the importance of story-telling, weeding out the bad ideas to focus on the good, and how even a great idea may come at the wrong time and miss the point. To learn more from one of the main experts in association communications, settle in and turn up Through the Noise. Advertising, PR, Fortune 100's to Assn.'s impacting the world we live in. Loves the creative process and creative outcomes too. The Center for Association Leadership. Unofficial tagline we're best known for: the association for associations. We creative association management resources to help the association work better.

Today we sit down with Pamela Davis of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group and she helps dispels the notion that nonprofits don't need insurance. The reasons for having insurance for nonprofits are extremely varied and she recognized a need and solved it by forming nonprofits that insure other nonprofits and have a greater understanding of their needs. NIAC member organizations provide insurance for 15,000 nonprofits in 33 states and despite a somewhat dry sounding topic, Pamela Davis makes insurance and the reasons for it come to life. So, if you are responsible for a nonprofit, like a lot of our listeners, you won't want to miss this episode packed with invaluable insights. Pamela Davis has been transforming nonprofits and the insurance industry for nearly three decades. She is the founding president and CEO of liability insurance cooperative for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. She was a subject of the PBS documentary series, Visionaries, selected from a field of 3,000 to illustrate the extraordinary accomplishments of ordinary people.She has lobbied Congress and had federal tax law changed so charitable risk pools to obtain 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. The Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group is comprised of 3 cooperative insurance companies and an administrator, all of which are 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organizations. They provide liability insurance coverage for 15,000 other 501(c)(3) nonprofits in 31 states and DC and are growing by about 1,000 member-insureds a year. Pamela Davis is their founder, president, and CEO. She posed the idea for this Group in her graduate thesis at UC Berkeley, School of Public Poilcy, in the mid-1980s and launched the first company in California in 1989 with a $1 million loan.

It may surprise some to learn that Land O'Lakes, a massive company widely known for producing butter, is not only a farmer-owned cooperative, but also has an international division that works in developing countries to help create sustainable farming practices among people who have extremely limited resources for making a living. We talk with Jennifer Hyman today who travels around the world meeting and assisting farmers to find out what they need to survive and thrive and through contracts with USAID, provides it. How is international development tied to corporate growth? What exactly is yak butter? Grab a cup of coffee and join us today to find out these answers and more. As the Director of Communications for Land O'Lakes International Development, Jennifer Hymanleads internal and external communications for the organization's international agriculture and enterprise development programs, is in charge of related advocacy efforts, and manages the group's office in Washington, DC. She has more than 20 years of experience focused on humanitarian and international development communications, is a prolific published journalist, and has worked and traveled in more than 45 countries.

Organizations of every size, focus, and type need supporters, members, customers, or donors to advance their cause or grow their business. If you can't understand the level of commitment or engagement a particular individual has with your organization, how can you approach them in the future? Today we talk with Colleen McCarthy about the necessity of functional databases to accurately maintain records about those who support your goal. Her work with Exponent Partners is different than many firms because -- like nonprofits -- they are a mission-driven business. They help their clients, grow their own business, with a watchful eye towards sustainability and social responsibility. Currently leading marketing for Exponent Partners, Colleen's experience includes roles in both for profit and nonprofit organizations, including Capital One, Intuit, and Net Impact. She volunteers extensively in her community and serves on the board of a local nonprofit organization, The Shanti Project. Exponent Partners is a mission-based technology consulting firm (and Benefit Corporation) that works exclusively with nonprofits to deliver Salesforce solutions for managing donors, fundraising, client cases, student data, and organizational outcomes.

Today Michael Barry schools us on the difference between preventive medicine and preventative. Representing one of the smallest specializations of the medical industry, the American College of Preventive Medicine boasts a membership making up about 50% of all physicians working in the field of preventive medicine. Unlike the traditional doctor you'd visit to treat an illness, the doctors working in preventive medicine work in a variety of sectors such as public health and policy and use their expertise to better the health of the general population. Tune in to learn more and hear about some of the lesser-known but wide-reaching implications of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Barry is the executive director of the American College of Preventive Medicine, the leading U.S.-based physician organization dedicated to prevention. He has nearly 30 years' experience in health-related, non-profit organizations, including ten years as chief staff executive at ACPM, where he oversees ACPM's operations, finances, governance, business development, and the broad array of educational and other programs and activities carried out by the College. ACPM supports efforts to improve the health of individuals and populations through evidence-based health promotion, disease prevention, lifestyle modification, and systems-based approaches to improving health and health care.

