| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contacts: Jeremy Ahto/David Schulte
Healy Communications
312/440-3900
jahto@healyco.com |
Class Ring Council Selects SmithBucklin for Full-Service Management
CHICAGO - February 9, 2006 – The Class Ring Council (CRC), an association created to analyze and expand the market for high school class rings, announced today that it has selected SmithBucklin as its full-service management company. Under terms of the agreement, CRC will be headquartered in SmithBucklin's Chicago offices.
Founded by American Achievement Corporation, Herff Jones and Jostens, Inc., CRC brings together the management expertise and financial resources to develop and implement initiatives designed to increase demand for class rings. As its first effort, CRC recently commissioned an industry-wide study of class ring sales trends over the previous five years. Together with SmithBucklin, CRC plans to analyze the survey results and use the data to create an advertising and public relations campaign aimed at building awareness of high school class rings.
"We are excited about the creation of the CRC and believe that, with SmithBucklin's leadership and guidance, the association's efforts will help drive significant growth for the class-ring industry," said Class Ring Council President Ginger Plexico. "We look forward to using the data we collect to better serve our marketplace."
Ellen Moore of SmithBucklin will serve as the executive director of CRC. Moore has more than 23 years of experience working for both not-for-profit and for-profit companies, including associations and foundations.
"Being involved at the inception of an association is always exhilarating," said SmithBucklin President and Chief Operating Officer Julie Silverstein. "Our experience working with start-up organizations, combined with the dedication and talent of CRC's founding members, will lead to the development of initiatives and programs that create a wealth of opportunity for the association, as well as the industry."
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About SmithBucklin
SmithBucklin is the world's largest association management and professional services company providing flexible, tailored full-service management and function/project-specific services to more than 210 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups and government institutes/agencies. SmithBucklin's mission is to drive growth and build sustained competitiveness for client organizations. Founded in 1949, the company employs 630 professionals specializing in all phases of association activity, including executive management, member and chapter administration, convention and trade show management, marketing and branding, Web services, education and programs, government relations and financial management. SmithBucklin manages more than $200 million in annual client budgets from offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, St. Louis and Durham, NC. For more information, please visit www.smithbucklin.com or call 1.800.539.9740.
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