I had a chance Tuesday to speak with Debra Helwig (you may know her on Twitter as @dhelwig) to find out more about her organization’s operations. Debra is the marketing and communications manager at IGAF Worldwide, an accounting association with more than 130 member firms across the world.

What makes IGAF Worldwide unique — and why I was so interested in speaking with Debra — is that the organization’s staff works virtually all the time. The staff of six work across North America, and three members serve jointly as members and regional coordinators in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

None of the staffers live in the same town, and only two are within 45 minutes of the remote office location. IGAF Worldwide has been fully virtual since October 2005.

All data is Web-driven and can be accessed through a Web interface. IGAF Worldwide uses a Virtual PBX, so when you call a phone number and input an extension, a cell phone or landline can ring wherever it needs to. Debra said the IGAF Worldwide staffers communicate primarily through e-mail and Instant Messenger, and they haven’t had a face-to-face staff meeting in more than a year.

Debra said the IGAF Worldwide staff doesn’t use Skype, but they have used Second Life to collaborate.

One of the main benefits to working virtually, Debra says, is that a number of their member firms are international. It’s not uncommon for Debra to be on conference calls at 9 or 10 p.m., or have to answer an e-mail to a European member at 5 a.m.

The light at the end of the silo

Debra worked for a large-staff association for 10 years prior to joining IGAF Worldwide, and she says the biggest difference is the lack of silos in a small-staff. At a larger association, everyone has their own specialty and role, and that’s not the case at IGAF Worldwide and other small-staff organizations.

“Having your hand in the entire process helps you see where efficiencies are,” Debra said. “There’s little to no communication gap at a smaller association.”

Every day is different for Debra, and it’s not uncommon for her to have to spend a few hours occasionally stuffing envelopes!

The self-proclaimed “relationship and service queen” lives by the philosophy of Seth Godin’s “Tribes” – everyone who works for an association leads a tribe.

“It’s vital to have an intense interest in what your members do and what they need. At a small-staff, you have that ability,” Debra said.

Although Debra has limited knowledge of the accounting industry (we’re actually both proud UGA journalism school alumni!), she’s greatly invested in her member firms and says she has a good sense of who the people are, what they need and how to connect them with each other.

“We’re here to help. That’s it,” Debra said. “If we as a staff communicate better, we can help more people.”

Working virtually hasn’t hindered IGAF Worldwide’s ability to serve its members. Debra says all the staffers have a fantastic relationship with their “visionary” president, and that trust is the most important aspect of working virtually. She visits member firms often and attends business development sessions, and because IGAF Worldwide is a small-staff, they’re able to build great relationships with their members.

“We don’t have to have all the answers. We just have to have the ability to hook our members up with people who do have the answers.”

Read Debra’s blog or connect with her on Twitter. If you work for a small-staff association and would like to be profiled, please e-mail me at socialmedia@memberclicks.com.

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