Association Headquarters

History

Association Headquarters, Inc. (AH) started in a one-bedroom apartment in Moorestown, N.J., in 1978, but the dream began long before that. AH Chief Executive Officer Bill MacMillan had long known about association management companies (AMCs), having watched his father work in the industry for many years. After serving in the U.S. Navy, MacMillan decided to pursue a career in association management. In the early 1970s, MacMillan became a partner at a local AMC. After several years, MacMillan left the partnership and began AH.

In the beginning, the company had only five employees. The one-bedroom apartment housed a mailing machine in the kitchen while a copy machine sat in the common basement of the apartment building. AH had only a few associations to manage. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the Pencil Makers Association (PMA), which eventually merged with the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA), were among the early client partners.

The next year, AH moved behind the building where the apartment was housed and occupied its first office space in what used to be the parking facilities for Moorestown Township’s trash trucks. 

Over the next decade AH grew slowly but steadily, adding a few association client partners, but mostly organically through the growth of its original clients. As the needs for its clients partners grew, so did the company. In 1987, an energized Bob Waller entered the equation. Over the next 10 years, Waller worked closely with MacMillan to create a bustling work atmosphere and in 1998 he became president of AH.

In 2000, AH acquired the medical association management division of Slack Inc. because MacMillan and Waller decided it was time to broaden the AH horizon. Up until this point, AH carved a niche for itself by only managing trade and business associations. With the help of an already experienced and well respected staff, AH became home to a few medical associations.

With the number of employees rapidly increasing, AH management was pleased with the growth. “AH is interested in continued growth,” said MacMillan. “We like selecting a few new client partners each year with the right mix of culture and objectives. The growth we are experiencing is beneficial for our current client partners because it allows us to increase our professionalism regarding specialty services and operational efficiencies.”

From 2000 to 2005 AH truly expanded at a spectacular rate, outgrowing office space one after the next. The company’s most recent move occurred in January 2005.

In 2006, AH was reaccredited by the AMC Institute (formerly the International Association of Association Management Companies) and the American Society of Association Executives. This accreditation distinguishes AH even further as a leader in the field of association management companies. Recognition as a professionally accredited AMC ensures AH houses expert staff and best practice systems uniquely qualified to propel client partners forward.