Liz Peuster, Chief Communications Officer at the South Carolina Association of CPAs and founder of LP Innovates, joins The Association Podcast for a conversation that goes far beyond AI hype. Liz shares her career journey through the association world, why storytelling is at the heart of member value, and how associations can use AI to create better member experiences while developing, not replacing, their staff.

From building custom AI assistants that coach employees into stronger writers to helping professionals navigate AI adoption with confidence, Liz offers practical ideas that any association can implement immediately. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking for smarter ways to serve members, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fresh perspectives.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Liz's association career journey
03:40 There's an association for everything
07:40 Why storytelling starts with understanding your members
12:00 Turning member challenges into advocacy success stories
14:20 AI concerns facing the accounting profession
17:00 Helping members evaluate AI vendors and technology
21:40 Building custom AI tools inside associations
24:00 Creating "Paige," an AI copy editor that teaches instead of rewrites
28:00 Why AI should focus on upskilling staff, not replacing them
30:30 Reclaiming time for member relationships
34:00 Teaching the next generation to use AI responsibly
37:00 Launching LP Innovates
39:30 Practical AI strategies anyone can implement tomorrow
41:00 Custom Copilot prompts that sound like you
43:00 AI workflows that eliminate inbox distractions
45:00 Saving hundreds of hours through small AI improvements
47:00 Final advice: Start with what frustrates you most