News

Susan January, vice president of Leanin’ Tree, Inc., was named president of the Greeting Card Association (GCA) at its recently concluded 70th Annual Convention in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

January previously served as vice president of the association under GCA President Doug Faust, executive vice president of Masterpiece Studios/The Occasions Group, who provided valuable leadership during his two-year term.

As GCA president for 2011-2013, January will lead the GCA’s executive committee and board of directors. She will be involved in all aspects of the GCA’s affairs, including coordinating the activities of all committees and overseeing events such as the annual convention and the LOUIE Awards. She becomes the GCA’s third woman president in its 70-year history.

“I am absolutely honored to be the newly appointed president of the Greeting Card Association,” January said. “The Greeting Card Association is poised to continue its excellent work on behalf of our entire membership, and I am committed – along with our Executive Committee composed of influential industry leaders – to celebrate, promote and preserve the tradition of purchasing and sending greeting cards, to serve as a vital and energetic information service center to our members, to represent the industry before government and regulatory agencies and to monitor trends and developments that are currently impacting the industry.”

According to January, in the coming year the Association leadership plans to focus on a membership growth and retention campaign that will be organized alongside a brand new mentorship program, which will pair new or smaller member companies with larger or more established publishers and suppliers to help provide valuable insight and guidance regarding “getting into and staying in” the social-expressions industry.

“Our visibility in Washington, D.C. before Congress and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has never been greater, and we are proud to promote the Association’s interests in the USPS through our communication with the members of Congress who are advancing Postal Reform legislation, as well as the Postmaster General and the members of the PRC,” she said. “We are also excited to continue on a three-year ‘makeover’ of our premiere industry awards showcase – The LOUIEs – which has elevated the prominence and importance of winning a LOUIE while attracting attention from national retailers who are invested in the creativity our industry affords.”

January has worked since 1998 at the Boulder, Colo.-based card and gift company Leanin’ Tree, Inc., where she currently serves as vice president, product management. The GCA is managed by George Little Management, owner and manager of the annual National Stationery Show.

For more information, visit www.greetingcard.org.