Robbie Thompson

Robbie Thompson has served as CEO of PLUS since 2015, bringing over two decades of leadership experience within the association world. With a double major in Business and Economics and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, Robbie’s career has been dedicated to advancing the missions of member-driven organizations through strategic leadership and collaborative innovation.

Prior to joining PLUS, he led a successful trade association serving credit unions and held a variety of executive roles in associations that spanned everything from legal affairs to legislative strategy, operations, and governance. Over the past 25 years, Robbie has helped associations navigate major transitions including Y2K, the dotcom bust, shifting political landscapes, a global pandemic, and the evolving demands of technology and member expectations. And despite all that experience, he still often finds himself identifying new and interesting ways to connect with and meet the needs of members.

At PLUS, Robbie works alongside a dedicated staff and an energized community of volunteers to deliver on the organization’s mission and chart its strategic future. Under his leadership, PLUS has launched several transformative initiatives: shifting its curriculum to a more accessible digital format, rolling out a free membership model to expand access, and implementing modern technologies that elevate the member experience. He’s especially proud of how the organization emerged from the pandemic even stronger, more agile, more connected, and more prepared for the future.

Robbie is a strong believer in trust, as a leadership principle, a cultural value, and the key to effective collaboration. He also lives by the belief that “you’re only limited by how hard you’re willing to work,” a mindset that fuels his drive to continually innovate, adapt, and deliver meaningful value to members.

When he’s off the clock, you might find him playing fastpitch softball, reading Shakespeare (Macbeth is his favorite), or brewery-hopping with his dog Mochi, a Shiba Inu. The two have proudly made it to all 45 dog-friendly breweries in the Minneapolis area. If he could share a meal with anyone from history? Shakespeare, as Robbie has read all the Tragedies and still has a lot of questions.