LEADERSHIP, PLATFORMS & PURPOSE: THE ACADIA BAY BLOG

Slow Growth, Strong Roots When I started Acadia Bay, I did not set out to build a large company. I wanted to serve a small number of customers we knew well and could support deeply. What still surprises me is that many of those early customers are still with us today. Over time, I realized we had built something special. We had become very good at what we do, particularly within the association space. That realization made me want to grow, but only if that growth could be don

Cutting the Noise When you are running a business and a household, there is no room for noise. By noise, I mean the distracting, low value tasks that consume time but do not actually move anything forward. I learned early on that I cannot do everything well if I am trying to do everything at once. Instead, I focus on improving one area of Acadia Bay at a time. Some weeks that means marketing materials. Other weeks it is sales, hiring, or customer check-ins. The goal is not to

Time Is a Myth My day does not look like a 9 to 5. It really has not since I left my last cubicle in 2017. I get up with my two little girls because I have learned that maximizing sleep matters more than maximizing hours. Instead of rushing into work, mornings are about them. Diapers, getting dressed, breakfast, cleanup, and settling into play usually take a couple of hours before I am ready to open my laptop. That is when I sneak in my first window of work. Emails, Slack, Li

AI for Associations Does Not Have to Be Abstract I often get asked how to best leverage AI in an association context. Many leaders are interested but unsure where to start or whether AI is realistic for their organization. The good news is that AI does not need to be all or nothing. When applied thoughtfully, it can solve very real problems associations already face. Here are four practical ways AI can add value today. Help Members Find What They Need Many associations sit on

Why Executive Involvement Matters One of the most successful implementations I’ve been part of involved a large association where the CIO and Director of IT were deeply involved. That executive engagement made a measurable difference in both momentum and outcomes. Two things stood out immediately. First, communication was consistent and multi-level. Executives spoke directly to department heads, who then briefed their teams. At the same time, the IT team shared formal updates

When Familiar Turns Into Friction There comes a point in the life of every enterprise system where familiar turns into friction. You feel it when a simple change takes weeks, or when staff quietly avoid the system because it feels cumbersome or unreliable. That moment is often the right time to pause and ask whether your CRM still supports your strategy. The signals I see most often include: Simple changes are no longer simple, such as adding a data point, adjusting a dues ca

Salesforce Does Not Have to Feel Overwhelming I've been working Salesforce for over 16 years, and the biggest complaint I hear is how confusing the system can be for a new user. A Salesforce-based AMS is incredibly powerful, but without thoughtful setup, it can feel noisy and intimidating. Here are three quick tips I regularly give teams to simplify the Salesforce AMS user experience. 1. Create Custom Apps for Different Teams Every Salesforce org comes with pre-configured App

Implementation Is Just the Beginning Many associations don't realize that the implementation of a new AMS is just the beginning. Once you're live, who’s going to support it? Support doesn’t just mean fixing bugs. It means keeping the system clean, managing permission changes, adjusting reports, enhancing functionality, solving data issues, integrating with new systems, training new staff, and answering user questions. In short, it means keeping everything running so your team

Change Is No Longer Optional It’s getting harder to deny it: everything is changing more rapidly with each passing day. AI continues to evolve, highly skilled professionals are openly searching for new opportunities, and technology that felt modern five years ago now feels clunky and out of touch. Attention spans have shortened, expectations have shifted, and the pace isn’t slowing down. Why Change Feels So Hard for Associations and Nonprofits For organizations, especially no

Hiring Is Only the Beginning Hiring the right people is only half the equation. Once they’re here, I have to help them thrive. From my perspective, that starts with clarity: clear expectations, strong documentation, and open communication. Nobody should have to guess where they stand or what success looks like. Clarity Creates Confidence I believe deeply in setting people up for success. That means giving my team reliable systems, defined processes, and the space to grow. If

Hiring well is one of the most important decisions a business owner makes. While technical skills matter, they’re only the starting point. At Acadia Bay, I look for curiosity, flexibility, professionalism, and a solution-oriented mindset. These qualities allow a team to adapt, support one another, and build trust with clients. When you hire for how people think and show up, not just what they know, you can build a team that grows stronger over time.

Running a business while raising two small kids means choosing what matters. Here’s why I’m growing Acadia Bay slowly, intentionally, and without burnout.

Growing a business means learning when to step back. Here’s how trusting my team, and hiring the right support, changed the way I lead and the future of Acadia Bay.

A lesson from my first year in business: in time-and-materials work, trust matters more than hours. Clear communication and generosity shape long-term partnerships.