Incentive Marketing Association elects 2015-16 officers, directors

Aug. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- – Increased collaboration  among its Strategic Industry Groups is in the future for the Incentive Marketing Association (http://www.incentivemarketing.org/) (IMA), which recently elected a new slate of officers and directors for 2015-16 at the IMA’s recent Annual Executive Summit, held in Nashville.

According to newly-elected IMA President Spencer Toomey, CPIM, IMA’s business model today is very different than it was 16 years ago when IMA was created.

“Advances in technology have totally changed the way that we do business, from printed catalogs, brochures, direct mailing pieces and e-gift cards, mobile access, to almost everything on-line. Some of the changes have been positive and some have created more challenges and competition from companies that did not even know that our market existed 16 years ago,” he said.

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Toomey added, “More than ever before, we as an association need more collaboration between the Strategic Industry Groups (SIG’s) to work together on a common goal of helping IMA stay relevant, and for all of us to grow our business. We are making the adjustments that will help us continue to grow and improve. We will have a new management company starting January 1 that will  improve our systems and administrative capabilities, help IMA build brand continuity, create a more strategic marketing plan, and bring us new ideas and changes that will help improve IMA’s value proposition to our entire membership.”

He noted, “Rick Low, our immediate past president, did a great job of laying the foundation for our growth and my job will be to continue his work and help make IMA stronger than ever.”

Toomey also serves as senior vice president of Luxury Lines by MMSC, Westport, Conn.

Toomey noted IMA experienced a record number of attendees at its latest conference, with 356 registered attendees, accounting for more than 65% of its membership. The Summit also boasted a record 22 registrants for its Incentive Professional (IP) certification course, and a record amount of sponsorship funds raised to support the conference and the IMA Educational Fund.

In addition to Toomey, new officers for 2015-16 include Executive Vice President Sean Roark, CPIM, of Promopros/Incentpros, Inc., Spring, Texas; Vice President Heidi Chatfield, CPIM, of All Star Incentive Marketing, Fiskdale, Mass.; Treasurer John Hornbogen of RPG Gift Cards, Lisle, Ill.; Secretary Susan Adams, CPIM, of Dittman Incentive Marketing, New Brunswick, NJ, and President Emeritus Richard Low of Citizen Watch Co., Lyndhurst, NJ.

IMA directors for 2015-16 include Heather Abbott of Powerhouse Brands Consulting, Vancouver, Wash.; Betsi Bowman of Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, Story City, Iowa; Kimberly A. Carrette of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Melville, N.Y.; Brian Dunne, IP, of SVM Europe, Ltd., Rotherham, U.K.; Susan Gray of Hallmark Business Connections, Minneapolis, Minn.; Nicole Willis Hardey of Groupon, Inc., Chicago; Anne Jetter of GiftCertificates.com, Omaha, Neb.; Don Killingback of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals / Endless Vacation Rentals, Carmel, Ind.; Bill Martocci of Carlisle Sales & Marketing, Inc., Oakdale, N.Y.; Cristiano Miano, IP, of Grupo Digi, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Ted Moravec of Elite Creations, Cortland, Ill.; Rebekka Rea of Innovative Prepaid Solutions, Edmond, Okla.; Jody Running, CPIM, of Top Brands, Inc., Oshkosh, Wis.; Billie Reise of Incentive Concepts, LLC, Maryland Heights, Mo.; Len Sadek of Landry’s, Inc., Houston, Texas; Sean Wilkinson of Corporate Rewards U.K., Warwickshire, U.K., and Joe Zanone of Movado Group, Inc./Zanone Sales, Houston, Texas.

About the Incentive Marketing Association

Business improves when employees and customers are recognized, rewarded, and engaged through effectively structured programs with defined goals and proven returns. The Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) is comprised of the companies who are leaders in the incentive industry.  IMA provides education, resources and research to promote the use of incentive programs to the business community and is the umbrella organization for the Global Incentive Council (GIC), the Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC), the Incentive Manufacturers & Representatives Alliance (IMRA), the Incentive Travel Council, the Performance Improvement Council, the Recognition Council (RC), IMA-Canada, and IMA-Europe.

More information about IMA and the incentive marketplace is available at www.incentivemarketing.org.