American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA)
PROJECT: Strategic Planning & Outcome Evaluation
/ CHALLENGE
AIRA, a national membership organization supporting immunization information systems (IIS), faced a pivotal moment in its organizational trajectory. After years of growth and programmatic expansion, its leadership recognized signs of internal strain, including the need for clearer succession planning and recalibrated infrastructure. The board and senior staff required a unified strategy to navigate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of both AIRA and its subcontractor, Vaccinate Your Family (formerly Every Child by Two).
/ SOLUTION
A&O partnered with Clear Blue Associates to lead a five-month strategic planning and capacity-building initiative, anchored by Susan Kenny Stevens’ Nonprofit Lifecycles framework. This holistic approach emphasized not only programs and external positioning but also internal infrastructure, governance, and readiness. Cynthia O’Connor and Steve Schack facilitated a board retreat in Savannah and engaged AIRA’s leadership in an honest, systems-level exploration of priorities, growth pace, and organizational health.
“We were able to ‘turn around’ from decline.”
/ OUTCOME
The process resulted in a board-approved reorganization and a forward-looking succession strategy. With shared vision and actionable steps, AIRA shifted from a state of decline toward revitalization. The outcome wasn’t just a plan—it was renewed alignment across leadership, strategic clarity, and the internal capacity to sustain impact.