GREETING CARD ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBERS
Longtime GCA volunteer and Co-Chair of inaugural Noted: The Greeting Card Expo™ takes the helm.
WASHINGTON, DC – October 28, 2019 – The membership of the Greeting Card Association (GCA) elected longtime volunteer George White, President and COO of Up with Paper, as their 53rd president during their recent Workshop and Retreat in Naples, Florida. George succeeds Christy Kaprosy, formerly with American Greetings Corporation. Carlos LLansó, CEO of Legacy Publishing Group, will serve as Immediate Past President. Amy McAnarney, Vice President & General Manager of National Accounts & Business Development for Hallmark Greetings, has assumed the role of Vice President / Treasurer. All officers will serve a term of two years.
Directors continuing with the Executive Committee for 2020-2021 are Nicky Burton (Calypso Cards), Alan Friedman (Great Arrow Graphics), Steve Gimbelman (Designer Greetings, Inc.), Susan January (Leanin’ Tree), Dave Phipps (Avanti Press, Inc.), Kelly Ricker (American Greetings Corporation), and John Smyth (A. Smyth Co.). David Wilke (Leader Paper Products, Inc.) will continue to serve on the Executive Committee as elected Chair of the Associate Members through September 2020. Peter Doherty, CAE, Executive Director of the GCA, continues to serve as ex-officio for the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
The GCA’s membership also approved the addition of many new faces to the Board of Directors for 2020. New members include Amy McAnarney (Hallmark Cards, Inc.), Mike Esposito (LovePop), Lindsay Henry (Inklings Paperie), Victoria Venturi (Paper Epiphanies), Rafe Wolf (Quilling), Gail Anderson (Universal Presentation Concepts), and Bob Kurland (Blue Mountain Arts). Returning to the Board for 2020 are Carlos Llansó (Legacy Publishing Group), John Smyth(A. Smyth Co.), Dave Phipps (AVANTI Press, Inc.), Nicky Burton (Calypso Cards, Inc.), Brenda Turner (Day Spring Cards), Steve Gimbelman (Designer Greetings, Inc.), Tom Otto (Exclusive Bordering Co.), Alan Friedman (Great Arrow Graphics), Phil St. Germain (JS McCarthy Printers), Susan January (Leanin’ Tree), Sue Lund (The Occasions Group, Inc.), Ron Kanfi (Noble Works Cards), Patrice Saad (Papyrus-Recycled Greetings), Glen Biely (Biely & Shoaf), George White (Up with Paper), David Wilke (Leader Paper), Kelly Ricker (American Greetings), Rick Ruffner (AVANTI Press, Inc.), and Alan Harnik (Notes & Queries).
With new leadership in place for 2020, President White and the GCA are ready to solidify their strategic position and take advantage of future opportunities. “It is an important time for our organization,” notes George. “We understand that the needs of the industry and our members are changing. Our launch of Noted: The Greeting Card Expo earlier this year and new program enhancements comes with a recognition that our makers are looking for something different. Something better. And we are not done yet. With the help of our membership, we can achieve our immediate goals and finish the job of preparing the GCA for the future.” George has outlined a series of goals for the organization, including continued membership growth and solidifying the GCA’s Associate member base, further clarifying and enhancing the GCA’s value proposition, further investment in and recognition of Noted: The Greeting Card Expo and the LOUIE Awards, increased member and volunteer engagement, and improved sustainability.
“The GCA’s growing membership continues to design products that appeal to today’s engaged shoppers. And with George’s election, and the addition of new officers and Board members, we will see continued creativity at the Board level. This new talent ensures that the GCA is poised for success in the New Year. The GCA headquarters team and I look forward to working with George and our Board of Directors to advance the President’s stated goals, so that the industry can continue to thrive,” said Peter Doherty, Executive Director.
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The Greeting Card Association is the U.S. trade association serving the greeting card and social expression industry. Its signature industry events include the LOUIE Awards, the annual fall Workshop and Retreat, and *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo™ – an event by and for the greeting card community.
Founded in 1941, the GCA is supported by 200 American and international publishers from businesses ranging from start-ups to established companies of all sizes, scopes and industry tenure — as well as suppliers that provide production services and wholesale product distribution. Read more about the GCA.