Technology is a powerful foundation for any AMS implementation—but it’s the people who turn that foundation into real results. The most successful projects happen when your team’s institutional knowledge and your vendor’s technical expertise come together as a true partnership, working in sync toward the same goals.
In our first post in this series, Kristina Jakstas, re:Members’ VP of Professional Services, guided us through the period between contract signing and project kick-off. Now, let’s talk about something equally important: building your team and understanding how re:Members’ team works alongside you every step of the way.
Meet Kristina Jakstas, Vice President of Professional Services at re:Members and your personal guide through the AMS implementation . With experience in tech startups, nonprofits, and associations, Kristina understands implementation from multiple perspectives. She’s here to show you how preparation and partnership transform implementation from a source of dread into an opportunity for growth.
An AMS implementation team is a cross-functional group that brings together your association’s subject matter experts and your vendor’s technical specialists to make your software launch successful.
Get the right people involved from the start. When colleagues help figure out what the system needs to do, they’re more likely to become AMS champions.
Don’t worry if you can’t assign each role to a separate team member. “These aren’t all necessarily different people,” says Kristina. “Roles might overlap, depending on the size and shape of your association. As long as someone covers all these functions.”
How do you know your team is set up for success? Look for these positive signs.
On the flip side, watch for these alarm bells.
Inevitably, someone will say, “I don’t have time for this.” Adding an AMS project to already full plates can feel overwhelming. Try one of these approaches.
When someone says they don’t have time, get to the root of the problem: “This week or in general?”
Sometimes you just need flexibility. “This is a team effort. Do we need to adjust? Can we work around your calendar?”
Other times, you need to reconnect the project to the bigger picture. “Help them see the larger impact of improving a process, doing testing, or implementing the AMS,” Kristina advises. “Put it in perspective. Remind them of the shared goals and outcomes of the project.”
When association staff are already stretched thin, going on autopilot is natural. But that’s exactly when processes and decisions don’t get the thoughtfulness they deserve.
“We want to help take the mental load off you so you can think clearly about your business, processes, and needs,” says Kristina.
That said, we need balance. Sometimes team members phone it in because they’re wearing too many hats. “We want you to instead be thoughtful and think critically. We need you to be the association expert and partner who can focus and make the right decisions.”
What does being on the implementation team actually look like?
“In weekly status meetings, we walk you through deliverables so you know what’s expected. For example, we do most of the configuration, but testing is a shared responsibility,” Kristina explains. Expect decision-making at key milestones throughout the project, such as finalizing workflows, approving configurations, and signing off on testing.
Knowing how much time to block out reduces stress and uncertainty.
“We give you ranges for the amount of time you’ll need to spend on the project each week,” Kristina says. We base these estimates on our experience with similar organizations. For example, an association with a complex membership structure might be concerned about the time they’ll need for testing. “Because we configured something similar for two other clients, we find out how much time they spent on testing and share that with the client.”
Being part of an AMS implementation team can be a career accelerator.
Kristina’s own career path illustrates this point.
She started in tech startups and nonprofit fundraising before moving into associations. Her experience working with databases and implementing software as a membership manager opened doors for her.
“I could point to that on my resume,” she says. “I learned how to tie my work to outcomes and metrics, and proved I could make things happen.”
Implementation experience is a resume builder. You learn to manage complex projects, become your organization’s internal technology expert, and develop skills that transfer across industries.
Remember the “we’ve got you” philosophy we talked about in the first post? Now for what it looks like in practice.
“Naturally, associations don’t know what to do or where to begin, but you’re supported by our safety net. We’ll do the configurations and guide you through the process so you can take that mental load off.”
The surprising aspect of Kristina’s role is how much she thinks about risk, but not the way you might expect.
“We talk and think about risks all the time. It’s important to get fears and concerns out on the table and address them,” says Kristina. “My job is to see around corners, anticipate risks, and think six steps ahead. I don’t see this as negative. We’re proactively getting ahead of things.”
Your association team doesn’t need to know everything or do everything just right. That’s what our partnership is for—we’ve got you.
In our next post, we’ll talk with a re:Members project manager about planning your association’s implementation success. You’ll get an inside look at how they think about your project and what makes the difference between a smooth implementation and a rocky one.