Today we sit down with Edgar Jimenez to continue our conversation about empowering individuals from communities that are underepresented in academia and various professions. Edgar Jimenez is the president of ALPHA, an all-volunteer organization that helps mentor and provide educational guidance to middle and high school kids as well as veterans and women, all while helping young professionals develop public speaking skills. While only 3% of television shows have a Latino character, the 400-500 members of ALPHA act as role-models of success for Latino children throughout the Washington area. Edgar Jimenez a technology professional working for an accounting Firm for almost 19 years supporting a financial services teams. I have also chaired the DC\VA Latino network to help increase Latino visibility, community service participation and recruitment into the Firm Our mission is to empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation in every sector of the global economy.

Today's guest is Jacob Harold of GuideStar, the organization some consider to be the "Bloomberg of Nonprofits." The nonprofit sector makes up fully 6% of the U.S economy and GuideStar has information on two million different nonprofits. Potential donors want to know if they are giving to an effective organization, but for too long donors and nonprofits have focused on overhead costs to analyze an organization's efficacy, while the real measure ought to be the results they produce. We are so inundated with data that it's exceptionally difficult to parse through and find the information that is relevant to make informed decisions and GuideStar is working to make that easier. Join us today for a great conversation with GuideStar's CEO Jacob Harold for a unique perspective and get some ideas to incorporate into your own business or nonprofit. Jacob Harold is President & CEO of GuideStar. He's worked as a grantmaker at the Hewlett and Packard foundations and a climate change campaigner at Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network. He is from Winston-Salem, NC and was educated at Duke and Stanford. GuideStar is the world's largest source of information about nonprofit organizations.

Today's Through the Noise is timely as we're joined by Alex Vidales of the Pilot Waves podcast to talk the benefits of podcasting, different techniques, and important upcoming events for the burgeoning podcasting community in the DC area. Hosting podcasts is an excellent way to grow and promote your business and meet people in your field. Similarly, networking with fellow podcasters is becoming more common and essential. In the Washington, DC area, there are two great upcoming opportunities to have a good time, meet other podcasters, learn new skills, and generate ideas. Don't miss the DC Podcast Shakedown on September 30 on International Podcast Day, or the first DC Podfest in November. Listen up for a great conversation and details. The Pilot Waves originated from Alex and Jason's commitment to providing local organizations with impactful and fulfilling value creation. We accomplish this through building and strengthening your ties to local communities, industries, artists and collectives. We can help you get your non-profits and local businesses started.

Latino lawyers make up just 3% of the national average and the Hispanic Bar Association of DC is working to increase that number by providing mentoring and networking between law students, lawyers, and judges throughout Washington, DC. The HBADC is an entirely volunteer-powered organization and many of it's members were the first in their families to graduate high school, college, and to become lawyers. They are driven to help provide opportunities to others in the community and devote a significant amout of time to pro bono with individauls and organizations, particularly around the issues of undocumented children. Join them for their next networking event with Salsa lessons at Cafe Citron on September 24. Juan Sempertegui grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and currently works with the State of Maryland's Division of Financial Regulation. He has been involved with various attorney associations and currently serves as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of DC The Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia ("HBA-DC"), founded in 1977, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional development of its membership, and to supporting the Hispanic community in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Should charities have the ultimate goal of putting themselves out of business? We broach this subject with many of our guests and as we sit down today with Michael Curtin of DC Central Kitchen, we get an unusual response. DC Central Kitchen does so much more than providing 11,000 meals a day to people and organizations around Washington, DC and it operates under the premise that any waste is bad -- whether food waste, the waste of human resources and unused minds, or empty underused kitchens. With an extensive training program that provides opportunities and possibillies to many disenfranchised people, including a large number of formerly incarcerated people, The Kitchen is helping end the cycle of poverty with a number of creative approaches. Tune in for some enligthtening and inspiring stories as we chat with Michael Curtin. Mike Curtin joined DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) in 2004 as the COO and has been the CEO since 2007. Under his leadership DCCK has experience dramatic growth with their social enterprise program's budget going from less than $500,000 in 2005 to over $7 million in 2014. As a result DCCK is able to offer a number of programs to the DC community including large meal delivery contracts, a school food program that provides 6000 locally-sourced, scratch-cooked meals at ten DC schools and a wholesale program that delivers fresh produce and healthy snacks to corner stores in Washington, DC food desserts. This growth has also allowed DCCK to employ 150 people, including 60 graduates of the Kitchen's Culinary Job Training Program which trains formerly incarcerated, addicted, homeless or chronically unemployed individuals. DC Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization working to fight poverty, hunger, and poor health through a number of innovative programs, including meal distribution and job training. DCCK mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities.

