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Reboot IT - Nonprofit and Association Technology Conversations for AllAuthor: 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. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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AI as Your Thought Partner: Lessons from the Field
Episode 14
Thursday, 22 January, 2026
In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale sits down with Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of Onward and Upward, to talk about how associations are using AI as more than just a tool—they’re treating it like a thought partner. Colleen shares real-world examples of AI helping with PR strategy, repurposing research, and freeing up time for small-staff associations. They also dig into why authenticity matters, how to set guardrails, and what it takes to make AI work without losing your human touch.Themes and Topics:AI in PR, Communications, and ResearchA national IT and workforce association used a custom GPT trained on PR strategy to brainstorm ideas and create strategic plans.AI helped identify targeted journalists and outlets for a research report, saving days of manual research and landing coverage that previously seemed impossible.AI transformed 100-page technical reports into member-friendly summaries, increasing engagement without replacing original research.Small Associations Leveraging AIA small-staff association implemented an AI policy early, focusing on transparency and data protection.Weekly meetings encouraged staff to share AI use cases, leading to automation of job aids, survey analysis, and content repurposing.Efficiency vs. AuthenticityAI accelerates workflows, but human editing and fact-checking remain essential, especially in technical fields.Associations intentionally keep a “human roughness” in writing to avoid robotic tone and maintain authenticity.Disclosure and TransparencyBest practice: note when AI supports content creation (e.g., “This article was assisted by AI and edited by a human”).Transparency builds trust, even if disclosure norms evolve over time.Infrastructure and SecurityBefore implementing tools like Copilot, associations must secure their infrastructure and protect intellectual property.Data fencing and cybersecurity measures prevent unintended exposure of sensitive information.AI as Amplification, Not ReplacementAI should enhance human creativity and capacity, not erase it.The real win is amplification—doing more with the same resources while maintaining trust and authenticity.
