Association Headquarters

Supporting Local Chapters

Supporting Local Chapters Helps Strengthen
Product Development and Management Association

When Association Headquarters took over management of the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), it was entrusted with the goal of growing association membership.

PDMA is the foremost global advocate for product development and management professionals and is composed primarily of in-house and product development consultants as well as academic and student members. Members join PDMA primarily to share knowledge of best practices, access educational programs and network. This is achieved for the most part through local chapters.

Although the association has always maintained an active network of local chapters across the country, the chapters were previously plagued by inconsistent financial and operational practices, in addition to a lack of resources and support.

In order to remedy these issues and help grow the membership further, AH recognized the need for a dedicated staff person to assist chapter leaders and standardize chapter operations.

Chapters Receive Dedicated Support
By establishing a staff member who works solely with chapter leaders to help support them in operating their chapters, PDMA was able to ensure chapters were being run more efficiently. Because chapters are run primarily by volunteers, it was important to put procedures in place to mainstream practices and eliminate time-consuming and confusing procedures.

When AH first took over, it was not clear who was supposed to receive financial information. Some records were being sent to an accounting firm while chapter leaders were sending stacks of receipts to headquarters. In order to simplify the process, AH created standardized financial expense forms for all chapters.

Formerly PDMA’s chapters were trying to run their own mini associations without the benefit of money or staff support, and they were overwhelmed by administrative tasks. Now in addition to having the equivalent of one-and-a-half full time personnel dedicated to serving their needs, chapters also receive a portion of the association’s local dues which help pay for things such as activities and services.

Revenue Sharing Assists Chapters’ Growth
PDMA gave back about $25,000 in dues to chapters in the first half of 2007.

Chapters now have an incentive to grow their membership because they receive money based on the number of members they have. Previously they raised money from event fees, which were higher for non-members so it did not pay for them to recruit new members.

To help spur chapter growth, AH also made PDMA membership materials including membership brochures, fliers for programs, calendar of events, and certification details available on the PDMA Web site for chapter use. AH also made a duplicate exhibit booth for chapters to use to recruit members at local events.

Instead of worrying about administrative tasks, chapter leaders are now able to concentrate on providing resources to their members, organizing educational events and conferences as well as building membership.

As a result of the added assistance chapter leaders have received from PDMA they have been able to offer more relevant educational and networking opportunities at the local level. In addition PDMA has seen growth with several new chapters springing up in these cities: Peoria, Illinois; Tampa, Florida; and Los Angeles, California.