APPMA News

Ed Rod

APPMA Adds New General Counsel to Team
APPMA is pleased to announce that Ed Rod is the association’s new General Counsel and Associate Vice President of Legislative Affairs. Prior to joining APPMA, Ed served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary with Axel Johnson, Inc. He previously worked as Vice President and General Counsel of First Brands Corporation and prior to that he was an integral part of PepsiCo, Inc.’s legal team from 1982-1996. Ed is also familiar with the pet industry through work with Jonny Cat and SCOOP AWAY cat litters. As APPMA’s new General Counsel, Ed will direct all legal and government affairs activities of the association and help increase government affairs offerings to member companies.

Pet Industry Honors Congressman Shays
On Friday, December 2, APPMA hosted a reception to honor Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT). A co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, Rep. Shays co-sponsored the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), which requires emergency response authorities to consider accommodation of household pets in emergency and evacuation plans. For his long-standing support of the pet community, APPMA presented Rep. Shays with a plaque, which recognized his dedication and efforts.

Got News?
The Association has added a new feature to the website called APPMA Member News Briefs. This is your opportunity to post the latest news and announcements about your company and its products. Let us know if you’re launching a new product, if there are changes in the company or if you’re holding special events, and we’ll post it for members of the press, the pet industry and the pet-loving public to view. We have set up an online form that will allow you to easily contribute up-to-date information. Submit your news today at www.appma.org/newssubmissions and it will be posted on the APPMA Member News Briefs page.

365 Reasons to Love Your Association
APPMA’s first-ever pet industry calendar made its debut this past December and was sent to all contacts in our membership companies. The calendar incorporates important Association and industry events including key deadlines, trade show information, and animal-related observances. The calendar also features pet related trends and pet ownership statistics designed to be informative and entertaining. Each month’s photo showcases a beloved pet depicting one of the biggest trends: the humanization of pets, and is designed to put a smile on your face.

APPMA Members Experience a Winning Event

After a five-year hiatus, the APPMA Management Conference returned to Las Vegas and was met with great enthusiasm by the attendees. Held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the two-day event took place November 9-10 and was packed with interesting and informative sessions that covered a range of topics from global trends and leadership techniques to public relations and export issues. While the association was thrilled with the high energy and strong participation by the attendees, APPMA was even happier to hear that the knowledge members gained at the conference will provide a competitive edge in their business operations.

Press Box
In 2005, the association and its members gained more media impressions than there are pets in the country! At 540 million impressions for the year, member companies and APPMA were mentioned in over 2,300 broadcasted or printed pieces. This past year, our public relations team sent out over 30 releases, most of which promoted member products and the pet industry. With the New Year underway, APPMA wants to remind members to check out the weekly e-Updates for promotional opportunities and the chance to be included in media pitches and future press releases. To view all the press releases distributed, visit www.appma.org/pressreleases.

Coming up: “Maximize Your APPMA Membership” Teleseminar
While for many members exhibiting at Global Pet Expo is a chief reason for joining the Association, there are a number of other benefits APPMA offers that are designed to help member companies prosper all year round. As members adjust to the ever-changing global pet product market, APPMA has responded by developing discount programs that can assist with insurance, exporting and public relations needs, as well as compiling valuable market research contained in the National Pet Owners Survey. Member companies can also take advantage of the government and regulatory information our legislative department offers, in addition to an extensive list of industry resources. Members who would like to familiarize or re-familiarize themselves with these benefits are invited to participate in the Member Benefits teleseminar coming up February 2, 2006 at 2:00pm EST. New APPMA Members are especially encouraged to participate so they can learn how to make the most out of their membership. For more information, contact memberservices@appma.org.

APPMA Welcomes New Members
APPMA is pleased to welcome 80 new members whose applications were approved in October and December. For a list of the new APPMA members,
click here

Global Pet Expo Marketing Teleconference provides tips for pre-show prep
Back by popular demand, Steve Miller, strategic marketing consultant and Global Pet Expo’s trade show guru, conducted a 60-minute teleconference designed to assist exhibitors with pre-show promotion. Steve touched on a variety of topics and provided tips for creating an effective booth design, setting objectives for the trade show and even how to go about following up with new business contacts after Global Pet Expo. For those unable to participate in the teleconference, a recording and a transcript will be available on the Global Pet Expo website at www.globalpetexpo.org/teleconference.