CHICAGO – August 25, 2026 – The France Foundation, a Smithbucklin company, has earned Joint Accreditation with Commendation, the highest distinction granted by Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education™. The designation places The France Foundation among a select group of organizations that exceed nationally recognized standards for continuing education and provides independent validation of its ability to develop high-quality educational programs for healthcare professionals. The achievement extends The France Foundation’s accreditation for six years.  

As healthcare becomes increasingly team-based and complex, continuing education plays a critical role in preparing physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to work together effectively. This recognition affirms The France Foundation’s commitment to creating educational experiences that strengthen clinical practice while supporting collaborative care and improving outcomes for patients.  

Joint Accreditation with Commendation recognizes organizations that demonstrate all the core criteria and compliance with additional criteria including excellence in interprofessional continuing education, leadership, collaboration and measurable educational impact. During the review process, evaluators highlighted The France Foundation’s strengths in patient engagement, educational research, outcomes assessment, professional development, cross-sector partnerships and personalized education design. 

“This honor reflects the mission that drives The France Foundation every day: creating educational experiences that help clinicians improve practice and patient care,” said Dr. Theodore Bruno, President & Chief Medical Officer at The France Foundation. “Our team designs relevant, evidence-based programs that address the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. This achievement reflects the expertise and commitment of our staff, faculty and partners, and it strengthens our resolve to advance the quality and effectiveness of continuing education.”  

This distinction underscores The France Foundation’s ability to bring together diverse healthcare perspectives and create engaging educational experiences that drive meaningful improvements in professional practice. It also reflects The France Foundation’s commitment to building collaborations with medical professional societies, academic and healthcare organizations and patient advocacy groups to address complex healthcare challenges. 

The France Foundation will continue advancing educational excellence through interprofessional learning, evidence-based program design and strategic partnerships that help healthcare teams improve performance and patient outcomes. 

 

About The France Foundation 

The France Foundation, a Smithbucklin company, develops certified continuing education and professional development programs for healthcare professionals. Through innovative, outcomes-driven educational initiatives, The France Foundation partners with medical professional societies, academic institutions, healthcare organizations and patient advocacy groups to address critical healthcare challenges and improve patient care. Learn more at www.francefoundation.com.

 

About Smithbucklin 

Smithbucklin is a professional services company that helps associations modernize, strengthen and advance to deliver better results for their members and missions. For more than 75 years, Smithbucklin has provided association management capabilities in meetings and events, sponsorship and exhibit sales, education, marketing and technology. Smithbucklin has nearly 650 employees in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Smithbucklin companies include 360 Live Media, The France Foundation, SDI Meetings and Incentives and McKinley Advisors. 

 

Media Contact: 
Karen Saverino
Chief Marketing Officer, Smithbucklin
ksaverino@smithbucklin.com | 202.367.1211

CHICAGO – July 27, 2026 – Greg Heidrich, former CEO of the Society of Actuaries (SOA), has joined McKinley Advisors, a Smithbucklin Company, as principal. Based in Smithbucklin’s Chicago headquarters, Heidrich will advise association leaders on business model innovation, revenue generation, governance and organization-wide strategy.

Heidrich brings more than 40 years of executive leadership experience helping associations adapt to changing markets while advancing their missions. During his 18 years as CEO of the Society of Actuaries, the world’s largest actuarial professional society, he nearly doubled membership, modernized the organization’s credentialing model, expanded the organization globally, launched a large-scale online learning platform and established the SOA Research Institute.

“After more than 40 years in association leadership, I’ve learned there are rarely simple answers to the challenges organizations face,” said Heidrich. “Whether it’s developing new educational pathways, creating research programs or helping a board navigate difficult decisions, progress comes from asking the right questions, testing ideas and staying focused on the members and community you’re trying to serve. McKinley shares my belief that the best solutions are grounded in strategy, informed by evidence and shaped by the realities association leaders face every day. Associations are vital to our industries and professions and I’m passionate about helping them be the most effective they can possibly be.”

Before joining SOA, Heidrich held executive leadership positions with the Alliance of American Insurers and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (now APCIA), where he led finance, research, public policy and strategy.

Throughout his career, he has helped associations strengthen governance, build research capabilities, modernize education and credentialing programs, develop future leaders and guide organizations through significant change.

In recognition of his contributions to the association community, Heidrich recently received Association Forum’s Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement, the organization’s highest honor for an association CEO.

“Greg has spent decades leading associations through the same questions many of our clients are facing today: how to innovate while protecting core revenue, strengthen governance, navigate disruption and position an organization for long-term growth and impact,” said Jay Younger, FASAE, President of McKinley Advisors. “He understands firsthand what it means to lead an association through uncertainty, make difficult strategic decisions and balance mission with financial sustainability. That executive experience, combined with his strategic insight, will be invaluable to our clients. We’re thrilled to welcome Greg to McKinley and to our broader Smithbucklin team.”

At McKinley, Heidrich will work with association leaders to strengthen business models, identify new sources of value and revenue, modernize governance and develop practical strategies for long-term relevance and growth. His addition further expands McKinley’s team of former association executives, providing clients with advisors who bring firsthand executive leadership experience to complex strategic challenges.

 

About McKinley Advisors

McKinley Advisors is an award-winning consulting firm dedicated to accelerating associations’ positive impact on the world. McKinley works in partnership with association executives and volunteer leaders to identify and address their most significant challenges and opportunities. McKinley provides services through four practice areas: Strategy and Innovation, Organizational Excellence, Business Transformation and Research and Insights. Learn more about McKinley Advisors at www.mckinley-advisors.com.

