Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)

What Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) does

MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) is a 501(c) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1926 and headquartered at 1980 College Road, Mason, Michigan. It serves PreK-8 school principals across the state of Michigan, organized through at least 13 regional chapters and operating with a small core staff of approximately 21 employees led by Executive Director Dr. Shanna Spickard and Associate Executive Director Kimberly Gillow. In April 2026 the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary, underscoring its century-long positioning as the principal professional body for Michigan's elementary and middle-level school leaders.

The association's product surface is built around an annual membership (renewing May 1 each year) bundled with member benefits including up to $20,000 in due process protection, $2 million in professional liability coverage, individual legal support, real-time legislative updates, and recognition programs such as Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year. Member services are delivered through the Member Compass portal running on Novi AMS association management software. Professional learning revenue is generated through paid cohort programs (Leadership Matters in its 17th cohort, Thoughtful Leaders, Mentoring and Coaching Certification), an annual Summer Leadership Institute, the December Annual Conference at Grand Traverse Resort, and the Assistant Principals & Deans Series, with sponsorships and partner-funded programming contributing additional revenue.

MEMSPA monetizes primarily through annual membership dues, conference and event registration fees, and event sponsorships, supplemented by a curated partner ecosystem that bundles third-party benefits (Playworks, Capturing Kids' Hearts, TRAILS, LEGO Education, Michigan Virtual, Varsity Tutors for Schools, Scholastic, and others) into the membership proposition. The organization maintains a formal affiliate relationship with NAESP, and is governed by an elected Board of Directors and Executive Committee rather than external shareholders, operating without parent-company, private equity, or external funding exposure.

Name

Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)

Legal name

Michigan Elementary And Middle School Principals Association

Website

https://memspa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MEMSPA is a 100-year-old Michigan nonprofit professional membership association serving PreK-8 school principals with annual membership benefits including legal protections, liability coverage, professional development cohorts and conferences, legislative advocacy, and a statewide regional peer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mason

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. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues for PreK-8 principals in Michigan. Membership renews annually on May 1 for the school year. Members receive access to benefits including due process protection, professional liability coverage, professional development, legislative updates, and networking opportunities.
2. Conference and Event Fees: Fees for attending professional learning events including Summer Leadership Institute, Annual Conference, Leadership Matters cohort, Thoughtful Leaders program, and other professional development offerings.
3. Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for events such as Summer Leadership Institute (Keynote Speaker Sponsor, Meal Sponsor, Break Sponsor, Reception Sponsor, Board of Directors Lunch Sponsor).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MEMSPA is a nonprofit professional membership association that provides Michigan PreK-8 elementary and middle school principals with annual membership benefits including due process protection (up to $20,000) and $2 million professional liability coverage, legislative advocacy, real-time legislative news, and individual legal support. The association also delivers cohort-based professional learning programs (Leadership Matters, Thoughtful Leaders, Mentoring and Coaching Certification), annual conferences (Summer Leadership Institute, Annual Conference), and an Assistant Principals & Deans Series through both in-person and virtual formats.

Product overview

MEMSPA is a professional association for Michigan elementary and middle school principals offering membership services with associated benefits rather than a unified technology product. The organization provides professional learning opportunities including cohort programs (Leadership Matters, Thoughtful Leaders, Mentoring and Coaching Certification), annual conferences (Summer Leadership Institute, Annual Conference), and specialized series for assistant principals. Member services are delivered through the Member Compass portal for registration, invoicing, and account management. The association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MEMSPA: The association's primary operating name and brand identity for Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association

