Reboot IT - Nonprofit and Association Technology Conversations for All

Dave Coriale, CAE

DelCor president Dave Coriale, CAE, explores all things association and nonprofit tech! Great guests and insights will help you navigate IT trends and best practices. Host: Dave Coriale. Producer: Allison Coriale.

  1. SEP 4

    Breaking the Concrete: Rethinking Change in the 501(c) Tech Space

    In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale, President of DelCor, sits down with fellow podcasters KiKi L’Italien (former EVP Marketing & Community), Joanna Pineda (CEO, Matrix Group), and Dave Will (Co-founder, PropFuel) to discuss why technology implementations often take longer than expected. From strategic misalignment and governance bottlenecks to emotional resistance and resource constraints, the group explores the underlying causes of slow change.  Themes and Topics: The Emotional Impact of Letting Go KiKi shares her experience stepping away from Association Chat after 16 years, describing a mix of grief and relief.Joanna reflects on taking a break from LinkedIn during a personal loss and the surprising sense of freedom it brought.The group discusses how identity and purpose are often tied to long-term projects, making change psychologically difficult. Strategic Planning and Prioritization Gaps Associations often struggle to define clear strategic goals, making it hard to prioritize technology decisions.Lack of alignment on KPIs leads to confusion and stalled initiatives.Dave Will emphasizes that knowing what’s important makes change easier and faster. Governance and Decision-Making Bottlenecks Too many stakeholders involved in decisions leads to paralysis and delays.Joanna suggests sunsetting committees when strategic plans change to realign focus and authority.Leadership must clarify who owns decisions and avoid retroactive interference. Risk Aversion and Culture of Caution Associations operate in a highly visible environment, making them more cautious about failure.Fear of public scrutiny and investing too early in emerging tech (like AI) slows down innovation.Dave Will notes that experimentation is often discouraged, even when it could lead to valuable breakthroughs. Leadership and Ownership  Leadership must define clear goals and empower teams to make decisions without fear of being second-guessed.Joanna highlights the importance of psychological safety and trust in project ownership.Late-stage leadership involvement often derails progress and undermines team autonomy. Resource Constraints and Internal Silos Many associations lack internal tech expertise or project management capacity, leading to delays.Misunderstanding the need for internal PMs results in stalled implementations.Silos between departments (e.g., marketing, membership, IT) hinder collaboration and alignment.

    39 min

  2. AUG 21

    From Firewalls to Fail Fests: Lessons in IT Leadership and Security

    In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale, President of DelCor, sits down with Adam Kuhn, IT Director and DelCor alum, to discuss the evolving role of IT in associations. From foundational infrastructure to advanced cybersecurity strategies, Adam shares lessons learned from both sides of the fence—being an internal influencer and a business partner. The conversation explores how IT leaders can move beyond “keeping the lights on” to proactively shaping organizational maturity, especially in the face of overwhelming system data and increasing security demands. Summary: Cybersecurity as a Strategic Investment Cybersecurity tools like Arctic Wolf elevate IT maturity beyond basic infrastructure.Associations must move from reactive to proactive security strategies.Cyber insurance requirements are evolving and often unclear, requiring IT guidance.IT Maturity: From Core Requirements to Electives Adam compares IT infrastructure to college coursework—core requirements vs. electives.Core includes cloud migration, Microsoft 365, and basic security tools.Electives like threat detection systems represent strategic growth and investment.Information Overload & the Need for Synthesis Devices generate massive amounts of data that are impossible to interpret manually.Security operations centers help synthesize logs and alerts across systems.IT teams need tools to manage and interpret this data effectively.IT’s Role in Business Decision-Making IT should be a trusted advisor, not a gatekeeper or veto power.Excluding IT from technology selection leads to costly integration surprises.IT’s involvement ensures better alignment, risk mitigation, and long-term success.Building Cross-Departmental Partnerships IT needs access to systems it doesn’t own to ensure full security coverage.Business units must understand their role in cybersecurity and collaborate with IT.Partnership is essential—not optional—for organizational safety and resilience.Influencing Leadership & Budget Decisions IT leaders must make cogent cases for investment in security and infrastructure.Budget support depends on trust and clear communication with leadership.Adam emphasizes gratitude for working in a supportive environment that values IT input.

    32 min

  3. AUG 7

    The Impact of AI and Automation on Associations and Member Engagement

    In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale sits down with Rob Wenger, CEO and Chief Product Officer at Higher Logic, to discuss the evolving landscape of association technology, the impact of AI and automation, and strategies for enhancing member engagement. Summary: AI and Automation: Rob emphasizes the importance of AI and automation in the association world, highlighting how these technologies can streamline tasks and improve efficiency. He discusses the use of various AI tools, including ChatGPT, Cursor, and Glean, to enhance productivity and decision-making. Rob shares insights on the balance between using AI for personal and professional tasks, and the importance of data security and compliance.Member Engagement: The conversation delves into the significance of member engagement in associations and how technology can facilitate this. Rob explains the concept of member journeys and how predictive analytics can help identify and support members at different stages of their engagement. He highlights the role of community platforms and marketing tools in fostering meaningful interactions and delivering personalized content.Ethical Considerations and Future Outlook: Rob and Dave discuss the ethical implications of AI, including concerns about data privacy and the potential for job displacement. They explore the role of associations in creating valuable, forward-thinking content and the importance of maintaining high standards in content creation. Rob shares his vision for the future, emphasizing the need for associations to adapt to technological advancements while safeguarding their core values.

