--- title: "What’s Next for Association Leadership in The District?" id: "35761" type: "post" slug: "whats-next-for-association-leadership-in-the-district" published_at: "2016-11-09T00:27:05+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:01+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/11/09/whats-next-for-association-leadership-in-the-district/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/11/09/whats-next-for-association-leadership-in-the-district.md" excerpt: "With the election underway, how will the association leadership landscape change in DC? Also: The challenges that voters with disabilities face at the polls." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Cost Management" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » What’s Next for Association Leadership in The District? No matter what happens as Donald Trump takes power, the shape of Washington, DC, is about to change in a big way. And associations are very much going to feel the impact of those changes. Stephanie Tomasso, who leads the trade and professional association efforts for the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, says that, from a leadership perspective, there’s a lot to consider about a transition period like this. Does the definition of what makes a good association leader change as the political climate does? Maybe, maybe not. But as a result of research on DC-based executives, conducted by Russell Reynolds Associates, Tomasso argues that the next generation of association leaders might want to borrow some inspiration from the corporate sector. “While trade association leaders must still possess public policy savvy and an ability to develop and maintain critical relationships in Washington, DC, and beyond, they must also demonstrate traditional corporate executive competencies, such as sound business acumen, proven operational expertise and, in some instances, direct or aligned industry experience,” [Tomasso writes in an op-ed for The Hill (opens in a new tab)](http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/304612-transition-is-the-time-to-analyze-the-qualities-of) . Check out Tomasso’s full op-ed for some more association leadership insights. ### Accessibility Challenges > 75% of US polling places are inaccessible to voters with disabilities. What is it like to be disabled on election day? [pic.twitter.com/69M1RIH34d (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/69M1RIH34d) > > — BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) [November 7, 2016 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedNews/status/795734390168879104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **This election day,** millions of people will vote for their candidates of choice. But some voters have it easier than others. As this BuzzFeed News video featuring the National Disability Rights Network notes, voters with disabilities often face struggles trying to access their polling places. [A NPR piece from last month (opens in a new tab)](http://www.npr.org/2016/10/24/499177544/disabled-voters-fight-for-more-accessible-polling-places) breaks down the fight for change on this specific issue. ### Other Links of Note **Maybe Vine isn’t dying after all?** In the wake of user outcry [after Twitter announced](associationsnow.com/2016/11/ripened-thoughts-demise-vine/) it was sunsetting the video-sharing platform, [TechCrunch revealed (opens in a new tab)](https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/07/revive-vine/) that the company was considering selling it instead, after numerous suitors emerged. **“What should a great community strategy do?”** Richard Millington of FeverBee raises that question [in a new blog post (opens in a new tab)](https://www.feverbee.com/community-strategy/) . **Is your budgeting process transparent enough?** In case you’d like to make it more so, consultant and author Jamie Notter [has some useful tips over at Association Success (opens in a new tab)](http://www.associationsuccess.org/article/tips-on-adding-transparency-to-budgeting?platform=hootsuite) . (tpsdave/Pixabay) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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