This May more than 100 Component Relations Professionals (CRPs) gathered for the only event dedicated to CRPs — CEX, The Association Component Exchange. Hosted by Billhighway (Impexium’s parent company), Impexium, and Mariner Management & Marketing, this year there was not just one, but two events held in Chicago and Washington, D.C. + virtually.
CEX successfully provided a platform for CRPs to learn, collaborate, and innovate. The conference emphasized the importance of embracing change and provided attendees with the tools and knowledge to drive meaningful transformations within their organizations.
Diana Lee Tucker, CAE, COO at the Design-Build Institute of America is no stranger to the event. She made a point to attend past CEX events in her previous role as Vice President for Membership and Chapter Relations at NAIOP. She understands the value. Recognizing its importance, she now sends her team to benefit as well.
Component Exchange (CEX) Conference was the hands-down best program for me as a component relations professional. Real solutions and ideas to tackle everyday challenges were abound as well as an amazing network of peers! I now send my component relations team to this conference.”
A key aspect of the conference was empowering chapter leaders to lead change effectively. Peggy Hoffman of Mariner Management & Marketing shared practical strategies for chapters to adapt to evolving member needs. Attendees left with actionable insights to foster a culture of continuous improvement and agility in their organizations.
I spent the day with a room full of CRPs sharing, learning, and doing a lot of laughing. Chapters are the tie that binds us, but our innovation and excitement for serving the heartbeat of our organization is the thing that makes us forever a community.”
In Chicago, Carrie McIntyre, Principal at Navigate led the session “Turning Rivalries Into Revenue: Strategies for Non-Dues Revenue Collaboration.” The conversation focused on actionable ways for CRPs to boost non-dues revenue while fostering collaboration with industry suppliers.
Carrie shared innovative strategies to harmonize national and chapter strengths, creating win-win scenarios for all stakeholders. Attendees learned how to navigate the competitive landscape, transforming competition into collaboration to optimize revenue generation across all levels.
Thank you for a wonderful day of learning. You all provide an invaluable service for our CPR community. We appreciate you!”
In Washington DC, the session titled “The Ultimate Guide to Chapter Membership Success” was led by Elizabeth Engel of Spark Consulting. This collaborative session focused on setting and achieving association membership recruitment, engagement, and retention goals. American Farm Bureau Federation’s Senior Director of Membership and Organization Development, Austin Large, walked away with ideas he could immediately implement.
We tackled topics like managing change, volunteer and member engagement, and developing member value propositions!”
Component relations professionals have come to rely on CEX as the premier event for their profession. “I’ve been to 5 CEX sessions. Each one is better than the last—it is the conference to go-to for CRP professionals,” said Cathi Horner, CAE, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.
While the dates and locations for CEX 2025 have not been announced, Sarah Robertson, Marketing Lead at Billhighway stated.
We look forward to building on the momentum from this year’s event and continuing to support the professional development of CRPs. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage, learn, and grow with your peers.”
Looking for resources from the event? Our CEX Virtual resource hub is open! This hub offers you access to resources to continue your learning journey and engage with fellow attendees. Explore it to find new ideas and strategies for your chapters.
