New SGMA personnel had to be hired as a result of moving its offices from North Palm Beach to Washington, as SGMA changed its priorities. Staying on are VP Gregg Hartley and Mike May, director of media relations. They will continue to help SGMA members take product to market through research programs and media outreach.
Inside the Beltway, CEO Tom Cove hired Bill Sells as his successor as lead staffer on legislative affairs. Sells' primary contribution will be to build advocacy programs leveraging his network of key affiliations throughout Capitol Hill, developed over two decades of association lobbying and national campaign administration.
Chris Strong, director of membership and business development, has 15 years of member relations programs with the National Association of Manufacturers. In hiring Strong, Cove indicated his intention to develop a member-centric organization focused on stronger, more meaningful ties to the SGMA membership community.
Kalinda Mathis has served seven years as the executive director of the International Inline Skating Association. As SGMA's director of marketing, Mathis will drive new development of member programs focused on product innovation, technology advancements and "thought leadership."
Andrea Cernich recently joined as the director of communications and will build on past experience at the American Bankers Association to develop a targeted, aggressive membership communications platform that promotes the new SGMA value through membership activity, interaction and participation.
Michaels Of Oregon Recalling 8,000 Holsters
In cooperation with the CPSC, Michaels of Oregon is recalling about 8,000 Kydex Belt and Tactical Holsters. The holster's retention strap can move out of position and could cause a handgun to unexpectedly discharge while being reholstered, posing a serious injury risk to consumers. Michaels has received three reports of unexpected discharges. In one incident, a law enforcement officer was shot in the leg while reholstering his firearm.
The recall includes Kydex Belt and Tactical Holsters with thumb break fits for Glock model handguns. The holsters are rigid and are made of black Kydex and come with tension screws for a proper fit. The words, "Uncle Mike's by Michaels of Oregon" are printed on the back of the holster. The recall involves sizes 12, 21, and 25. They were sold through Uncle Mike’s and Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement catalogs, and at sporting goods stores and gun supply stores nationwide from January 2002 through October 2002 for between $25 and $50.
Leading Surf Brands Head To Munich 'Beach Resort'
Leading surf brands will present themselves to key retailers from throughout Europe in the special community board_ispo in Hall A3 of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre at ispo summer 05 from July 3-5, 2005. Billabong, Chiemsee, Exes, O'Neill, Protest and Quiksilver are going to exhibit their new surfwear, skatewear, beachwear and streetwear collections for 2006 jointly for the first time in a unique and authentic environment with a clear focus on lifestyle as well as product and design innovation in Boardsports Village.
Boardsports Village will be designed like a beach resort, where the individual booths will represent the bungalows. Low walls separating the booths will create an open, communicative ambience. There will be a show area in the center, where fashion shows will be held twice daily. A swimming pool and a beach bar will ensure a real beach feeling. Boardsports Village will be the meeting place for boardsports specialists.
"Surfing and the enthusiasm, which drives it, as well as the lifestyle associated with it appeal tremendously to young people in all of Europe and transport the feeling of beach life from beaches into the cities and suburbs. The fact that the most important companies in surfing have joined together to make the future of the surfing industry clearer to international distributors and dealers as well as the media is especially noteworthy," according to Mick Wallace, board_ispo community manager.
