On a warm spring afternoon in Austin, I received an unexpected call from the president of a union local in Dallas.
He asked if my team could build a mobile application that would allow his staff to electronically sign up new members. At the time, their entire membership process was still paper-based—forms, clipboards, manual data entry. He wanted to go fully digital.
My company specialized in building CRM systems for businesses and nonprofits. We had no background in the labor movement, but the project sounded like something we could tackle. A week later, we met in person. We spent the day whiteboarding ideas for an iPad app that field reps could use to access member information in real time—and to recruit and enroll new members on the spot.
Six months later, the first version of EMMA was live.
It was a success. Almost immediately, our client asked for more. We built a Grievance Module, making it easy for reps to file grievances in the field, gather supporting information, and track progress electronically. Later, we added email templates and two-way email integration to speed up communication and reduce paperwork.
From App to Platform
Word spread.
Other locals began calling, and we realized we weren’t just delivering a one-off app—we were building a platform. Over time, EMMA grew to include data imports, contract tracking, reporting tools, and internal messaging. Each new customer helped shape the roadmap. Each new challenge stretched the platform further.
A $2M Success Story
Two years in, our first customer told us something remarkable: they had built a $2 million cash reserve, thanks to EMMA.
Faster onboarding, better data, and more consistent dues collection helped them grow membership and reduce admin costs—without raising dues or cutting services.
Building Our Own Accounting System
Soon, locals began asking for deeper integration with their accounting systems. We tried working with existing tools, but none were quite right. So we made a bold decision—we built our own.
To jump-start development, we acquired a company with an existing dues accounting system. Their tech was dated, but their founder was eager to collaborate. Together, we built a modern, union-specific accounting solution fully integrated with EMMA.
Today and Beyond
Today, EMMA is a comprehensive, purpose-built platform for union locals. What started as a recruiting tool has expanded into a full suite of features for membership, grievance, contract, organizing, and accounting management. Under the hood, EMMA includes powerful tools for reporting, auditing, and data integration.
But the most important evolution wasn’t technical—it was cultural. Over the years, our team has developed deep respect for the labor movement and the fight for income equality in America. We’ve seen firsthand how modern tools can empower organizers, simplify operations, and help unions grow stronger.
We’re proud that our work supports working people—and we’re just getting started.
