Speaker:

AMS Fest Webinar: Cimatri: So, You Need an AMS—

Choosing a new association management system (AMS) is one of the most consequential decisions your organization will make—but it’s rarely just about the technology. In this session, “So, You Need an AMS: Straight Talk on Using the RFP Process to Make a Confident Decision Without Losing Your Mind,” Senior Consultant Laura Armstrong will walk you through a practical, candid approach to AMS selection that treats it as an organizational decision, not an IT project. You’ll explore what a well-run selection process actually looks like, how to get honest about your readiness and priorities before you ever talk to a vendor, and how to use the RFP, demos, and stakeholder input to create organizational confidence in the final choice.

Whether you’re just starting to think about a new AMS, already in RFP, or evaluating finalists, you’ll leave with tools, language, and real-world scenarios you can use immediately to structure your process, manage internal politics, and engage vendors more effectively.

• Reframe AMS selection as an organizational decision driven by people, politics, and priorities—not just IT.
• Clarify their true reasons for seeking a new AMS, the “cost of inaction,” and their non‑negotiable “Big Five” priorities.
• Outline a realistic AMS selection process (discovery, requirements, RFP, demos, decision) with appropriate timeline and staff effort.
• Craft a focused RFP and demo approach that uses real organizational scenarios and asks vendors how they will actually deliver key requirements.
• Ask better vendor questions that surface implementation risks, support realities, and cultural fit so the organization can choose with confidence.

Who should attend

For association CEOs, COOs, CIOs, and membership/IT leaders

You will learn

• Realistic timelines
• Common pitfalls
• How to set expectations with your board

Date: August 11, 2026
Time:1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (ET)

RSVP
This is a complimentary event; please RSVP using the form to the right.