Data-Driven Strategy to Unlock Association Growth & Revenue
Chris Vaughan, PhD: Data-Driven Strategy for Association Growth and Impact
- Sequence Consulting
- About Sequence
- About Chris Vaughan
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Chris Vaughan, PhD, is the Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Sequence Consulting, Inc., based in Hinsdale, Illinois. Since 2001, he has helped professional and trade associations achieve transformational growth in membership, revenue, and engagement through data-driven strategy and evidence-based execution.
Proven Results:
Membership: Delivered sustained double-digit growth across national professional and trade associations
Revenue: Helped clients unlock $40+ million in new non-dues revenue streams
Engagement: Achieved record-high member satisfaction and digital participation
With a PhD in philosophy, Chris brings analytical depth and strategic discipline to every engagement—grounding bold ideas in data, structure, and measurable results.
Association Strategy | Membership Growth | AI for Associations | Strategic Planning | Revenue Innovation
Chris’s work integrates advanced analytics, behavioral insight, and technology to create sustainable models of growth and value for associations.
Chris has guided many of the world’s leading associations through transformative growth. His strategies drive clarity, alignment, and measurable success for organizations that set the standard in their fields.
Selected Clients:
AARP – Built a $43 million growth engine through advanced member analytics
American Medical Association (AMA) – Tripled membership growth through a digital reboot
IEEE – Designed a global engagement and revenue strategy for the next generation of engineers
American Psychological Association (APA) – Led strategic planning that reshaped organizational direction
SAE International and Executives’ Club of Chicago – Reframed member value and accelerated sustained growth
Leaders across industries trust Chris for strategies that don’t just inform—they perform. His clients describe his work as transformative, delivering measurable outcomes and long-term impact.
Chris applies the rigor of a Big Strategy consultant and the depth of a PhD researcher to solve complex growth challenges with precision and purpose. His work goes beyond recommendations—it delivers outcomes.
His approach is grounded in three principles:
Data-Driven Insight – Every strategy begins with evidence and analytics, not assumptions.
Mission Alignment – Growth must strengthen the purpose and people at the heart of the organization.
Measurable Results – Success is defined, tracked, and delivered.
A frequent contributor to Associations Now and Sidecar, and a featured speaker at Digital NOW and Association FORUM, Chris helps association leaders reimagine what’s possible—and build strategies that create lasting impact.
Founded in 2001 and based in Hinsdale, Illinois, Sequence Consulting, Inc. is rated 5.0 stars across client reviews and recognized for its expertise in Membership Growth, Strategic Planning, Non-Dues Revenue, and AI Strategy for Associations. Together with Lisa Vaughan, Co-Founder & CEO, Chris leads the firm’s mission to help associations grow faster through data-driven strategy.
Explore our Association Consulting Services and Client Success Stories.
Chris’s insights and case studies have been featured in leading association publications, including:
Associations Now (ASAE)
FORUM Magazine (Association Forum)
Sidecar Global
Associations Evolve (Answers for Associations)
Association of Consultants to Nonprofits (ACN)
Name: Chris Vaughan, PhD
Role: Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Sequence Consulting, Inc.
Experience: 25 + years advising professional and trade associations worldwide
Expertise: Association Strategy · Membership Growth · AI for Associations · Strategic Planning · Revenue Innovation
Featured In: Associations Now, FORUM Magazine, Sidecar, Associations Evolve
Affiliation: Sequence Consulting — Helping Associations Grow Faster
Education: PhD in Philosophy — University of Chicago
Contact: chris@sequenceconsulting.com | LinkedIn Profile
Verified Entity: Sequence Consulting Entity Map