A Brief History of the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter

The origins of the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter can be traced to the summer of 2013, when Constance Wrigley-Thomas of Essentient Association Management approached Serge Micheli of Association and Events Management with an idea: to bring together Canada’s association management companies (AMCs) for the purpose of collaboration, shared learning, and professional growth.

At the time, while the U.S.-based AMC Institute provided a strong network and professional home for American AMCs, there was no comparable forum in Canada. Canadian AMCs largely operated independently, interacting only occasionally through client transitions or handovers. Recognizing the missed opportunity for collaboration and collective advancement, Constance proposed organizing a forum for Canadian AMC leaders. Serge readily agreed to partner in the effort.

On March 27, 2014, Constance and Serge convened the first meeting of what became known as the AMC Forum in Toronto. Eighteen individuals representing 13 Canadian AMCs attended. The meeting revealed strong consensus that Canadian AMCs would benefit from a national forum to share best practices, discuss common challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants also engaged in thoughtful discussion about what constitutes an AMC in the Canadian context. While the AMC Institute defines an AMC as “a for-profit professional service company that manages two or more associations, societies, foundations, or other types of organizations,” Canadian firms were often smaller than their U.S. counterparts. As such, the group considered a broader definition that reflected the Canadian landscape: a for-profit company managing at least one client organization while providing professional association management consulting services.

Momentum grew quickly. The AMC Forum met three additional times in 2014, each meeting drawing increased participation. The group also hosted gatherings alongside major sector events, including the CSAE Trillium Chapter Summer Summit and CSAE’s National Conference in Niagara Falls. Constance and Serge continued to facilitate these meetings, steadily building a sense of community among Canadian AMCs.

In 2015, the AMC Forum met four times and expanded its reach, welcoming AMCs from across Canada and representation from the AMC Institute. That February, in collaboration with the CSAE Trillium Chapter, the AMC Forum delivered its first professional development event featuring guest speakers—an important step in establishing its role as a source of learning and leadership within the association sector.

By April 2015, the group established a Chapter Development Task Force and began drafting standards tailored to Canadian AMCs. In June of that year, AMC Forum participants gathered for a strategic planning session and determined their next objective: to become a formal legal entity as a Canadian chapter of the AMC Institute. This decision marked a pivotal transition from informal collaboration to structured organization.

By November 2015, the AMC Forum had developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the AMC Institute, laying the groundwork for formal affiliation. Throughout 2014 and 2015, Constance and Serge also met with the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) to explore collaborative opportunities, including the creation of an AMC RFP portal on the CSAE website, the establishment of an AMC membership category, and contributions to CSAE’s publications.

In February 2016, draft bylaws for the new entity—the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter—were completed and subsequently approved by the U.S.-based AMC Institute Board of Directors. On April 11, 2016, the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter received its Certificate of Incorporation and was officially established as the first international chapter of the AMC Institute.

The Chapter held its inaugural Board of Directors meeting on June 9, 2016. The founding Board included:

• Chair: Serge Micheli, CAE, CEM – President, Association and Events Management
• Vice-Chair: Jonathan Strauss – President, Strauss Event & Association Management
• Secretary/Treasurer: Constance Wrigley-Thomas, CAE – Owner/CEO, Essentient Association Management

Directors:

• Ruth Abrahamson – CEO, Base Consulting & Management Inc.
• Jenny Faucher – President, Managing Matters
• Seamus Gearin – Senior Association Manager, Becker Associates
• Anthony Laycock – President, Funnel Communications

In the past ten years since its founding, the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter Board of Directors has been chaired by the following volunteer leaders, each of whom has also represented the Canadian Chapter on the AMCI Board of Directors:  

• Serge Micheli (June 2016 – July 2018)
• Constance Wrigley-Thomas (July 2018 – March 2021)
• Ruth Abrahamson (March 2021 – May 2023)
• Peter Waite (May 2023 – Present)

From its beginnings as a conversation between two colleagues to its establishment as a formal chapter and recognized voice for Canadian AMCs, the AMC Institute Canadian Chapter reflects the power of collaboration, shared purpose, and leadership within Canada’s association management community.