Carol Kraft

With a new marketing manager in place, IPMA intends to fortify its membership while ensuring the association remains relevant. By Bob Neubauer Faced with a serious drop in membership over the past decade, the International Publishing Management Association (IPMA) has been taking a closer look at its recruitment strategy. As a result, the 41-year-old in-plant organization is redirecting its energies directly at the problem. The recent hiring of Carrie Griffin—consultant, former in-plant manager and all-around people person—as the association's interim director of marketing, marks a shift in focus directly to recruitment and chapter-building. "The values of IPMA have changed," explains John Hurt, International President.

With its international conference a month away, the International Publishing Management Association has made several major changes to the way it operates. By Bob Neubauer The IPMA has relocated—into cyberspace. In just a few short months the International Publishing Management Association has gone from having a staffed headquarters building to existing on a server accessed by employees working from scattered home offices. In late February the group sold its headquarters building in Liberty, Mo., and moved its business files to a hosting site in Arizona. At the same time, it implemented new software designed for association management. This experiment in virtual management will

by Gary Rubin, Publisher Yes, I've taken over this page...well, just for this one issue. At this year's International Publishing Management Association (IPMA) show in Salt Lake City, IPG Editor Bob Neubauer was presented the 2003 Outstanding Partner Award for his constant efforts to promote IPMA's ideals and for always being available as an IPMA speaker and panel moderator. As IPMA's Chief Operating Officer Carol Kraft stated: "Bob has been a true friend and resource to the IPMA and the industry as a whole." Well said, Carol. As many of you have witnessed, Bob and I have a running banter of publicly

In-plant managers gathered recently near Oklahoma City to compare notes and improve their leadership skills. by Bob Neubauer For the second year in a row, the Central Oklahoma chapter of the International Publishing Management Association (IPMA) hosted a fall regional conference for managers interested in fine-tuning their management skills and broadening their industry knowledge. The two-day event drew 25 people to Norman, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. The cold rain outside was more than offset by the warm camaraderie among attendees. Chapter President John Hurt, of Oklahoma Gas and Electric, gave a friendly welcome to the group before introducing the

IPMA's former international president, Carol Kraft, has been hired as the association's new COO. She says the group must be ready to change in order to survive. by Bob Neubauer It's taken almost three years but the International Publishing Management Association has a new chief operating officer at last. And the biggest surprise to many may be how familiar she is. Fresh from her very recent retirement from Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Minnesota, former IPMA International President Carol Kraft has been appointed IPMA's full-time COO. She fills the position last held by IPMA Executive Director Larry Aaron, who left IPMA in 1999. The