Before working at RGI, I only had a basic idea of what association management was. I knew associations helped members and supported whole industries, but I never thought about what it took to keep all of that running. Working inside an AMC showed me that association work is far more layered than I expected. Everything we do connects back to helping members succeed, and each project, no matter how small, plays a role in the bigger picture.
Learning to Adapt Across Roles
As I spent more time with different teams and projects, I began to see how much association management depends on being adaptable. One day you might be drafting communications and next you might be preparing materials for a board meeting or helping with event planning. Even though the tasks can look different, they all support the same goal. Understanding that helped me see my schoolwork differently. The skills I use in class or in student organizations suddenly felt more relevant because I could see how communication, design, and planning show up in real work.
Building New Skills Through New Tools
Learning new tools made this even clearer. Before RGI, I stuck to Adobe and a few programs I used at my university job. In association management you use whatever tools fit the moment and the client, which means being ready to learn something new at almost any time. Picking up Canva was a good example. It wasn’t a tool I expected to use but learning it helped me see that adapting quickly is simply part of the job. That mindset carried back into my other roles, and switching between platforms or styles became less stressful.
Understanding Leadership and Collaboration
My experience at RGI also changed how I think about leadership. Association work depends on clear communication and strong systems so that teams can stay organized while juggling many responsibilities. Most associations run on the time and energy of people who care enough about their field to lead committees, guide decisions, or help shape programs. Watching RGI work with these volunteers taught me a lot about communication and preparation. Seeing how staff and volunteers work together helped me understand that volunteer-driven work relies on collaboration and trust rather than authority.
Connecting Skills Across Experiences
What I keep coming back to is how connected everything feels. Nothing stays in one place. The skills I learn at RGI show up in my classes and clubs, and what I learn at school helps me handle projects at RGI. I used to think of each role as a separate line on a resume, but now I see them as part of one ongoing learning curve. Association management has a way of pulling different skills together and being part of that has helped me notice how much each experience builds on the last.
Ethan Butler
Ethan Butler recently joined the RGI team in Fall 2025 as a Marketing and Communications Intern. He is currently a senior at Butler University, studying both Strategic Communications and Creative Media and Entertainment.
As a student, Ethan has been spending much of his time working to expand his skills beyond the classroom. He has worked many odd jobs, from I.T. to delivering bouncy houses, but has consistently worked in communications for the past couple years. He is eager to learn more about the association industry and assist in any way he can. He’s confident in his production skills for both photo and video, and strives to strike a good balance between creativity and efficiency.
Outside of work he enjoys trying the various local restaurants and shops around Indy. Some of his current favorites are Broad Ripple Bagel Deli and Watami Sushi.