Aug 12, 2011

Diane Carnevale Jones To Step Down As GHTA Executive Director

Effective September 15, 2011, Diane Carnevale Jones will step down as Executive Director of the GHTA to concentrate on building her new business, the Carnevale Jones Group. Her firm provides strategic products and services to clients, both within and outside of the Gift and Home industry.

Marc Rice, president of the GHTA says, “Heartfelt thanks to Diane for her many years of service to the GHTA. On behalf of the organization, I wish her much success in her new venture. Diane was a joy to work with. Under her watch, the GHTA accomplished many of its goals. Without Diane’s tenacity and enthusiasm, I’m not sure we would have accomplished as much as we have with the GHTA. On behalf of the entire organization, I wish her much success in her new venture.”

Carnevale Jones, who has served as Executive Director since 2007, says: “I have a passion for the industry and have enjoyed my relationship with the GHTA. I look forward to participating in the GHTA as a member.”

During her tenure, Carnevale Jones has worked with several Boards to position the GHTA for growth by assisting and facilitating the launch of new benefits, including industry health insurance; corporate discounts; First Friday webinars; the Brandwise Gift and Home Index; networking receptions, quality programming at trade shows nationwide and a Public Policy program to monitor laws that affect the industry. The GHTA also designed a new web site; voted to bring in retailers as members; designed a retailer web site; enhanced the annual conference by bringing in nationally renowned keynote speakers, starting a ‘Give Back’ charitable program and the ‘Lunch and Learn’ concept; and was named a sponsor of the AmericasMart ICON Honors.

The GHTA Board of Directors is currently evaluating candidates interested in the executive director position, and hopes to announce who will take Diane’s place in the near future. “The GHTA is working on marketing its existing programs and is nearly ready to announce a major new initiative which the incoming executive director will be very involved with,” says Beth Lang, Chairman of the GHTA Board. “We envision a bright future for the GHTA and the gift and home industry.”

For more information about the GHTA, please call 877.600.4872, or visit the web site at www.giftandhome.org.

About the Gift and Home Trade Association:

GHTA is the gift and home industry’s non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, retailers and industry affiliates who are involved in an industry that is fast changing, with the expectation of making it better together. GHTA’s mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry’s independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the Gift and Home Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.