PMA advances growth plans for next year at CES

“This year was one of incredible change in our industry and at PMA,” says 2012-2013 PMA President Allen Showalter, King Photo/Showalter Imaging Group, Harrisonburg, Va. “There seemed to be as much variety in the challenges we faced as there are SKU’s in digital products! As a result, PMA is focused on building our support for all our members with increased communication among members and suppliers.”

Showalter, who returns to PMA presidency after serving in 2008-09, is the association’s first two-term president. Other association officers were elected for the 2012-2013 term: Gabrielle Mullinax, Fullerton Photographics Inc., Fullerton, Calif., was moved to president-elect; Mark Klostermeyer, MCPF, Design Frames LLC, Falls Church, Va., was elected vice president; and Robert L. Hanson, Harold’s Photo Center, Sioux Falls, S.D., is the treasurer. PMA 2010-2012 president Brian Wood, Photovision, Salem, Ore., is a trustee. Jim Esp was elected PMA executive director/secretary.

“I’m so proud to be a part of the PMA leadership team,I understand the challenges we are facing require a knowledge of the roots of the organization, which need to be nurtured to reestablish our firm foundation,” says Klostermeyer, who served as president-elect in 2010-12. “Nothing changes my level of support or enthusiasm, however, in the new directions PMA is headed!”

Klostermeyer plays a role in the development of the association’s programs to help expand the quality and growth of the framing business. In fact, the upcoming conference co-location of the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA), a PMA member association, with the West Coast Art and Frame Show, later this month is due in part to his continued insight and experience.

Esp points out such co-locations and partnerships are the beginning of a new PMA era, where the association will be reaching out to allied industry groups. The recent 2012 PMA@CES exhibition was part of the 600 digital-imaging exhibitors among the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Venetian, and the DIMA conference attracted more than 400 attendees. Looking forward, the PSPA/SPAA 2012 Conference, Feb. 17-19, 2012, at The Renaissance Las Vegas, is adjacent to the WPPI tradeshow.