Soliciting donations from supporters is one of the main ways that charities and other nonprofits are able to accomplish their goals and today we speak with Ron Barrett who helps us navigate the complicated registration requirements so organizations can stay on the right side of the law. Keeping up with different registration laws across the U.S. can be a major barrier to entry for small orgnaizations or those just getting off the ground and today's conversation includes some extremely helpful resources you won't want to miss. Ron Barrett is the Vice President of Nonprofit Services at National Corporate Research, Ltd., ("NCR"), a professional registered agent company that provides nationwide corporate, secured transaction, business license, and nonprofit services. His responsibilities at NCR have included management of client service specialists and operational staff working with various state and federal agencies as well as product development. He joined NCR in 2008 when Capitol District Information, a provider of legal research, document retrieval and library services in Washington, D.C., was acquired by NCR. Established in 1980, National Corporate Research, Ltd.(NCR) is a professional registered agent company that provides nationwide corporate, secured transactions, business license, real property, court, agency and library services. We are qualified to act as registered agent in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and provide statutory representation services for tens of thousands of companies across the country. We also can act as registered agent in many other countries throughout the world.

Many nonprofit leaders and staff are adept in their cause and focused on their goals but lack the panache to make the essential "ask" of donors which will enable them to successfully continue their work. Derry Deringer has put background in tech sales to good use helping nonprofit leaders become more effective communicators and fundraisers.Learn some of secrets of the trade today and gain confidence in your own work as we engage in some good old-fashioned fundraising role-play. Derry is an independent fundraising consultant to nonprofits and a teacher at heart. He uses his whole bag of professional skills with each client. Derry has been a director and front line fundraiser with the United Nations, served as a sales manager for a .com company in the 90s and is a certified professional coach. Deringer Consulting, based in Alexandria, Virginia, helps nonprofits raise more money by taking the mystery out of philanthropy.

Most of us are familiar with the household names of Fortune 500 companies that represent billions of dollars in revenue but between the massive companies and the mom and pop shops are middle market companies that make it possible for many of these businesses to exist. Middle market companies are the major drivers of the U.S. economy, providing 26% of the jobs even though they only make up 1% of the businessess. Today we talk with Gary LaBrache, President and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth. ACG is the organization that connects the owners and investors of, and advisors to middle market companies in order to faciliate growth and acquisition. People come to ACG to "meet the people you need to know before you need to know them." Gary LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, is president and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). An association executive for 34 years, LaBranche is the author of more than 300 columns, podcasts, articles and book chapters on association management. He was the 2007 ASAE Key Award winner and the 2012 TRENDS Association Executive of the Year. Founded in 1954, ACG – "The Voice of the Middle Market" - serves 90,000 investors, lenders, executives and advisors to more than 25,000 of the world's fastest growing middle market companies.

We consistently explore the intersection of technology and communications on Through the Noise and today we had the chance to sit down with Marlene Wong who has been in the marketing business for 20 years. The past two decades have brought dramatic and unforeseen changes to the way we interact, find and share information, and conduct business. We discuss the changing landscape of Washington, DC, how technology has impacted the worlds of real estate and marketing, and possibilities for the future. Marlene Wong, Marketing Professional. Currently 20 years and counting at a locally-owned, renowned architecture firm. Been in DC since early 90's, transplanted from the Great White North with a detour over the Big Pond in London, where career in marketing started.

Grab a beer and join us for this raucous conversation with Josh Anton, founder of the app DrunkMode. If you've ever had a little -- or a lot -- too much to drink, you'll appreciate this innovation that can help you save face by locking your phone and preventing drunk dialing or calling. Built for almost nothing, the app now boasts 650,000 users, including 30% internationally and 12% in the United Kingdom alone. DrunkMode's success illustrates that what may seem to be a silly or an embarrassing problem for an individual can lead to brilliant solutions that impact people all over the world. Joshua Anton is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Drunk Mode. Joshua is currently enrolled in the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. He is also a graduate of Northern Virginia Community College (2012). Drunk Mode, LLC is a student run start-up established in October 2012 by Joshua Anton and Justin Washington, students at the University of Virginia. Drunk Mode, LLC is the child company of Launch, LLC. The mission of Launch, LLC is to develop technology related projects that launch people to their next stage in life, through motivation, offering awesome technology related tools and making knowledge more comprehensive and understandable.

