46: Growing Memberships Through ROIs with Ed Rigsbee

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, we have the pleasure of speaking to another icon in our industry, Ed Rigsbee, of Rigsbee Research. Ed has spent his entire career helping associations and societies to recruit and maintain their members and increase their revenue. He has written five books: one of them on soccer, one on member recruitment, and three of them on strategic alliances, and he has also written more than 2,500 articles. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, Ed shares his story and talks to us about providing value and the amazing community he started, called The Cigar Peg.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is very important right now for associations to provide value, so we’re sure that you will enjoy our conversation with Ed.</span></p> <p><strong>Ed Rigsbee bio:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ed Rigsbee, (CSP) Certified Speaking Professional, (CAE) Certified Association Executive, is the ROI Guy. He is obsessed with helping individuals and organizations to both receive and give more return on investment (ROI) in everything that they do. He regularly serves two sectors of the economy—helping corporations to develop and maintain strategic alliances—and helping trade associations and professional societies to grow their membership. Ed is the originator of the “Member ROI Valuation Process” and “Member ROI-Centric Organization Transition.”</span></p> <p><strong>Ed’s background</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ed used to work at Yosemite National Park as a retail manager. In the winter, he was made manager of the ski shop, but he got fired for being obnoxious just a week before the end of the season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the season, Ed’s sunglasses supplier had been trying to get Ed to work for him. He contacted Ed once again, just before he left the park, asking him to interview in Southern California. Ed went along to the interview. Afterward, he got handed a company car and a credit card