    30 min

  4. JUL 24

    Requirements, Risk, and Real Talk from the DelCor Bootcamp at AMS Fest

    Episode Summary: Dave Coriale sits down with Gretchen Steenstra, Director of Project Strategy and Leadership at DelCor, and Niko Cribb, Technology Consultant at DelCor, to unpack what happened at the DelCor Bootcamp during AMS Fest. They explore the evolving challenges of AMS selection, the importance of ecosystem and context diagrams, and how associations can better prepare for system adoption. From peer-to-peer learning to the impact of private equity on vendor trust, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for association professionals navigating the complex world of association management systems.  Topics & Themes: Inside the DelCor Bootcamp at AMS FestA vendor-free, candid environment where association professionals can ask real questions and get honest feedback.Bootcamp helps attendees feel more confident and prepared before engaging with vendors.Ecosystem and Context DiagramsAttendees were asked to draw their current tech ecosystem to visualize integrations and ownership.The process of creating the diagram was more valuable than the final product.Writing Better RequirementsParticipants practiced writing user story-based requirements, often for the first time.Emphasis on considering multiple perspectives: membership, finance, and member services.Understanding the Role of the Business AnalystAssociations don’t need to turn staff into BAs, but must understand the BA role.Clear requirements are essential for selection, configuration, and adoption.Most AMS issues stem from poor adoption, not poor functionality.Balancing Ecosystems vs. All-in-One PlatformsDiscussion around whether to consolidate or diversify systems.Risks of over-reliance on a single platform vs. complexity of multiple systems.Private Equity and Vendor TrustMergers and acquisitions are eroding trust in vendors and direct access to decision-makers is more difficult.Associations must take ownership of training, documentation, and vendor relationships.Change Management and Adoption FearsSome staff fear change and struggle with system transitions.Bootcamp helps surface these concerns early in the process.Peer Learning and Community SupportAMS Fest’s value lies in shared experiences and peer advice.One piece of advice from a peer can shift an entire selection strategy.Final Question: What’s Got You Worked Up?Gretchen: Frustrated by the lack of payoff from private equity investment in platforms.Niko: Wants more associations to engage in the conversation and learn from peers.

    40 min

  5. JUL 10

    Legacy, Leadership, and Loretta: A Look Back at DelCor’s Roots and the Road Ahead (redrop S1E1)

    Host Dave Coriale re-releases the very first episode of the podcast in honor of Loretta DeLuca, DelCor’s Founder and CEO. Joined by longtime colleague Brian Sheehan, the trio reflects on the early days of DelCor, their shared journey through decades of tech evolution, and the values that shaped the company’s culture. This heartfelt conversation offers a glimpse into the foundation of DelCor, the transformation of the association community, and the enduring legacy Loretta leaves behind. In this redrop of Season 1, Episode 1, Dave, Loretta, and Brian discuss: DelCor’s Origin Story Loretta, Dave, and Brian share how they met and began working together.Early days of crawling under desks, rebuilding Novell servers, and programming in dBase and R:Base.Loretta’s role as one of the first Gold Novell resellers in the DC area.From Law Firms to Associations Transition from serving law firms and insurance agencies to focusing exclusively on associations.The moment Loretta identified associations as DelCor’s true market.The cultural and mission-driven differences that drew them to the nonprofit sector.First Association Clients & Conferences Memories of their first association clients and attending their first conference in Las Vegas.The excitement (and exhaustion) of exhibiting for the first time.Longstanding client relationships, including one that began in the early ’90s and continues today.Technology Evolution in the Association Space The shift from on-premise to cloud computing started around 2008.The impact of .NET and the rise of integrated systems.The growing importance of data analytics and AI in decision-making.Strategic Role of Technology Technology’s evolution from a task-based tool to a strategic enabler.The need for IT to have a seat at the leadership table.Challenges associations face in fully leveraging their data and systems.Looking Ahead: What Associations Need Now Cultural shifts around how organizations view and use technology.The importance of aligning IT with strategic goals.Encouragement for associations to invest in analytics and integration.DelCor’s Culture & Values Reflections on 30+ years of shared values, growth, and collaboration.Pride in building a company culture where people stay for decades.The essence of DelCor: a team driven by purpose, community, and mutual respect.

    26 min

  6. FEB 27

    How Blockchain is Changing Credentialing and Certifying Your Members

    Catch up with Juan and Hannah from Inteleos and hear their fascinating update about how the organization is using blockchain to reduce friction, create efficiencies, and increase value to its members.

    40 min

  7. FEB 13

    The Curious CIO

    This week Dave is joined by George Breeden, CIO at American Society for Microbiology. George shares his epic thoughts on being curious, experimenting, and innovating. We also talk about IT’s responsibility to align the organization's technology with the mission and business objectives - and much more. Lastly, you win if you had “punch cards” on your Reboot IT BINGO card.

    47 min

  8. FEB 6

    Dave Gets Worked up About Wordsmithing

    Dave is worked up again this week. What's on his mind? Wordsmithing.

    4 min
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DelCor president Dave Coriale, CAE, explores all things association and nonprofit tech! Great guests and insights will help you navigate IT trends and best practices. Host: Dave Coriale. Producer: Allison Coriale.

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