For decades, nonprofits had a finite number way to communicate with their supporters but direct mail and other slower, paper-based methods of interaction are slowly fading with the consistent advent of new technologies. We talk with Lynn Labiniec, CEO of an Arlington, VA-based digital agency, Beaconfire RedEngine about past and emerging trends and creative ways that nonprofits can reach out and "harness the enthusiasm" of their supporters. Lynn is founder and CEO of Beaconfire RedEngine, leading a team of 40+ experts in digital strategy, analytics, marketing and web design and development. She has been working in the intersection of technology and philanthropy for going on 35 years now and continues to be amazed at both how much changes and how much stays the same. Beaconfire RedEngine is a full service digital agency, adept at the full range of user experience, technical development and digital marketing and engagement services. They are driving results for nonprofits and social enterprises like Feeding America, Special Olympics, ALS Association, American College of Cardiology, and Ocean Conservancy to name just a few.

All organizations and businesses need to communicate well in order to sell their mission or vision and today we speak with John Truran who makes this happen with the Keppler Speakers Bureau. If you're throwing a tremendous amount of resources, time, and money into hosting a meeting or conference, it's essential to have a keynote speaker that will inspire, impress, and energize your audience. Keppler Speakers Bureau is a booking agency representing compelling speakers that can bring your meeting to life and we had the opportunity to sit down with John Truran and discuss the ins and outs of the business. John Truran has been working with professional and celebrity speakers since the early 1980s when he joined Keppler Speakers bureau. With more than thirty years of experience in the meetings and events industry, he understands the speaking business from just about every angle, from marketing and sales to live event strategy to managing talent. John has spent his career observing up close how the power of storytelling can inspire audiences and take the event experience to the next level.From powerful connections that leave lasting impressions, to stories that take you around the world and even above it – that's Keppler Speakers. For over 30 years we've been leaving our mark on audiences with preeminent speakers whose expertise spans across business, world affairs, politics, entertainment, sports and leadership.

If the idea of running 87 marathons, including one in every state and on every continent sounds daunting, maybe you should leave that to Running Brooke whose impressive athleticism is raising money for the children of Alexandria. While many school systems have eliminated recess and gym in favor of studying for tests, children are suffering from a loss of physical activity built into their day, and the organization founded by Brooke Curran is working to counter this. By helping local kids access safe, fun, and reliable athletic activities, their chances of succeeding in school increase and everyone wins. Since May or 2009, Brooke Sydnor Curran has run 2, 253.2 marathon miles — covering all 7 continents, each of the 50 states and the 5 world marathon majors -- running over a marathon a month. She is the proud mom of three college-aged children and happily married to her husband Chris for 24 years. RunningBrooke goes the distance for at-risk children in Alexandria by funding innovative local charities and programs that help ensure young people in our community are healthy, active and ready to succeed in school and life. Since our founding in 2009, RunningBrooke has positively impacted the lives of over 3,000 at-risk children in Alexandria.

We talk with Victor Van Rees about his work with EFX Media in the ever-evolving world of communications. Even with long-standing relationships in the field of government contracting, persistence is an essential ingredient to securing future contracts. Join us for an inside perspective on working with a variety of federal agencies and hear some of his secrets to success that are applicable to anyone in any business. Victor Van Rees was previously an award-winning producer of TV spots, ESPN events, syndicated series, and home videos. Over the last two decades he has become a successful Sales and Marketing VP and senior account manager developing government and corporate video contracts. For over three decades, EFX Media has been a leader in video production and post-production, serving clients including ExxonMobil, AOL, CarFax, Sodexo, FreddieMac, SRA, BAE, General Dynamics, Price Waterhouse and dozens of association and government clients.

"You gave me my life back!" When that's a phrase consistently uttered by the people you serve, you know you're doing something wonderful. Today we had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Corcoran of the Eye Bank Association of America -- an organization with the mission of restoring sight to people who have lost, or are losing, their vision. While uniting and accrediting all Eye Banks across the U.S., the association has also been helping to set up similar facilities around the world. And no, their offices are not filled with eyeballs in little jars! Kevin Corcoran is an association executive who has spent most of his career helping to turn around struggling organizations. Now, as the CEO of the Eye Bank Association of America, he's working to give individuals a second chance at life by restoring their sight. The members of the Eye Bank Association of America restore the sight of over 75,000 people each year through corneal transplantation.

