To avoid falling into old habits, we fast-forward to the future—learning how to be future-ready. With dynamic speakers Kristine Metter and Peggy Hoffman leading the conversation, CEX kicks off with the session What Does the Future Hold for Components? 

Metter opens by asking CRPs what changes they’re already noticing in member engagement, retention, volunteerism, and more—and what they believe is driving these shifts. As CRPs share their experiences and connect with peers, we return to Metter to reflect on how preparation and adaptation are shaping results. 

So, what are some of the newfound challenges for Components? In a word: convenience. Members are no longer adjusting to an organization’s schedule—instead, they’re asking how the organization fits into their lives. If opportunities for engagement or events aren’t available when it’s most convenient, members will simply move on. 

But don’t call it a day just yet—there’s hope. The organizational approach is outdated. The future is all about the people approach. That means: 

• Career Stage over Generations: It’s not just about generational differences anymore. It’s about where someone is in their career and what they want to achieve. 

• Intangible vs. Tangible: Contribution and collaboration may be intangible, but they lead to tangible results. 

• Flexible & Digital: Flexibility stems from digital innovation. Digital tools create convenience and connection. 

• Shorter Ladders: Think automation tools vs. generative AI. There’s a difference—and people want to engage early on. 

• Empowerment & Ownership: Today’s professionals want involvement from the start. They don’t want to wait for permission. 

• Nonlinear Careers: Just because someone started down one path doesn’t mean they’ll stay on it. Zigzags are not just okay—they’re often beneficial. 

And here’s the secret ingredient: An open-minded association—one that welcomes flexibility, innovation, and early engagement—will always attract more people than a perfectly polished but rigid structure. A new generation is entering the workforce, and you might be surprised at just how eager they are to get involved. With the offering of engagement and opportunities on Day 1, you will see a substantial growth in your association. 

In short, the future of Components lies in embracing flexibility, digital convenience, and a people-first mindset. As member expectations evolve, success depends on meeting professionals where they are—offering opportunities that align with their career stage, supporting early involvement, and welcoming nonlinear journeys. Associations that adapt and empower from the start won’t just keep up—they’ll lead the way.

Building on the momentum of the opening session, tech expert and fan-favorite Beth Z took the stage to present Harnessing AI & Tech: Empowering Chapters and Volunteers. Some of these tools presented just came out. Here are the newly created tools discussed in the session: 

• Otter AI (Summarization and Notetaking) 

• SketchWow (Sketch Visualizer) 

• Perplexity AI (The Next Google) 

• You.com (Deep Research Tool) 

• Google NotebookLM (Summarization and Notetaking) 

• Eleven Labs (Voice Generator) 

She provided a deeper exploration of each tool, highlighting their advantages, the convenience they offer, and the overall sense of ease they bring to everyday tasks—but she also emphasized the potential for misuse. For instance, Eleven Labs enables users to speak into the platform and have their voice translated into another language using a cloned voice. However, as Beth pointed out, “bad guys” are also upping their game, with the ability to clone voices and use them maliciously. Armed with this newfound knowledge of emerging AI technologies, CRP attendees gained an early advantage in evaluating how these tools might benefit—and challenge—their associations. 

Traditional surveys ask too many irrelevant questions at the wrong time–so how do you know which post event survey question to ask?

If you want to hear detailed feedback about your event marketing campaigns or registration process, automatically send those questions right after they register. After the event, nobody will remember or care. They’ve moved on.

Your event app can help you capture attendee feedback about session content and presenters—useful information for your education team. This data helps them understand:

• Which presenters to invite back or not
• Who promoted their products/services despite your instructions
• Which sessions were lectures and which involved attendees interacting and learning together

To enable all staff members to access and use your event app data, make sure it is integrated with your AMS. Impexium makes integrations with third-party systems easy by offering built-in baseline connectors, robust APIs, and certified Power Automate Connectors.

During the conference, ask for feedback about food and beverage, venue, and other logistics so you can resolve issues in the moment. Unless you’re returning to the same venue within a year, there’s no point wasting your attendees’ time by asking these questions in a post event survey.