 

About Smithbucklin

Smithbucklin is a professional services company that helps associations modernize, strengthen and advance to deliver better results for their members and missions. For more than 75 years, Smithbucklin has provided association management and capabilities in meetings and events, sponsorship and exhibit sales, education, marketing and technology. With nearly 650 employees in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Smithbucklin companies include 360 Live Media, The France Foundation, SDI Meetings and Incentives and McKinley Advisors. Learn more about Smithbucklin at www.smithbucklin.com.

 

Media contact:
Karen Saverino
Chief Marketing Officer, Smithbucklin
ksaverino@smithbucklin.com | 202.367.1211

CHICAGO, IL — June 2, 2026 — Smithbucklin today announced the launch of Smithbucklin Boardroom, a new resource hub designed to help association board members lead with greater clarity, confidence and impact. 

Created for current and aspiring association board leaders, Smithbucklin Boardroom brings together expert insights, practical guidance and research-informed perspectives on the issues shaping board leadership today. The hub covers topics ranging from financial oversight and board governance to succession planning, board dynamics and decision-making. 

“Association boards are navigating increasing complexity, rising expectations and faster-moving challenges,” said Matt Sanderson, Smithbucklin’s President & CEO. “Smithbucklin Boardroom was created to give board members a trusted place to access practical insights that help them make the most of their terms and lead their organizations forward.” 

Drawing on more than 75 years of experience supporting associations, association executives and their boards, Smithbucklin Boardroom features thought leadership from Smithbucklin’s expertise in strategy, governance, finance, membership, events and organizational leadership. Resources are designed to help board members strengthen oversight, improve strategic alignment and navigate complex decisions with confidence. 

Topics featured in Smithbucklin Boardroom include: 

  • Financial management and oversight  
  • Board governance and effectiveness  
  • Succession planning and leadership  
  • Strategic decision-making  
  • Board and staff partnerships  

“The role of association boards continues to evolve,” said Jeremy Van Ek, COO of Association Management. “But what hasn’t changed is board members need practical guidance that reflects the realities they are facing. Smithbucklin Boardroom was built to support that need with accessible, experience-based insights leaders can apply immediately.” 

Smithbucklin Boardroom is now available at smithbucklin.com/boardroom. 

 

About Smithbucklin 

Smithbucklin is a professional services company that helps associations modernize, strengthen and advance to deliver better results for their members and missions. For more than 75 years, Smithbucklin has provided association management and capabilities in meetings and events, sponsorship and exhibit sales, education, marketing and technology. With nearly 650 employees in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Smithbucklin companies include 360 Live Media, The France Foundation, SDI Meetings and Incentives and McKinley Advisors. Learn more about Smithbucklin at www.smithbucklin.com.  

 

Media contact:
Karen Saverino
Chief Marketing Officer, Smithbucklin
ksaverino@smithbucklin.com | 202.367.1211

 

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CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two renowned association industry firms are joining forces to help their clients tackle what’s ahead. Market-leading professional services firm Smithbucklin has acquired McKinley Advisors, an award-winning association consultancy. The combination, further supported by Smithbucklin’s event-focused agency 360 Live Media, creates a unique solution in the marketplace to accelerate association growth, innovation and mission impact.

The acquisition of McKinley Advisors, a firm with deep roots and an exceptional track record in the association industry, brings Smithbucklin expertise in research, strategy, governance and business transformation to further expand its portfolio.

“Contemporary associations increasingly need high-capability partners to help them successfully navigate new challenges and opportunities,” said Matt Sanderson, President and CEO of Smithbucklin. “McKinley is a highly respected, trusted advisor to the world’s leading associations and a natural extension of our current capabilities. We are excited to bring their talent and expertise into the fold and tap our collective knowledge for insights that can strengthen associations.”

The combined organization of nearly 650 employees connects McKinley’s broad portfolio of research-based, strategic advisory services with Smithbucklin’s 75-year track record of association management, education and event strategy, design and execution. McKinley Advisors will continue serving clients with its current leadership team, staff and proven methodologies while leveraging new opportunities to collaborate across the Smithbucklin enterprise.

“From our initial conversations, we saw incredibly strong alignment on the most important things – mission, vision and values,” said Jay Younger, President of McKinley Advisors. “Both firms share a deep, fundamental commitment to helping associations advance mission-driven work for the benefit of humanity. Given that starting point, I’m confident that we will unlock a host of impactful new solutions for our clients that wouldn’t have been possible independently.”

McKinley Advisors will retain its name and brand and will be led by President Jay Younger and its senior leadership team.

 

About Smithbucklin

Smithbucklin is a professional services company that helps associations modernize, strengthen and advance to deliver better results for their members and missions. For more than 75 years, Smithbucklin has provided association management and capabilities in meetings and events, sponsorship and exhibit sales, education, marketing and technology. With nearly 650 employees in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Smithbucklin companies include 360 Live Media, The France Foundation, SDI Meetings and Incentives and now McKinley Advisors. Learn more about Smithbucklin at www.smithbucklin.com.

About McKinley Advisors

McKinley Advisors is an award-winning consulting firm dedicated to accelerating associations’ positive impact on the world. McKinley works in partnership with association executives and volunteer leaders to identify and address their most significant challenges and opportunities. McKinley provides services through four practice areas: Strategy and Innovation, Organizational Excellence, Business Transformation and Research and Insights. Learn more about McKinley Advisors at www.mckinley-advisors.com.

 

Media Contact:
Karen Saverino
Chief Marketing Officer, Smithbucklin
ksaverino@smithbucklin.com | 202.367.1211