Association Guidance

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Event Planning
Event Registration
Association Guidance
Trade Show 3

Welcome to Association Guidance

Mission Statement
Info on the President

Founded in 1993, in Lansing, Michigan, our success as a company depends on understanding the needs of each client and meeting those needs the first time and every time, by:

...adhering to flawless business ethics and sound business practices, and

...by striving to be the standard of excellence by which others in our industry are measured.

Let us help your organization ACHIEVE its' objectives!

At Association Guidance we are veterans in providing management expertise and specialized administrative services to non-profit organizations in a professional cost-effective manner. We understand that every association is different. Each has different needs, ideas and goals. Whatever your membership or budget size, we can help!

Denise McGinn, CAE, is the co-founder and co-owner of Association Guidance, a multi-client association management firm. The firm was founded in 1993. Her services have been retained for the past 21 years by the 501 (c) 3 non-profit, Michigan Safety Conference, that hosts 2,500 attendees over 2 days, and includes 200 exhibiting firms annually, along with a planning committee of over 170 individuals.

Association Guidance is also the contracted event planner for the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, located in Livonia MI, as well as trade show managers for the Michigan Horse Council Stallion Expo. The firm also provides registration services for groups like the Great Lakes Ice Cream & Fast Food Association, planning services for the HALT Golf Outing, and more.

Denise is a 1995 graduate of the six year Institute for Organizational Management, Notre Dame University, where course study focused on management of non-profit organizations. She received the status of Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives in 1997, and was re-certified in 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 . Denise has served as Executive Director for the Associated Builders and Contractors-Central Michigan Chapter, the American Planning Association-Michigan Chapter, the Michigan Forestry and Park Association, and currently the Michigan Safety Conference.

Her background includes over 30 years in the non-profit trade association field, including employment with the Michigan Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association and the Michigan Dental Association.

She has been a member of the Michigan Society of Association Executives since 1989, and has served on and chaired many committees and task forces. She currently serves on the MSAE membership committee, is a proctor for the CAE exam, and has been a volunteer instructor for MSAE's Academy of Association Management. She was the 2010 Chairperson for ORGPRO. She is also a member of the Michigan Non Profit Association, and the Society of Government Meeting Professionals Michigan Chapter.

She is a public speaker and author in the areas of leadership development, strategic planning, event registration, conference and meeting planning, goal setting, and personal organizational skills.

About Association Guidance:

At Association Guidance we are veterans in providing management expertise and specialized administrative services to non-profit organizations in a professional cost-effective manner. We understand that every association is different. Each has different needs, ideas and goals. Whatever your membership or budget size, we can help!