A mini-MBA built for thecurrent & future leaders ofsoutheastern associations.
Accelerate your association's success by mastering the people management & business finance skills of highly successful leaders.


Our 10 Week Curriculum
After the 10-weeks, you will still have access to the eLearning for a full year!

It's like a mini-MBA, for association executives.
Save These Dates!
PROGRAM ONBOARDING AND KICK-OFF
March 2
YOUR VISION GOALS & PLANNING PROCESS
March 16
THE RIGHT TEAM & CUSTOMER
March 30
AN EMPOWERED SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT
April 13
DEMYSTIFYING THE FINANCIALS
April 27
APPLYING THE FINANCIALS
May 11

Gain up to 10 CAE credits!
Write your awesome label here.
The live hour portions of the program may be applied for 5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal of professional development requirements.
While under review, we anticipate the self-study and assessment portion of the program will also have 5 additional CAE credits.
Testimonials
This program is effective | This program is affordable | This program is easy to follow | This program is a great networking experience | This program is a 'no brainer'


Meet the Team
Created specifically to teach the fundamental skills every association leader needs for sustaining success and growth. From people management to association finances, and all in between.
John Cioffi
Program Creator
The Chief Content Officer at GoalMakers, has spent the last 30-years, coaching hundreds of clients to success. He helps businesses of all types and sizes understand the people management and organizational leadership needed to be successful.
Jeremy Wall
Lead Facilitator
Our lead facilitator has worked with hundreds of business owners & operators helping them not simply learn the material, but implement to success within their organization. Jeremy has founded, grown, and exited businesses and will work with your as you do the same!
The AE-MBA will bring together leading association executives from across the southeast to participate in this cohort-based learning & networking experience together.
Participating states include:

special pricing and discounts for Members of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives
Sign up before the end of year before the best deals, up to 50% off the program!

Improve your association.
Grow your bottom line.
Grow your bottom line.

THE GOALMAKERS GUARANTEE
We believe in our program, so much that we offer a money-back guarantee if you don't find value after the first two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the AE-MBA for?
This program was built for everyone from the CEO to the sweeper, the more of your team that understands these fundamentals, the better off you will be.
However, this specific cohort is focused new, experienced, and aspiring CEOs or Executive Directors.
However, this specific cohort is focused new, experienced, and aspiring CEOs or Executive Directors.
How many people from my association should participate?
The AE-MBA can be used as a great organizational alignment tool to bring your team together, however, this cohort is reserved for CEOs & Executive Directors.
That being said, if you have a near-future CEO on staff, you can bring them to join this program and learn alongside you to advance their professional career even if they are not yet in the role of CEO yet.
That being said, if you have a near-future CEO on staff, you can bring them to join this program and learn alongside you to advance their professional career even if they are not yet in the role of CEO yet.
How many CAE credits can I gain?
In short, you can gain up to 10 CAE credits, 5 CAE credits for live attendance, 5 CAE self-study credits.
This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.whatiscae.org.
The live hour portions of the program may be applied for 5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal of professional development requirements. While under review, we anticipate the self-study and assessment portion of the program will also have 5 additional CAE credits.
This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.whatiscae.org.
The live hour portions of the program may be applied for 5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal of professional development requirements. While under review, we anticipate the self-study and assessment portion of the program will also have 5 additional CAE credits.
Note: This program is not endorsed, accredited, or affiliated with ASAE or the CAE program. Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific time frame towards the exam application or renewal. There are no specific individual courses required as part of the applications – selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.
Are there assignments I must complete to get the certificate?
You won't get a certificate just for signing up, no participation trophies here!
Throughout the program there are 6 end-of-section knowledge checks at the end of each of the management sections, and then a cumulative exam at the end. All must be completed and passed in order to receive your certificate and qualify for all 5 hours of the self-paced CAE credits.
Throughout the program there are 6 end-of-section knowledge checks at the end of each of the management sections, and then a cumulative exam at the end. All must be completed and passed in order to receive your certificate and qualify for all 5 hours of the self-paced CAE credits.
What if I miss the live sessions?
While you will get the most out of joining them and participating in the conversation with both your peers and industry experts, if you can't make one do not worry! All sessions are recorded and uploaded into the eLearning to review later.
How long will I have access to the program?
Great question, while the AE-MBA runs in a synchronous timing with your peers after the 10-weeks you will retain access to the eLearning for a full calendar year after we wrap up.
How long will it take me?
While this program is self-paced, timing is based on averages, some will take much longer and others will take less. The average learner progresses through this at ~2.5 hours per week, so we suggest earmarking at least that much time.
Then bi-weekly we have 60-minute long live sessions with your peers and industry experts.
Overall, you should expect anywhere from 20-40 hours over the 10-weeks. (Some learners spend much longer than this and some a little less, but it depends on where you are at in your professional journey)!
Then bi-weekly we have 60-minute long live sessions with your peers and industry experts.
Overall, you should expect anywhere from 20-40 hours over the 10-weeks. (Some learners spend much longer than this and some a little less, but it depends on where you are at in your professional journey)!
Is this an actual MBA degree?
While the AE-MBA is based on an MBA curriculum -- it is not an equivalent to a higher-ed MBA designation.
The program provided is not intended to and does not educate or train attendees in a program leading toward (i) examinations for licensing in a profession or vocation, (ii) employment at a beginning or advanced level, or (iii) a postsecondary educational credential of a Masters degree from a university.
The program provided is not intended to and does not educate or train attendees in a program leading toward (i) examinations for licensing in a profession or vocation, (ii) employment at a beginning or advanced level, or (iii) a postsecondary educational credential of a Masters degree from a university.
10-Week Program Overview
Set Goals all the Time
We begin by crafting a vision for your agency, the long-term goal 3-5-years from now. This will be the North Star for our entire team. Then we learn what makes a 'good goal' and create company-wide, department-level, & individual goals that align with our vision.

Focus On the Process Not A Plan
We’ll get a baseline of our company's current status by collecting valuable information. Using that as a baseline we will adopt a planning process so our company can adapt to today’s ever-changing conditions.

Coach the Right People
We’ll clearly define positions at our business, and create position descriptions for ourselves and key roles within the organization. Then we identify the right natural abilities needed for these roles, and if we have our people in the best place for success currently.

Serve the Right Customers
We begin by identifying our right customers, then determine how we find more of these right customers, building a sales process to serve them, streamlining our operations processes around them, and finally fostering a culture & strategies necessary to serve the right customer.

Empower Your Entire Team
Learn how managers empower their team members by establishing clear goals and allowing people to achieve those goals in their own way, through our system of “wide boulevards, high curbs”.
We determine if our team members meet the criteria required to work in an environment of empowerment.

Do the Right Things Right
We will use six tools to monitor and manage our company’s performance and build our own System of Managing—a clear and effective means of providing clarity and purpose to team members while steering everyone to accomplish their individual goals, as well as the company’s goals.

Demystifying the Financials
Using a case study, we will understand how to read and use financial statements. With the case study as real-world context, we will also learn about projections, inventory, accounts receivable, and cash flow and how to use this information to build stronger businesses.

Applying the Financials
With a new understanding of the basics, we will focus on specific elements that grow the bottom line. We start by calculating our own financial ratios, and how to set realistic goals for your business with them. From there we learn how to easily use break-even analysis to inform everyday decisions.

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