As Tom Beers points out, not all economists are academics. Business economists work for companies, helping them navigate the complexities of the world economy. Comparing the members of his organization to investigators rather than grey-bearded old men teaching college students academic theory, they are immersed in analyzing and interpreting the socio-political events that shape our world. And if you are you an economist, you definitely won't want to miss NABE's Annual Meeting in October, the "Woodstock for Economists." Tom Beers is the executive director of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), a Washington-based professional association comprised of nearly 3,000 business economists and those who use economics in their professional practice. Prior to taking the reins at NABE in 2009, Beers was himself a business economist, serving as the chief economist and vice president of housing finance of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) in Arlington, Virginia.

On Through the Noise, we talk to many nonprofits that depend on the goodwill of the community to donate their time and skills in order to thrive. Volunteer Alexandria is the go-to organization to match your experience, availability, and goals with a nonprofit in Alexandria that would greatly benefit from your assistance. Volunteering is not only a wonderful way to meet like-minded people, it's an excellent team-builder for organizations and businesses of all sizes looking to give back to the community. Marion, a native of Germany and a social worker by trade, has been the Executive Director, at Volunteer Alexandria since 2012 and she has been involved in the Washington, D.C. non-profit arena for over 17 years, working with communities, nonprofit and government agencies, and volunteers. Previously, she served for eight years as the Employee Engagement Manager at Freddie Mac. Volunteer Alexandria, a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization since 1980, serves as a link between individual and group volunteers and area nonprofit organizations. They work in partnership with businesses, associations, other nonprofits, and local government to inspire people to volunteer, and to engage volunteers, six years and older, in activities that strengthen our community. Their vision is that all Alexandrians are engaged to make a difference in our community and their mission is to build a better community by inspiring and mobilizing people to volunteer.

Today we sit down with Shannon Steene of Carpenter's Shelter and discuss causes of and solutions to homelessness and the concept of "powered by community." Like many organizations servicing those on the edge of poverty or homeless, Carpenter's Shelter relies heavily on a vast network of volunteers which fill a number of essential roles including security and cooking and serving three meals a day, 365 days a year. The organization works to end the "band-aid" phase by empowering people with the skills necessary to return to permanent housing and a firm place in the community. Shannon Steene is the Executive Director of Carpenter's Shelter in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to his role, having worked at local, regional and national nonprofits. The Carpenter's Shelter offers Alexandria's homeless the shelter and support to stabilize and transition back into independent living in the community.

Continuing our conversation on poverty eradication efforts from episode #87*, this week we sat down with George Jones, CEO of Bread for the City. During Mr. Jones' 20-year tenure at the helm of Bread for the City, the organization's budget has increased fivefold, as demand for its services continues to grow. BFC employs a ground-up approach to research and outreach by empowering a number of their clients to serve on their board -- enabling them to use their real life experience to help others. Though Bread for the City has a staff of 100, it also relies on the generous donations of time and money from individuals and businesses around the region. George A. Jones has been Chief Executive Officer of Bread for the City since January 2, 1996. He is responsible for managing all administrative, financial, and programmatic aspects of the organization and its 100 full time staff. Mr. Jones has led Bread for the City's growth from a $1.2 million operation in 1996 to a $10.6 million operation in 2014. In 2015, Georgetown University recognized Mr. Jones as a local leader working to solve some of the city's most pressing challenges and honored him with the John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award. The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. *Don't miss Episode #87 when we talked with Amy Kurz of Martha's Table, an organization that partners with Bread for the City in the fight against hunger in our nation's capital.

Eating healthy is difficult enough for most. But for some, they need help. Whether it be financial or education, there is a solution. Amy Kurz is the COO of Martha's Table, where she leads administrative and business functions for the organization. Previously, Amy held a variety of positions at the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington. She is the board chair of Young Playwrights' Theater and lives in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC. For 35 years, Martha's Table has worked to build a better future for children, their families and neighbors in the District of Columbia by increasing access to healthy starts, healthy eating and healthy connections.

