--- title: "CEO to CEO: Getting Down Into the Weeds" id: "12524" type: "post" slug: "ceo-to-ceo-getting-down-into-the-weeds" published_at: "2015-09-28T10:04:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:50:56+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/09/28/ceo-to-ceo-getting-down-into-the-weeds/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/09/28/ceo-to-ceo-getting-down-into-the-weeds.md" excerpt: "What is one task that isn’t part of your job that you wish you could do? I wish I had the opportunity to participate in more direct member feedback, both in person and by phone. In our small office, I..." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "ASAEcenter" - "CEOs/Executive Management" - "Cost Management" - "Established CEO" - "Executives" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » CEO to CEO: Getting Down Into the Weeds ### What is one task that isn’t part of your job that you wish you could do? I wish I had the opportunity to participate in more direct member feedback, both in person and by phone. In our small office, I occasionally need to answer the phones, and it’s always a great way to hear from members, especially about their challenges or needs. I always learn something that we can put in place to improve the members’ experience. *—Ken Schoppmann, CAE, executive director, Licensing Executives Society, USA and Canada, Inc., Mount Laurel, New Jersey* I’d like to be engaged in the development of marketing materials and branding activities. I’ve held this responsibility as the CEO of other associations and felt I had a bit of a knack for it and really enjoyed it. But as the size of organizations I worked with grew, and with a full-service marketing team on board now, I hand that over to them because I rarely have time to focus on that type of activity anymore. But I really miss it. *—Michael Dwyer, CAE, president, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Mount Laurel, New Jersey* Chairing meetings of the board—no power grab intended. I would like to apply my training in counseling and group dynamics to leading board discussions. My training, a big-picture view of the association sector, and knowledge of our organization could encourage deeply engaging boardroom discussions. I simply have more time to prepare for board meetings than busy volunteer leaders. Besides, chairing means talking less and listening more! *—Randy L. Swing, Ph.D., executive director, Association for Institutional Research, Tallahassee, Florida* Managing our society’s website. As an early adopter of the internet, I enjoyed the design aspects of websites and appreciated the impact that this new medium could have on nonprofit messaging. Of course, I had no idea that it would take off as it has, nor the level of complexity it would rise to. Fortunately there are lots of talented people keeping up with developments in the field to keep improving sites. *—Edward Grandi, executive director, National Genealogical Association, Vienna, Virginia* Tags: [#CEOs/Executive Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/ceos-executive-management/) [#Cost Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/cost-management/) [#Established CEO](https://associationsnow.com/tag/established-ceo/) [#Executives](https://associationsnow.com/tag/executives/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoSuccess lesson: Know yourself, know your job, think aheadJanuary 3, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/01/03/success-lesson-know-yourself-know-your-job-think-ahead/) - [VideoASAE Research Foundation and MPI Foundation on Neurodiversity in AssociationsDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/asae-research-foundation-and-mpi-foundation-on-neurodiversity-in-associations/) - [VideoSuccess lesson: Understand your roleJanuary 3, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/01/03/success-lesson-understand-your-role/) - [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F09%2F28%2Fceo-to-ceo-getting-down-into-the-weeds%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !