Greeting Card Association Leadership Team
The GCA Board of Directors has full control of the Association’s activities, affairs, property, and funds. The Board appoints an Executive Committee from among its members, to act on the Board’s behalf, make policy decisions and bind the credit of the Association. The Executive Director serves as an ex-officio member of the Board.
The Board of Directors and Executive Committee hold meetings at least three times per year.
Board of Directors
Amy McAnarney
President
Hallmark, Kansas City, MO
George White
Immediate Past-President
Up With Paper, Mason, OH
Andy Meehan
Vice President/Treasurer
Consultant to Designer Greetings & Madison Park Greetings
Alan Friedman
Great Arrow Graphics, Buffalo, NY
Nicky Burton
Calypso Cards, Inc., Providence, RI
Carlos LLanso
Legacy Publishing Group, Clinton MA
Kate Murray
Quick Brown Fox Letterpress, Saugerties, NY
Dave Phipps
Avanti Press, Detroit, MI
Kelly Ricker
John Smyth
Brian Virgona
Associates Chair
Stationery Trends and Gift Shop Magazine/Great American Media, Sparta, MI
Nora Weiser
Executive Director
Greeting Card Association, Denver, CO
Advisory Board
Gail Anderson
Universal Presentation Concepts, Madison, WI
Glen Biely
Biely & Shoaf, Seattle, WA
Sue Charlier
Steve Gimbelman
Designer Greetings, Edison, NJ
Alan Harnik
Notes & Queries, Baltimore, MD
Lindsay Henry
Inklings Paperie, Detroit, MI
Ron Kanfi
NobleWorks Cards, Hoboken, NJ
Juliana Kissick
Good JuJu Ink, Oakland, CA
Sue Lund
The Occasions Group, Inc., North Mankato, MN
Susan January
Leanin’ Tree, Boulder, CO
Tom Otto
Exclusive Bordering Company, Elburn, IL
Mike Smith
Brenda Turner
DaySpring Cards, Siloam Springs, AR
Victoria Venturi
Paper Epiphanies, Portland, OR
Rafe Wolf
Quilling Card, Framingham, MA
Brad Woods
Maginating, Inc., St. Louis, MO
Committee Chairs
The following volunteers serve the membership as part of the GCA’s committee structure. GCA’s standing committees include: Postal Affairs, Workshop & Retreat, LOUIE Awards, Membership, Communications/PR and *Noted. From time to time, the President may establish other ad hoc committees and working groups to help the Association carry out its business.
Thinking of being a volunteer? It’s a way to learn more about a specific area of GCA operations, build important business relationships, and give back to your industry. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Nora Weiser, Executive Director.
Associates
Committee
The Associates Committee manages the Associates’ programs and recommends strategies for deepening their participation in the GCA. Associates include all non-publisher members (i.e., printers, paper companies, etc.).
Brian Virgona
Chair
Great American Media Services, Westfield, IN
Communications and Public Relations Committee
The Communications and Public Relations Committee helps the Executive Committee in developing and/or implementing various communications, marketing, and/or public relations initiatives for the association overall.
Dave Phipps
Chair
Avanti Press, Detroit, MI
Workshop & Retreat Committee
The Workshop & Retreat Committee develops program content and a theme and creates designs for event branding and collateral. It also helps recruit sponsors and speakers and works with GCA staff on logistics and budget.
Andy Meehan
Chair
Consultant to Designer Greetings & Madison Park Greetings
LOUIE Awards Committee
The LOUIE Awards Committee develops thematic branding and collateral, leads the GCA’s planning, logistics, and promotion efforts, recruits judges and paid/in-kind sponsors. It works with Associate members and coordinates with GCA staff on logistics and budget.
Kate Murray
Chair
Quick Brown Fox Letterpress, Saugerties, NY
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee helps recruit and onboard new members and recommends individuals and companies for membership. It also helps nurture new members and encourage their participation in various GCA events and activities and works with GCA staff on communications and other outreach.
Carlos LLanso
Chair
Legacy Publishing Group, Clinton MA
Past President’s Council
The Council helps maintain continuity in the Association’s activities, responds to emerging member needs and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee. It also initiates and/or oversees any required Bylaws modifications. Past Presidents sit on this council.
George White
Chair/Immediate Past President
Up With Paper, Mason, OH
Public Affairs Committee
This Committee manages the GCA’s postal strategy, which includes working with the GCA’s Vice President of Public Affairs, maintaining relationships with the USPS, works with it on marketing communications, and other initiatives. It also advises on legislative matters and updates members on emerging issues and/or action items.
Tom Shoaf, Chair
*Noted Committee
This Committee oversees the planning of the annual *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo. This community-focused and community-driven event is the only one of its kind to focus exclusively on greeting cards and offering space to publishers large and small.
George White
Co-Chair
Up With Paper, Mason, OH
John Smyth
Nominating Committee
This Committee is responsible for identifying, grooming, and recruiting future leaders to head GCA committees, serve on the Board of Directors, and potentially move to officer roles in the organization.
George White, Chair
George White
Co-Chair
Up With Paper, Mason, OH
Thinking of You Week Committee
Committee members work with the Chair to assist with the general promotion of the event and development of any promotional materials. Add your voice and energy to new initiatives and help shape the future of this international movement to celebrate the joy of sending and receiving hand-written notes and greeting cards.
Ashleigh Pritchard
Chair
CharmCat Creative, LLC, Martinsville, VA