Ed worked in association management for more than thirty years and in addition to tirelessly working to establish and guide operations at The Harrington Company, he placed importance on the value of education. Ed received the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), served as President of Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE), and was an active member and President of the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC). In the community, Ed founded The Harrington Foundation, a charitable organization that provides college scholarships to deserving students, with 100% of donated funds used for scholarships. The Minneapolis Foundation has been distributing scholarships on behalf of the Harrington Foundation since 2008.