GHTA Announces New Board and Executive Director
Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, announces its new Executive Director, as well as its 2009 Board of Directors.
Diane Carnevale Jones was recently appointed as the executive director of the Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) during the 2008 GHTA Conference, held November 20-22, in Sanibel Island, Florida. She has acted as the GHTA’s interim executive director since February 2008.
Carnevale Jones is uniquely qualified for this position due to her past experience as the executive director of the Collectors Information Bureau (CIB), having worked with and managed the organization for eleven years. During her tenure, Carnevale Jones created, authored and edited numerous collectible publications, which became definitive reference books, read by thousands of collectors. She also set the standards for determining secondary market values for numerous collectible categories.
“I see so many opportunities for growth within this organization and this industry, including the expansion of the GHTA membership and building membership benefits,” says Carnevale Jones. “I am so very grateful for all of the volunteers, both long-standing and brand new, who are willing to offer their time and talent to take the GHTA to the next level. This is such an exciting time for the GHTA, even in an uncertain economic climate. By working together, we can transform our industry and build upon what all those before us set in place. With all of the new programs announced at the 2008 conference, we are preparing for a very successful year, and it is a privilege to serve this group and the industry.”
Carnevale Jones is the owner of Professional Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the gift and home industry. She will run the GHTA as a team-based operation, with her staff assisting with day-to-day activities, while she manages the association.
The GHTA also announced its new board. Former president George Kacic of Ganz will now act as the chairman of the board, Doug Cofiell of Ivystone Group will act as president, John Haste of IMAX Corporation will serve as vice president, Basil Elliott of Enesco will serve as treasurer and Sharon White of DMW Associates will serve as secretary.
Additionally, the GHTA has added several new members to its 2009 board, each of whom bring a wealth of talent and experience to the organization. Beth Lang of Alexa’s Angels, Cathy Scholin of Cathy & Co., Inc., Julie Dix of Taggies, Inc., Kelly Gunn of Lineworks, Inc., and Denny King of King Leadership Group LLC have all joined the board. Continuing their board terms are Ed Butler of The Butler Group, Inc., Marc Rice of Fox Premier Sales and Adam Schrier of Charles Sadek Import Company.
“This new board has already succeeded in bringing a positive outlook to this organization and the industry at-large,” said Doug Cofiell, the current GHTA president. “We are looking forward to leading the GHTA in new and exciting paths in the upcoming year.”
To learn more about the Gift and Home Trade Association, please call 877.600.4872 or visit 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 and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. 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@ghta.net. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
