Firm helped develop a new architecture, integrate third-party platforms and create custom features to increase website functionality and usability

ST. LOUIS – May 5, 2016 – Engage, experts in the design and development of web and mobile solutions for enterprises, congratulates the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) on winning a 2016 Gold Circle Award from the Center for Association Leadership (ASAE) in the website category. Working in partnership with the ACR and Protech Associates, Inc., a provider of cloud-based association management software (AMS), Engage helped develop new architecture, integrate third-party platforms and create custom features to increase website functionality and usability.

Built in the DNN Evoq™ content management system (CMS), the ACR’s award-winning website includes the following:

• Improved Navigation & Accessibility: In addition to a robust search function, the site features a mega menu, featuring content and images tailored to personas. To improve the user experience, visitors can select their user type (rheumatologist, student, etc.) to easily locate the most relevant information.
• AMS Integrations: Engage integrated the site with Protech Associates’ AMS, along with a number of other third-party providers’ solutions. With new online features, members can update their profiles, renew/apply for membership and make purchases. The updated platform also allowed the ACR to introduce a new “Find a Rheumatologist” directory with both a members-only and public version.
• Analytics: Engage helped the ACR set up analytics and reporting capabilities for the new site to help provide insight for the ACR to better focus on generating content that is useful and interesting to its members.

“With the industry landscape quickly changing, our site had become dated, cluttered, frustrating to navigate and challenging to manage,” said Joan Roth, senior director of communication, marketing and technology for the ACR. “Going into the project, our overarching goal was to develop a user-centered site that would be intuitive to visitors and offer enhanced access and visibility to valuable content that was previously difficult to find – the focus was on creating a great user experience.”

Roth continued, “Not only are our visitors finding information more easily, but they are spending more time on the site overall and exploring content that was inaccessible in the past. We are extremely proud of our staff and external partners, like Engage and Protech, for the outstanding effort given to deliver a site that reflects who the ACR is today and provides our online visitors with the experience they deserve. And having our work recognized by ASAE is a tremendous honor.”

The Gold Circle Awards competition is the premier association marketing, membership and communications award that recognizes excellence, innovation, and achievement in association/nonprofit marketing, membership and communications programs. This year’s competition received more than 163 entries across 11 categories, with 19 entries in the website category. The ACR is the first medical society to win the category in at least five years.

Rich Campbell, president, Engage, said, “Engage is thrilled to congratulate the ACR on its ASAE Gold Circle Award win. We are looking forward to seeing how the organization continues to drive positive user experiences for its members – one of the most important functions of an association’s website.”

To view the new ACR website, visit: www.rheumatology.org.

About the American College of Rheumatology

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the American College of Rheumatology is an international medical society representing over 9,400 rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals with a mission to Advance Rheumatology! In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatologists are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. For more information, visit www.rheumatology.org.

About Engage

Engage is a full-service design and development firm whose experts create custom, high-quality web and mobile solutions for enterprises. Founded in 1999, Engage leverages the flexibility and scalability of the DNN-powered Evoq™ Content and Social management solutions to help businesses turn their ideas into elegantly crafted, professional websites. The DNN Platform is a well-established content management system (CMS) native to Microsoft .NET. Whether working directly with medium and large organizations, including franchises, nonprofits and associations, or collaborating with an agency, Engage positions its clients for success. Headquartered in St. Louis, Engage is both a DNN Certified Partner and a Microsoft Partner. To learn more, visit www.engagesoftware.com.