Association

American Business Media President and CEO Gordon Hughes II announced January 20 he will leave the association in July to launch a production company. He has led the business-to-business media trade association since 1994.

The Direct Marketing Association and the DMA Nonprofit Federation have stepped up in the aftermath of this week's devastating earthquake in Haiti to help potential donors pinpoint relief organizations. The DMANF compiled a list of DMA nonprofit member organizations involved in relief efforts, along with their contact information, and posted it online at www.nonprofitfederation.org. New organizations will be added on an ongoing basis.

At a time when the largest direct marketing association is facing fiscal challenges and member scrutiny, Direct Marketing Association board member and Executive Committee member Gerry Pike has launched a Web site questioning the group's governance. ABetterDMA.org alleges that "DMA's relevancy is fading, its membership falling and its events failing as budget-buster dues and conference fees are sending long-time DMA members heading for the exits." Pike has also mailed DMA voting members asking for their support.

The Direct Marketing Association has introduced a new program certifying that marketing professionals have reached a certain level of knowledge in the core aspects of direct marketing, following the successful completion of a series of courses offered by the DMA and a diagnostic test. The DMA says it put together the program because "there is a need to have a standard level of education that is recognized" by the industry, said Jodie Sangster, VP of global development, at the DMA. She added that the organization has been approached by both employers and employees interested in something like this.