Vendor Ready: How to Work the Floor at ASAE Annual (Before You Even Get There)

Vendor Ready: How to Work the Floor at ASAE Annual (Before You Even Get There)

 
ASAE Annual in Indianapolis is one week away — which means your team is about to have more vendor conversations in three days than you’ll have all year. Booth pitches, “let’s grab coffee” follow-ups, demo requests, renewal conversations disguised as small talk… it’s a lot, and it’s easy to walk away with a bag of swag and no real plan.
 
This episode gets ahead of it. We’re bringing together an association exec, a consultant, and a vendor — three different vantage points on the same relationship — for a candid conversation about how to actually make the most of vendor interactions at Annual, instead of just surviving them.
 
Because here’s the truth: the expo floor isn’t just a shopping trip. It’s your best chance all year to evaluate partners, push on pricing, ask the questions you’ve been sitting on, and figure out who’s actually going to show up for you after the invoice is signed. This session is about walking in with a plan instead of walking out with a stack of business cards you’ll never look at again.

What You’ll Learn:

🎯 How to prep your “must-ask” list before you hit the floor
🚩 Questions that separate a strong vendor pitch from a strong vendor partner
💬 How to have candid conversations with current vendors face-to-face (better than any support ticket)
📋 What to listen for in a demo that tells you how a partnership will really go
💰 Smart ways to use in-person time to negotiate or revisit existing contracts
🧳 How to follow up after Annual so those conversations don’t go cold
Whether you’re heading to Indianapolis for your first ASAE or your fifteenth, this session will help you turn floor time into real partnership value.
 
Tune in before you pack your bags — this is the conversation to have before Annual, not after.

EXTRA 30 ​

Due to the popularity of this topic, we’re adding an EXTRA 30 minutes with the panelists from 3:00 to 3:30. This is your opportunity to ask questions and share ideas on the AMS Selection process with the other participants and panelists.

The CIO Hour is NOT just for CIO’s!

The CIO Hour is a monthly webinar designed specifically for non-tech association staff to boost their IT-IQ.


How to Submit Questions

The CIO Hour will be recorded each month in case you miss it. However, we hope you attend and engage with the industry experts and other participants regularly so you continue to boost your IT-IQ.

Book Event

The CIO Hour: August 2026
Available Tickets: Unlimited
The The CIO Hour: August 2026 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.
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Cost

Free

Date

Aug 06 2026

Time

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Speakers

  • Chip Flater
    Chip Flater
    Director of Information Technology

    Chip Flater is the Director of Information Technology and IT Security at the National Science Teaching Association, where he leads technology strategy, cybersecurity, data, and digital transformation initiatives. He has driven major advances in cloud infrastructure, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and customer experience, including the development of AI-powered tools that help members and staff work more effectively. Chip holds a master’s degree in information technology from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in biology. He is known for turning complex challenges into practical solutions and moving high-impact projects forward.

  • James Marquis
    James Marquis
    CIO, 501Works

    James is a seasoned senior executive with more than 20 years of experience working with associations and non-profits of all sizes. James possesses excellent communications skills allowing him to function as a trainer, technology evangelist and to bridge the divide which frequently exists between functional business units and information technology specialists. Coupled with his ability to deep-dive into technology, these key skills allow James to operate across department lines and organizational levels to better integrate technology with the strategic and tactical needs of an organization

  • Olivia Wilkins
    Olivia Wilkins
    Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte

    Olivia was part of the AMS implementation teams for two associations where she facilitated end user training, delivered business and process analysis, and provided data management. Before joining the world of associations, Olivia taught a variety of grade-school subjects and undergraduate coursework where she honed her craft evaluating how people learn and engage with systems, processes, and environments. She combines two decades of experience in education, change management, and analytics to improve user adoption and foster strong relationships between technical and non-technical teams. Olivia joined PerByte in February 2022 as the Business Analyst/Project Manager.

  • Sean Miriashtiani
    Sean Miriashtiani
    Sales Executive, Element AMS

    Sean Miriashtiani brings over a decade of experience leading small nonprofits and arts organizations, having firsthand insight into the operational and financial challenges nonprofits face every day. He also served on the boards of the Virginia American String Teachers Association (VASTA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Virginia Chapter.
    Since then, Sean transitioned to the AMS vendor space, where he’s spent years helping associations and credentialing bodies modernize how they operate and engage their members. Today, he serves as Sales Executive and Association Advisor for Element AMS, helping organizations find technology solutions that support their missions.

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