Northwest Promotional Marketing Association (NWPMA) Executive Director Thea Bruce, CAS, will be leaving her position as of June 30, 2016, to expand her role at the outdoor retailer, REI.

“It has been a great honor for me to serve as executive director,” says Bruce. “I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with so many dedicated industry board members and NWPMA volunteers over the years. I feel that I have helped build NWPMA back to good health and now want to expand my role at REI.  I want to focus on getting more folks outside with the right gear and I personally need to spend more time building trails, hiking, biking and paddling.”

At some point in the future, Bruce expects to rejoin the industry in a  part-time administrative role with an industry company. “My heart is with all of our members and associates across the country and I will miss them all; so down the road I hope to jump back in as a volunteer,” Bruce says.

NWPMA Board President Chris Piper says, “We want to thank Thea for her service and wish her well at REI, and we’re glad that she’ll still be active in the industry, but on a more limited basis. We also look forward to continuing the association’s long tradition of excellent leadership and sticking with our mission of bringing productive networking opportunities to enhance our members’ professionalism and success.”

Dani Smith, vice president of NWPMA, adds, “Thea has been an enormous asset to NWPMA. She has worked hard and done a terrific job keeping things going. She will be greatly missed.”

The NWPMA Board of Directors has formed a transition team to guide the search for a replacement.