Meet Your APPMA Staff

Edith Martignetti, APPMA General Manager

Edith Martignetti

Edith Martignetti is many things to many people. Mom. Wife. And in the words of APPMA President Bob Vetere, "the office glue." Yes. "Glue." If you are not fortunate enough to have met Edith over the course of her past 12 years with the Association, this introduction to her will provide you with a little background on the woman who many APPMA staffers credit with not only holding down the APPMA "fort" but ensuring that the internal structure of the organization is in order.

Bob said, "Edith is really the glue that holds all of this together. We all have our strengths in our own particular areas, but without Edith policing everything it would be a lot tougher road to do our jobs and do them well."

In addition to supervising maintenance, securing and maintaining office supplies and furniture, and overseeing all functions of Human Resources at APPMA's headquarters in Greenwich, CT, Edith also plans events and meetings for APPMA's Board. Edith plays an important role with the organization of Global Pet Expo as well. At the Show, Edith is responsible for overall supervision of registration – including exhibitor registration, and coordinates exhibitor listings in the Global Pet Expo Show Directory.

Speaking of Global Pet Expo, Edith recently recalled her first show (then the APPMA Show) in Minneapolis, MN. It was June of 1996 and there were just over 1,000 booths with 450 member companies exhibiting. Furthermore, there were 1,200 buyers in attendance – and at this time this was considered to be a truly sizeable show. Perhaps. But together with the APPMA team, Edith has played an important role in growing this show to more than 760 member companies exhibiting with 2,300 booths and 4,600 buyers!

Other significant changes at APPMA throughout her journey with the Association include membership tripling (currently at about 1,000 members), the emergence of the internet and email, and an increase in the APPMA staff from 6 to 16.

In the past few months, Edith has also added "Wedding Coordinator" to her list of responsibilities as she is assisting her daughter Amanda with plans for a fall wedding this year. Edith also has a son, Frank, a musician and choral conductor, who resides in New Haven, CT.

A graduate of Berkeley College, Edith is a member of the International Association for Exhibition Management and resides in New Rochelle, NY with her husband Frank, a packaging engineer. Although Edith does not currently own any pets, she hopes to add a Vizsla or two to her family in the near future.