John Trybus, APR is the director of Georgetown University's Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC), the nation's leading educational resource on the role communication plays in advancing social change. His social impact experience spans organizations, industries and sectors having worked for chimpanzee expert Dr. Jane Goodall, the British Embassy and Waggener Edstrom Worldwide on behalf of clients like Tiffany & Co., L'Oreal Paris, Coca-Cola, Women for Women International, CARE and others. The Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC) at Georgetown University is the nation's leading educational resource on the role of communication in fostering social change; it shares its research and custom workshops and consulting offering with both master's level students and practitioners in the social impact space.

Bryan is founder and Managing Partner of Whistle Stop Digital (WSD), leading a team in devising and implementing digital strategy for issue advocacy and PAC campaigns. The goal is always the same; Using a mix of both traditional and innovative tactics, the team works to bolster online communities, build trust in the campaign's efforts and empower stakeholders into action. Whistle Stop Digital is a digital strategy and software firm founded on the idea that issue advocacy, politics and marketing are all converging. WSD's software platform gives organizations the tools they need to address this changing landscape, allowing them to quickly and easily identify influencers, empower stakeholders, reach decision makers and affect change.

Joan Parker is a true believer in the power of communities to create solutions to even their most vexing challenges. She joined Counterpart International as CEO in 2010 and hasn't looked back: across 27 countries, the team is coaching 3,500 organizations and transforming as many communities in terms of health, nutrition, education, good governance, and more. The Counterpart Network partners with social investors who strengthen local communities' leaders and organizations – solution creators who build inclusive and durable futures in which their people thrive.

Dan Handerson from CIT Gap Funds introduced us to Shy Pahlevani in Episode #78, as part of our new segment called The Chain. CIT Gap Funds awarded Shy's company with an investment grant to continue growing this two-way communicaton mobile app used by universities to maintain campus safety and help students report suspicious activity. A victim of crime himself, Shy Pahlevani understands the magnitude of an emergency situation and the need for technology that prevents crime and ensures safety. As Founder of LiveSafe, Shy executes the company's day-to-day affairs and ensures the success and reliability of the company's products. LiveSafe technology empowers effective safety-related communication via a campus safety app linked to a cloud-based command dashboard.

Over a million people worldwide have Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. This alliance of organizations is looking to eradicate this disease. Lisa joined the TS Alliance in 2012 but her original introduction to the organization was in 2006 when her son was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). In her current role at the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance she works closely with both private and corporate donors and she maintains her focus on helping the TSC community she is very much a part of by raising the funds to support research and programs for families and individuals with TSC. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance is dedicated to finding a cure for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) while improving the lives of those affected. TSC is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in vital organs and is the leading known genetic cause for both epilepsy and autism."

How do you seperate yourself when you are competing with everyone around the world? And how do you navigate yourself through all the "research" that's available online? How can you seperate the real scientists from all the rest? Chris Abraham is a leading expert in digital: online reputation management (ORM), Internet privacy, social media marketing, and digital PR with a focus on blogger outreach, blogger engagement, and Internet crisis response. After growing up in Hawaii, Chris moved to the DC area almost 27-years ago, though he has detoured through the UK, Berlin, and Portland before returning to his home in Washington. Chris has been volunteering with local homeless kitchen, Miriam's Kitchen, for over five years. Gerris is a virtual digital agency, bringing together some of the best global partners in online engagement, influencer marketing, blogger outreach, social media marketing, search engine marketing, online reputation management, content marketing, digital PR, training, and strategy. Our low overhead allows us to gladly serve startups, publishing, nonprofits, and associations.

A foundation is a non profit that grants money to other organizations. There are both private foundations and public foundations. But why do they do this? Allison Carney is the community manager for the Council on Foundations, where she is responsible for launching and growing their online member community. Previously, she worked with all types of nonprofits developing their communications strategies. She lives in DC with her wife and two overweight pets. The Council on Foundations is the largest membership organization of independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations in the United States and abroad.

There comes a point in everyone's life where they must discuss the L word: Life Insurance. Today's generation is the first to have a future possible without a pension and with staggered paychecks. They must be looking for alternate solutions for the future. Jason Howell is a former U.S. Congressional candidate with over 20 years experience in finance. He now focuses his talents on financial planning for the "first generation". A Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, New York Life is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies. Headquartered in New York City, their family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments provides institutional asset management and retirement plan services. Their other affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds.

Today's startup world has many more resources at its disposible then ever before. After friends and family there are accelerators, seed investors, kickstart, and angel investors. Dan joined CIT GAP Funds in 2013 and is responsible for deal sourcing, due diligence, deal structuring, and investing. He comes to the GAP Funds with 18 years of experience driving growth in software and technology companies, and over the past 13 years has been a founder or early employee at four technology startups. CIT GAP Funds is a family of seed- and early-stage investment funds placing equity investments in Virginia-based technology, life sciences, and cleantech companies.

