Josh Linkner to Open 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting

March 24, 2015

ASAE is expecting nearly 5,500 nonprofit and association professionals to come together August 8–11 for the 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, which will be held at Detroit’s newly renovated Cobo Center. ASAE launched on March 23 its 2015 Annual Meeting & Exposition website, which includes information on the speakers, more than 120 education sessions, registration, hotels and events.

Josh Linkner, a business leader, venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur and author, will discuss in his opening address on August 9 a systematic process he discovered that increases creativity and produces results. Attendees will walk away with practical tools they can use in their own organizations to help deliver bottom-line results.

Sherry Turkle, a professor, author, consultant, researcher and licensed clinical psychologist, will explore in the closing general session on August 11 how technology is impacting our social interaction and the cost it has on our personal and work lives. She also will cover the importance of face-to-face conversations.

New this year, ASAE is offering an Executive Leadership Program, Aspiring CEOs programming, a pre-conference focusing on achieving global growth, and Detroit EduTours.

The three Game Changer sessions are presented by influential leaders in business and innovation. They include:

Sheryl Connelly, who leads Global Consumer Trends and Futuring for the Ford Motor Company.
Alex Sheen, Founder of because I said I would, a global nonprofit and social movement.
Liz Wiseman, President of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm.

“As association professionals, we are looking at how trends will impact our organization and how to create new ideas,” said ASAE President & CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE. “Linkner and Turkle are strategic thinkers who will give attendees insight on how to cultivate fresh thinking into an organization and how technology is impacting our lives. All the education sessions will provide participants with ideas they can take back to their organization.”

For this year’s community service project, ASAE is working with Alternatives For Girls, which helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation. Participants will have an opportunity to read and make bookmarks with the girls, tour the facility and pack hygiene kits.