About

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Jeff De Cagna

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Jeff De Cagna is chief strategist and founder of Principled Innovation LLC, and the association community’s leading voice for innovation. After serving as an association executive for more than a decade, Jeff founded Principled Innovation LLC in 2002 to help associations realize their full potential through the pursuit of sustainable innovation. He is an author, speaker and advisor to associations across the country and around the world.

Jeff is a Fellow of ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, and has served the association community throughout his career in a wide variety of formal and informal contributor roles. He currently serves on The Center for Association Leadership Board of Directors, the Joint Planning Committee and the Research Committee, and is immediate past chair of the Executive Management Section Council.

Jeff is one of the “Five Independent Thinkers” who wrote the groundbreaking book, We Have Always Done It That Way: 101 Things About Associations We Must Change, published by Lulu Enterprises. A graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, Jeff earned a master’s degree from Harvard University.

Ben Martin Ben Martin, CAE

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Ben Martin, CAE is Director of Communications & New Media for the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), located in Richmond, Virginia, and he collaborates with Principled Innovation LLC in the role of Architect of Participation. Ben has more than nine years of experience in membership, marketing, volunteer management and member engagement in state, national and international trade and individual membership organizations. At VAR, he oversees member outreach, social media and publications.

Ben is a dedicated contributor to the association community. This year, he is serving as chair of the CAE Committee for the Virginia Society of Association Executives, and as vice chair of ASAE & The Center’s Membership Section Council. Ben is the author of the popular Certified Association Executive blog, and he has been published in the Journal of Association Leadership. He is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

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  • Ben Martin and P.I.

    Association executive Ben Martin, CAE is P.I.’s Architect of Participation. Jeff and Ben help clients harness the power of the Web through the strategic application of social technologies.

  • Strategic alliance with Gulo

    P.I is pleased to work with Chicago-based Gulo Solutions LLC to provide a wide variety of technology and strategic services to our association community clients.

  • Buy the book!

    The groundbreaking book, We Have Always Done It That Way: 101 Things About Associations We Must Change, is reshaping the conversation about the future of the association community. Why not participate? Buy the book today!