Until 1972, this wasn't an issue for nonprofits. Before then, they were exempt. However, now nonprofits have two options. They can stay in the state tax system or they can turn to UST for help. As the Executive Director of UST, Donna Groh is responsible for the effective management of the Trust and manages relationships between UST, its service providers and its partners to assure the Trust is meeting the needs of its members. Groh has broad experience in not-for-profit organizations, associations and healthcare. Donna was the Executive Director of Toastmasters International where during her tenure the international membership grew by 50% and their net assets doubled. Prior to that, she served as Director of Operations & Business Development for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Previously, Groh was Vice President/COO of the Irvine Medical Center and Regional Hospital. She has a BS and Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and has completed coursework for an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. UST's purpose is to help nonprofit organizations manage and reduce their unemployment costs, while also helping remove back-office burden and paperwork, so they have more time and more money for their missions.

The pen truly is mightier then the sword. Writing is a powerful art when done correctly. Grant writing for example has the power to raise money for non profits that are in need of grants. Katherine Metres is the president of her company Your Edge for Success (YES) LLC, which provides award-winning writing to get you to YES. Katherine is a former executive director and U.S. diplomat who has won $3M for grant projects she developed and wrote. Your Edge for Success (YES), DC's top-rated writing services company on Yelp, provides the services of a team that has won over $470 million in grant funding.

Puppies and paintbrushes: therapy comes in many forms. This project offers active duty and military veterans a safe space to access art supplies that they can use to express themselves. It also offers a space to meet others with shared experiences and begin or continue the healing process from trauma. Kristin Beck is the subject of a CNN documentary called "Lady Valor" which shows the dichotomy of a Navy SEAL and a transgender journey. The documentary is can be seen on NETFLIX. She is running for Congress in Maryland's 5th Congressional District. You can follow her on Twitter @theladyvalor The 296 Project mission is to promote, fund, and support Art and Expressive Therapies (painting, ceramics, writing, music, etc) as a viable way to heal from trauma or traumatic brain injury.

Face to face fundraising is still the most effective form of fundraising. Telling a story about how the funds are needed and how they will be used are important elements in the art of fundraising for associations, not to be left out in the age of social media. John H. Graham has been the President and CEO of ASAE since 2003, and he has been involved in associations for more than 40 years. He previously served as CEO of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for 13 years and worked for a total of 24 years at ADA. ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 9,300 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world.

For years many have been working to help those in the Ukraine and other countries that are in need of medical supplies and more. They have been working to help over 59 different foreign countries. John L. Kachelman, Jr. is Chairman of the Advisory Committee of PartnerSHIP for Impact, and President of Life Resources International, where he has coordinated humanitarian efforts in 23 countries. Lecturer and author of more than 20 books, John is most proud of being "Pop" to seven grandchildren. PartnerSHIP for Impact is the network of networks, working with thousands of volunteers in the U.S. and around the world to ship donated, emergency supplies to people most in need.

The way we communicate is constantly changing. Where were podcasts five years ago? Today we live in a data driven world. This has revolutionalized the way we communicate. Leigh Kessler mixes more than 10 years of agency and client-side branding and qualitative research for some of the best known brands in the world including Microsoft, McKinsey and Co. Johnson & Johnson, GE, Democracy Corps, Kraft, TUMS, For Eyes Optical, Broadway, and the NY Department of Health, with consumer insight "field work" in the trenches of the stand-up world where he spent 7 years headlining for audiences across America and appearing on numerous TV shows including VH1's "Best Week Ever", CNN's "Showbiz Tonight", Discovery Channel & on Sirius Radio. CharityEngine's "One Platform. One CRM. One Support Team." solution gives nonprofits more control over the technology behind their online fundraising, communications, events & donor management.

Once upon a time development was a pretty small universe in terms of who was working in it. Now major companies and billionaires are starting to invest and donate to development around the world. Alan Robbins is Partner and Global Head of Membership & Alliances for Devex. He was a member of the team that started Devex and is working closely with organizations through innovative partnerships as they look to navigate the rapidly changing international development landscape. Devex is the media platform for the global development community. It is a social enterprise connecting and informing 600,000+ development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so they can do more good for more people.