Association TRENDS Magazine presented two 2025 TRENDY awards to the AAO for 2024 marketing campaigns. The AAO Political Action Committee (AAOPAC) received a Gold Award for Best Advocacy Campaign and The Simon Sinek + AAO Inspiring Leadership Program received a Bronze award in the Best Product Launch category.

The annual TRENDY award program honors the best marketing and communication pieces in the association and nonprofit community.

AAOPAC’s award recognized the PAC’s successful 30th anniversary campaign during 2024. The AAOPAC 30th Anniversary campaign celebrated the PAC’s rich history while achieving remarkable success in fundraising and member engagement.

FY 23-24 saw:
● 868 individual AAOPAC contributors, a 17% increase from the 741 contributors in FY 22-23
● A new fundraising record of $473,983, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous fiscal year
● AAO members directly connecting with 15% of the United States Senate in Washington, DC
● Creation and establishment of the AAOPAC Hall of Fame with three inaugural inductees

This success was driven by a coordinated, multi-strategy approach that engaged diverse member groups through in-person events, digital platforms, direct mail, and phone outreach. To creatively connect AAOPAC’s founding in 1994 with the anniversary, two symbolic giving levels were introduced: $1,094 and $30.94. These levels played a central role in the marketing strategy across platforms and lent themselves to incentives such as special AAOPAC 30th-anniversary pins and custom-designed socks.

Leadership Program Campaign Yields 118% of Enrollment Goal in 5 Weeks
The Simon Sinek + AAO Inspiring Leadership program inaugural cohort kicked off on October 24, 2024, with 278 participants, achieving 118% of goal.

The Simon Sinek + AAO Inspiring Leadership program is a transformative opportunity for orthodontists to develop the leadership skills essential for running a successful practice. Participating AAO members and orthodontic office managers will be equipped to inspire their teams, improve practice culture, and tackle common challenges such as burnout and high turnover.

These and other messages were communicated to AAO members along with opportunities to learn about leadership expert and bestselling author Simon Sinek, via a five-week marketing campaign designed to create excitement and drive action, including:

● An initial introduction to the program and Simon Sinek in the eBulletin
● Custom video featuring Simon Sinek
● Images and quotes delivered through subsequent email communications
● Social media outreach across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, with weekly Instagram stories and static posts
● Paid digital advertising, and
● Targeted press efforts

AAO Senior Staff Accept TRENDY Awards
AAO CEO Trey Lawrence and Vice President of Advocacy Nathan Mick represented AAO and AAOPAC on March 13, 2025 at the 45th Annual National TRENDY awards event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Association Trends.  The event hosted over 500 association and non-profit representatives coming together to celebrate all national award recipients.

“Congratulations to our AAO team members for their commitment and outstanding work in developing these programs and campaigns – and to our volunteer leaders, including the AAO Business Development Committee and the 2023-24 AAOPAC Board,” said Mr. Lawrence. “These programs will bring long-term benefits to AAO members, their teams and orthodontic patients.”

Engage with the Award-Winning Programs
● Contribute to AAOPAC

● Learn more about the Simon Sinek + AAO Inspiring Leadership Program.
Register for the next cohort beginning October 2, 2025