Innovating Membership Growth with Systematic Approaches and Strategic Solutions
HBA: Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky
Category: Membership
Location: Erlanger, Ky.
Size: 201-600 members
Year: 2024
The Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky (BIANKY)’s Innovating Membership initiative leveraged the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to transform membership recruitment and retention, resulting in a significant turnaround. The program introduced structured onboarding, ambassador-led mentorship and a retention-focused strategy with clear accountability through EOS tools such as scorecards and engagement tracking. Key components included a 90-day onboarding process, proactive recruitment through targeted networking and ongoing member touchpoints via the Retention Specialist Program. This data-driven approach led to a milestone achievement in 2024: a break-even net membership for the first time in more than five years, reversing a long-standing trend of decline.
The initiative drove measurable improvements in membership engagement and retention. Through strategic recruitment efforts and the ambassador program, BIANKY saw a consistent influx of new members. Enhanced onboarding and retention strategies led to increased second-year renewals and deeper member involvement. The scalable framework established by EOS allows for sustainable growth and adaptable strategies to meet the evolving needs of the building industry. Overall, this initiative strengthened the association's membership model, reinforced its value proposition and set the stage for continued success.
