Join us for American Bakery Expo educational series & trade show.

October 21-23, 2006

Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2006

CONTACT: Mark Gedris - 703.245.8093

RETAIL BAKERS ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW LEADER
Susan Nicolais, CAE, Named as New RBA Executive Vice President


MC LEAN, VA � Today the leadership of the Retail Bakers of America proudly announced Susan Nicolais, CAE, as their new executive vice president (EVP). Nicolais, who assumed control on January 1, 2006, now oversees all operations of RBA. Her primary focus will be the organization�s complete rebuilding, occurring this year and dedicated to membership benefits and growth.

A Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Nicolais most recently served as executive director for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She previously held a number of senior management positions with other associations, including the Association for Career and Technical Education and the National Newspaper Association. As executive editor, she has shared her expertise in two ASAE publications devoted to membership growth and retention.

�With her years of experience in the nonprofit and association world, and specifically in membership development, Susan was undoubtedly the right individual to lead RBA through our rebuilding,� said Bill Mihu, vice-president for the St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets and president of RBA. �Her reputation throughout the association industry as a membership expert clearly connected with RBA�s reorganization.� With RBA no longer solely focused on its mammoth industry trade show, Marketplace, the organization now has refocused all efforts on new and innovative, exclusive membership programs and initiatives designed to dramatically increase membership value while helping retail bakeries lower costs, increase profits and enhance the prestige of retail bakeries nationwide.

�All of our programs, activities and decisions now revolve around bolstering the membership base,� remarked Nicolais. �We are working to deliver improved and valuable membership benefits and to reposition RBA within the minds of all retail bakers and industry leaders as the top industry resource for all things retail baking.�

Under Nicolais� leadership, RBA will unveil a revamped Web site with new resources and tools solely accessible by RBA members, as well as an enhanced membership publication, additional and robust affinity programs, hard-to-find specialty formulas, and professional marketing, business growth and production resources for 2006 and beyond.

Nicolais follows the outgoing EVP Bernard Reynolds, who departed RBA at the end of 2005, after more than four years of service, to pursue other opportunities.
###
Retail Bakers of America (RBA)�a 501(c)6 not-for-profit trade association located in McLean, VA�with membership of approximately 1,100 retail bakeries, allied suppliers, educators, students and other industry partners�is committed to the success of the retail baking industry. Founded in 1918, RBA works as the bakers� business partner and resource provider, and is the nation�s premier source of industry information.