Products and services

• Joint Professional Membership Annual membership tier for Michigan PreK-8 principals providing liability insurance, legal protection, due process coverage (up to $20,000 with continuous membership), $2 million professional liability coverage, legislative updates, professional development, and networking opportunities. Membership renews annually on May 1.
• Member Compass Portal Online member portal providing access to profile management, event registration, invoice viewing and payment, and account history for MEMSPA members.
• Summer Leadership Institute Annual two-day professional learning conference held in Muskegon, Michigan, providing networking and educational sessions for school principals.
• Leadership Matters Transformational multi-session cohort learning experience for school leaders offered annually, with 17th cohort launching January 2027, focused on enhanced leadership skills and reflective practice.
• Thoughtful Leaders Three-session professional learning program gathering leaders to reflect on leadership practices, engage with research, and renew purpose, facilitated by Syndee Malek and Betty Rosen-Leacher.
• Mentoring and Coaching Certification Program Certification program for experienced principals to become mentors/coaches, with Cohort 10 beginning October 14, 2026 through March 16, 2027.
• Assistant Principals & Deans Series Professional learning series combining in-person and virtual workshops focused on topics relevant to assistant principals and deans.
• Annual Conference MEMSPA's flagship annual conference, held December 2-4, 2026 at Grand Traverse Resort, celebrating 100 years of the association.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350 leaders graduated from Leadership Matters program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEMSPA maintains a formal partnership with NAESP, providing members with access to NAESP member discounts and benefits. The relationship includes co-branded offerings and collaborative advocacy at the national level.
• Playworks MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlayworks Michigan partners with MEMSPA to provide recess transformation programs, professional development workshops (Playworks PRO), and resources for school culture building. They offer Title II funding-eligible professional learning.
• Farm Bureau Insurance of MichiganminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFarm Bureau Insurance provides grants for school-focused programs including food initiatives, therapy dogs, and educational programs. Their Agents for Change grants award up to $2,500 to Michigan schools.
• EquitableminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquitable provides financial planning services and resources for education leaders. MEMSPA shares their content as a partner update for members interested in retirement and financial planning.
• Capturing Kids' HeartscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) provides relationship-driven school culture programming featured in MEMSPA professional learning and highlighted through member school case studies demonstrating measurable behavior improvements.
• The Positivity Project (P2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharacter education curriculum partner providing resources for Michigan schools. Featured in MEMSPA partner updates with case studies showing improved school culture and academic outcomes.
• Varsity Tutors for SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarsity Tutors partners with Michigan schools to provide high-dosage tutoring for reading improvement. Case studies show 7-9% RIT score increases and 12% growth on assessments.
• TRAILS (Trails to Wellness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health programming partner providing evidence-based social-emotional learning for Michigan schools at no cost, supported by State of Michigan funding.
• Michigan VirtualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Virtual provides professional learning for Michigan educators including SCECH-credited courses, custom program development, and AI guidance for schools. MEMSPA has co-developed courses with them.
• ScholasticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholastic provides literacy resources including LitCamp, MathCamp, and Core-Aligned Collections. Content about summer learning and the 20-20-20 reading strategy featured in MEMSPA updates.
• Shoelace LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdolescent literacy platform providing MAP-aligned reading instruction for grades 4-9. Offers NWEA MAP Score to Shoelace alignment resources for Michigan educators.
• LEGO EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEGO Education provides hands-on Computer Science and AI learning solutions for K-8 classrooms. Partnered with MEMSPA for professional development supporting Michigan's 2027 high school CS mandate.
• Ignite ReadingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly literacy intervention provider offering structured reading programs and progress monitoring tools for elementary students.
• Michigan State University Educational LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU offers a Doctorate in Educational Leadership program as a three-year cohort model. MEMSPA shares this as a professional advancement opportunity for members.
• Williams and Company / PlanMember Securities CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial planning services provider specializing in 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans for school employees. Content shared with members for retirement planning guidance.
• Dean TransportationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool bus transportation company partnering on school safety initiatives including National School Bus Safety Week and Operation Safe Stop awareness.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National PTA: National membership association serving parent leaders in schools. Operates a comparable dues-funded, chapter-based, advocacy-driven model, but its members are parents rather than principals.
• National School Boards Association (NSBA): National federation of school boards. Adjacent in mission (governance, advocacy, professional development for school decision-makers), but its members are boards rather than principals.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): National association of state education chiefs. Operates an analogous state-level leadership convening and policy advocacy model, but at the state superintendent rather than building principal level.
• American Association of School Administrators (AASA): National association for school superintendents and district leaders. Operates a broader portfolio covering K-12 system leadership, but uses the same membership, advocacy, and professional development model.
• ASCD: Large national association for educators and instructional leaders across roles. Comparable membership and professional learning model, but with a much broader educator audience rather than a principal-only focus.

Regional players

• Michigan Education Association (MEA): Michigan statewide educator association representing teachers and education staff. Uses a comparable state-level membership and advocacy model for a different but overlapping school persona.

Direct peers

• Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP): State-level Michigan association for secondary school principals. Operates the same membership-based, professional-development model in Michigan but covers grades 6-12, making it the most direct in-state peer.
• National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): The national affiliate and direct counterpart for elementary and middle-level principals. MEMSPA partners formally with NAESP, making it the closest comparable membership organization serving the same principal persona.
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): National membership association for middle and high school principals. Closely comparable in mission, dues structure, professional learning offerings, and advocacy focus to MEMSPA, but covers secondary level.
• Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA): Statewide association for Michigan school administrators (superintendents, central office leaders). Operates an analogous advocacy and professional learning model in Michigan, serving an adjacent but distinct administrator persona.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/memspa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-elementary-and-middle-school-principals-association-memspa-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)