Museum Professionals (Museum Computer Network)

What if the reason your conference feels forgettable isn’t the quality of the speakers—but the lack of real connection between the people in the room? In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler talks with Max Evjen, a museum technologist and longtime board member of the Museum Computer Network (MCN), about how one of the oldest professional communities in the museum world has quietly been getting community right for decades. MCN is a nonprofit professional community for museum workers who use technology across education, interpretation, marketing, fundraising, and collections. Its mission hasn’t changed much since the 1960s: help museum professionals grow their digital capacity by connecting them to ideas, proven practices, and—most importantly—to each other. In this conversation, Max breaks down how that mission actually shows up on the ground. You’ll hear how MCN: Prioritizes connection over content, designing conferences where relationships matter more than slide decks Clearly separates its shared mission from its business purpose, and why that clarity matters Creates embers like “I found my people,” psychological safety, and a genuine desire to contribute Uses mentorship, onboarding, and feedback loops to help members move from newcomers to leaders Engineers the conditions for serendipity—moments where unexpected collaborations lead to real-world impact You’ll also hear why MCN members repeatedly step up—volunteering time, sharing expertise, and even financially supporting the organization—not because they’re asked to, but because they believe in what the community stands for. If you’re running conferences that people attend once and never return to—or building a community that looks healthy on paper but struggles to create real relationships—this episode offers a clear model for what to do differently. Listen for how MCN designs its spaces, rituals, and feedback loops—and consider which of those ideas you could borrow for your own community.