National Confectioners Association Promotes Three

National Confectioners Association (NCA) President and CEO John Downs has announced the promotion of three key senior leaders that will unlock operational efficiency and effectiveness, bolster the membership value proposition, and continue to enhance the organization’s advocacy, communications, industry affairs, and regulatory support for the 620 manufacturers, suppliers and brokers that are members of NCA.

Liz Clark, currently vice president of government affairs, has been promoted to senior vice president of public policy. In her new role, Clark will lead NCA’s federal, state and local government affairs and PAC strategy, as well as work closely with the scientific/regulatory team to support NCA member companies.

Christopher Gindlesperger, currently vice president of public affairs and communications, has been promoted to senior vice president of public affairs and communications. In his new capacity, Gindlesperger will lead a revamped department that is fully integrated into all functions across the organization and focused on ensuring consistency of messaging, as well as recruiting, educating and activating key stakeholder groups. Gindlesperger will also oversee all media relations activity and a new integrated marketing communications operation that is essential to the association’s ability to effectively communicate the breadth of tools and resources available to assist members in their business and in the marketplace.

Downs also announced that NCA Chief of Staff Elise Fennig has been promoted to chief of staff and senior vice president of operations. Fennig will continue to have oversight of human resources, IT, and operations at NCA, and assumes responsibility for the continued integration of the industry affairs, global business development, meetings and membership operations.

“In less than four years we’ve made tremendous progress on our transformational change journey, having created a positive brand identity for the National Confectioners Association, built a clear and compelling strategic plan, and executed the plan with laser-like precision. We have established a powerful, favorable narrative for our industry, recruited high-caliber CEOs and senior executives to serve on our Board of Trustees, modernized our governance process, and achieved our financial growth targets to fuel our advocacy and communications initiatives,”  Downs said. “Now is the time to take NCA to a higher level of success and further integrate our functions to drive innovation and alignment around our strategic priorities. The promotion of these three key senior team members will help us shape bold thinking around NCA’s multidimensional value proposition.”

In the past year, the National Confectioners Association has established the industry’s big ideal – the Always A Treat Initiative – which proactively positions the confectionery industry as a thought leader with consumers and in the food policy space Downs is now looking over the horizon to the next phase of NCA, emphasizing integration and innovation. With three key staff promotions set to take effect immediately, Downs is driving a strategic evolution of the organization while maintaining NCA’s unique and special culture.

For more information, visit www.candyusa.com.