CHICAGO — Smithbucklin acquired McKinley Advisors, an award-winning association consultancy.
McKinley Advisors will retain its name, brand, current leadership team, staff and proven methodologies while leveraging new opportunities to collaborate across the Smithbucklin enterprise.
According to Matt Sanderson, President and CEO of Smithbucklin, this combination of businesses, supported by Smithbucklin’s event-focused agency 360 Live Media, creates a unique solution in the marketplace to drive association growth, innovation and mission impact.
“The acquisition creates something distinctive,” Sanderson explained. “McKinley brings expertise in research and governance. Smithbucklin provides operational management and execution. And 360 Live Media contributes event strategy and experience design. We are layering complimentary strategic capabilities together that create a more complete offering for the organizations we serve. Taken together, these capabilities allow us to support associations from big-picture thinking through day-to-day delivery. With genuine alignment on mission and values, this does not exist elsewhere in this space. Clients can expect the same level of service, now backed by deeper collective expertise.”
Smithbucklin will use the organization’s expertise in research, strategy, governance and business transformation to expand its portfolio.
“Smithbucklin and McKinley Advisors have long shared a common purpose: helping associations achieve their missions by providing clear strategy, trusted guidance and practical support,” Sanderson said. “Associations today face unprecedented challenges: financial pressure, evolving member needs and leadership transitions. Pairing McKinley’s capabilities in strategic insight, governance and research with Smithbucklin’s hands-on execution, operational excellence and comprehensive service delivery strengthens our ability to support organizations as they navigate those challenges. Both organizations have spent many years serving the association community. Joining forces is a natural next step and reflects a strong alignment in how we approach our work and the impact we want to have. After months of getting to know the McKinley team and their work, we are thrilled to welcome them to Smithbucklin.
“Associations are operating in a period of rapid change. Leaders are being asked to adapt their organizations, respond to shifting expectations and make important decisions about how they evolve for the future. Many organizations need both thoughtful strategy and operational capacity to carry them forward. Bringing Smithbucklin and McKinley together allows us to support associations across that full spectrum, helping them translate ideas into action and move forward with confidence.”
Related. 360 Live Media Announces Expansion of Capabilities to be Full-Service Event Agency
Sanderson explained that joining Smithbucklin gives the McKinley team the ability to see their work carried through on a larger scale. With Smithbucklin’s resources behind them, McKinley will see their recommendations translated into programs, services and experiences that reach members and volunteers. This strengthens the connection between organizational direction and real-world delivery, and clients will benefit from a more seamless path from planning to execution.
“This is a meaningful moment for both organizations, for all our people and for the associations we serve,” Sanderson added. “What Smithbucklin and McKinley have built independently over the years has made a real difference in this community. Bringing those strengths together creates new opportunities to deepen that impact. We are proud of what this acquisition represents and energized by what comes next.”
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