It's a family affair. (On the Jobsite).

Association management has become a family tradition for three generations of the Moran family in the Orlando, Florida, area. The three family members--Liz Moran, Heather Allan, and Hillary Allan--all say the profession found them.

Liz, who is Heather's mother and Hillary's grandmother, was the first to enter the field in 1985. "I was working for a typesetting company, entering text for a state association's trade magazine. Some of the copy was pretty rough, so I took it on myself to edit it. After a while, the head of the association's communication department invited me to work for them."

Across the years, Liz has continued to work for nonprofit organizations, including a technical/educational society, a manufacturing association, and a regional youth orchestra--the latter two as executive director. She worked her way up through managing editor, meeting planner, and membership management roles to what she calls "the big desk." "I've worn just about every association management hat there is," she says. Now with association management company Rainbow Association and Meetings Management, Liz serves as executive director/chapter administrator for two organizations--the Orlando chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives and the Central Florida Convention Services Association.

Heather has been executive director of the Florida Association of Medical Equipment Services (FAMES) for more than two years. She heard a lot about association management during dinner conversations and had often helped her mother at the registration desk of association events as well as with other tasks.

She was working as a purchasing manager when Liz told her that an office neighbor--FAMES's executive director--was preparing to retire. An appointment was made, interviews held, and another association found itself a qualified employee.

"I'm a one-person staff, so I do it all," says Heather. "There's never a dull moment." As ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT went to press, she was gearing up for FAMES's annual conference and trade show. "This time of year, I don't have enough hands," she says. "But I love this job. Although my mother has been in the industry for years, I hadn't expected to go into this line of work," admits Heather. "But now that I have, I can't imagine a job that would give me more variety, challenge, and satisfaction."

Granddaughter Hillary, a rising sophomore at the University of Tampa, is working this summer for the Printing Association of Florida (PAF). Enrolled as a biology/pre-medicine major, Hillary--who has a UT presidential scholarship and Florida Bright Futures Scholarship--has since decided to switch to government and world affairs, with hopes of someday working for the Central Intelligence Agency. One of Hillary's primary responsibilities is helping PAF catalog and prepare a display of award-winning printed pieces for the organization's annual gala--a job she learned about through her grandmother's friendship with PAF Director of Education Anne Gaither.

"I've grown up hearing about meetings and boards and committees and the workings of associations. Now I'm experiencing it firsthand," notes Hillary. "There's even more to it than I expected, but it's fun, too."

Reflecting on her role in bringing her family into the association management fold, Liz admits "there's a lot of gratification in helping others advance their careers in some way."