Management HQ

What Management HQ does

Management HQ is a privately held, woman-owned association management company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm operates two service lines: (1) MHQ Association Management Services, providing full-service operational management for membership-based trade, professional, and nonprofit associations—including executive director placement, strategic planning, membership development, board governance support, financial management, event management, marketing communications, and technology management; and (2) MHQ Public Sector and Government Services, offering organizational development consulting, strategic planning, community engagement, communications, project management, and process improvement to government agencies.

The company generates revenue primarily through custom-quoted, multi-year managed services engagements and project-based professional services. Its technology stack is standard association management software (membership databases, event registration, websites, marketing tools) with no proprietary platform or AI capabilities. MHQ differentiates through AMCI accreditation, a stack of government certifications (WBE, WOSB, SDB, JVWOSB, DBE, SBE), and a leadership team with CAE credentials and prior corporate experience. The firm employs 11-50 staff (approximately 10 named professionals) and serves roughly a dozen named client associations spanning government communications, social impact, science education, paralegal, insurance, occupational therapy, mental health, remodeling, and academic sectors.

Distribution is sales-led via direct engagement with association boards and government agencies, an online "3-minute RFP" intake, and industry referrals through MSAE/ASAE partnerships. In August 2024, MHQ expanded into direct-to-government contracting services, leveraging its certifications to access public-sector RFP pipelines. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and is founder-controlled by CEO Dara Rudick.

Name

Management HQ

Legal name

Management HQ, LLC

Website

https://management-hq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Management HQ is a woman-owned, Minneapolis-based association management company founded in 2013 that provides full-service operational management for trade, professional, and nonprofit associations, plus organizational development and strategic planning consulting for government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Association Management Services

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Association management services
• Government consulting services
• Membership management
• Event management services
• Strategic planning consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Association Management Services: Full-service ongoing comprehensive association management including operational management, executive director services, strategic planning, membership management, board governance support, financial management, and technology management. Provides clients with an executive director and full management and operations team.
2. Project-Based Consulting: Project-based services to expand capacity of association staff teams, including special projects, new program development, implementation, and temporary management support during leadership transitions.
3. Public Sector Services: Services to government agencies including organizational development consulting, strategic planning, community engagement, communications, project management, process improvement, and meeting/event facilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Management HQ provides full-service association management to membership-based trade, professional, and government associations, delivering executive director services, strategic planning, membership development and retention, board governance support, financial management, event management, marketing communications, and technology management. It also offers public sector and government services including organizational development consulting, strategic planning, community engagement, communications, project management, process improvement, and meeting/event facilitation for public agencies.

Product overview

Management HQ is an accredited, full-service management company offering two primary service lines: (1) MHQ Association Management Services, which provides comprehensive operational management including executive director services, strategic planning, membership development and retention, board governance support, event management, financial management, accounting, and technology management for membership-based organizations; and (2) MHQ Public Sector and Government Services, offering organizational development consulting, strategic planning, community engagement, communications, project management, and process improvement specifically designed for government agencies. Both service lines are delivered by a diverse professional team and supported by government certifications and AMCI accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MHQ Association Management Services Full-service ongoing association management for membership-based trade and professional associations, providing executive director services, strategic planning, membership development and retention, board governance support, financial management, accounting, marketing communications, sponsorship management, event management, and technology management.
• MHQ Public Sector and Government Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% membership increase for NAGC over 3-year relationship
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Energy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2015MHQ partnered with Flisrand Consulting to manage Energy Foundation's national convening of stakeholders. MHQ provided full-service event management including strategic planning, venue selection and negotiation, budget management, on-site management, vendor and speaker coordination, and event evaluation.
• CollegePossibleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2015MHQ intern Dijon McCain participated in CollegePossible initiative that recognized successful young people who 'beat the odds.' This led to White House visit invitation from First Lady Michelle Obama.
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2015MSAE teamed up with ASAE to collaborate and launch an initiative for diversity and inclusiveness. MHQ CEO Dara Rudick participated as MSAE Board Chair. ASAE provided expertise and guidance based on 20+ years of diversity and inclusion work.
• Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2015MSAE partnered with ASAE for diversity and inclusion initiative. MHQ CEO Dara Rudick served as MSAE Board Chair and championed the initiative. MHQ co-chaired the Diversity and Inclusion Committee with Meet Minneapolis.
• Meet Minneapolis CVAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2015Meet Minneapolis hosted and sponsored the MSAE/ASAE diversity and inclusion planning session. Co-chaired Diversity and Inclusion Committee with MHQ CEO. Ongoing partnership for events and industry engagement.
• AchieveMplsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MHQ participates in AchieveMpls Step-Up summer jobs program. Provides internship opportunities for Minneapolis youth. MHQ CEO served as emcee at annual STEP-UP Achieve Partners Breakfast.
• Flisrand ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015MHQ partnered with Flisrand Consulting to manage Energy Foundation national convening. Flisrand provided additional consulting support alongside MHQ's event management services.
• Bush FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015MHQ CEO Dara Rudick invited to participate as consultant at Bush Foundation's annual bushCONNECT leadership event. Led 'speed-consulting' segment focused on leadership and operations for non-profits.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ICF International: ICF is a major public-sector management consulting firm offering organizational development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement services to federal, state, and local government agencies. Overlaps with MHQ's public sector/government services line at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Association Headquarters (AHI): AHI is a mid-size AMC providing full-service management, conference management, and executive director services to professional and trade associations. Closely comparable in size, service portfolio, and mid-market positioning to MHQ.
• SmithBucklin: SmithBucklin is the largest association management company (AMC) globally, providing full-service management, executive director services, and event management to 200+ trade and professional associations. They compete with MHQ across most verticals MHQ serves but at materially larger scale, making them the closest pure-play peer.
• Kellen Company: Kellen is a global AMC delivering full-service association management, meetings, and event services across multiple verticals including healthcare, energy, and consumer goods. Directly comparable to MHQ's full-service AMC model with international reach.
• Virtual, Inc. Virtual is a mid-size AMC focused on technology, standards, and innovation-driven associations, providing full-service management and event management. They compete with MHQ for science- and technology-vertical association clients such as NARST.
• Talley Management Group: Talley is a mid-size AMC providing association management, meeting planning, and strategic services to professional and trade associations. Comparable in scope of services to MHQ, particularly for professional-society clients.
• Marasco & Associates: Marasco & Associates is a boutique AMC serving trade and professional associations with full-service management, executive direction, and event management. Closely comparable in size and positioning to MHQ.

Emerging players

• McKinley Advisors: McKinley Advisors is a consulting firm providing strategy, governance, and operations advisory services to associations and non-profits. They overlap with MHQ on the consulting and project-based services side rather than full-service AMC management.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ManagementHQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8MPjuyeVc5A7mCGfEqPvJQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManagementHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/management-hq

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Management HQ