Reflections on SIPA's selection of a new executive director.

I think the Specialized Information Publishers Association probably made the right decision in selecting their new executive director. Not in hiring Kerry Stackpole specifically--I don't know him and can do naught but wish him well--but "right" in choosing an experienced association professional for the position.

It happens every time. The Cat Food Manufacturers Association needs a new executive and the dichotomy arises. Does this person need to be a "cat food person" or an association manager? There's always a segment of opinion running along the lines of, "You can't pick someone who doesn't know cat food marketing, flip-top can technology or trends in wholesale fish head prices to run our association."

On the other hand, and this is my bias because it was my background, voluntary organization management is a specialty in itself.

The association manager needs to know how to attract and retain members, how to develop new services, how to get along with (dare I say "manage") officers, board members and committee chairmen, as well as how to plan, promote and run conferences and seminars of varying sizes. All skills a person can spend a lifetime in cat food and still not acquire.

SIPA's choice mirrors that of many newsletter publishers

Look at it this way. Newsletter publishers face this choice all the time. You need a new editor. Do you hire a journalist and let him or her learn widgets on the job or hire a widget specialist and let him or her learn newsletter journalism? Most of the time publishers make Choice #1.

Apparently Mr. Stackpole has managed five or six previous groups previously. You have to assume he's a quick study, and with assistance from the present staff and board he'll get up to speed fairly quickly.

One colleague has already commented to me, somewhat cynically, about the number of positions he has held in a short period of time. It might be that director of a large association, which SIPA isn't by any means, is a career goal for Stackpole. That's a normal progression in the field. Having had just two executive directors in 27+ years, as SIPA has, is unusual. (But I live in New York State where we are about to re-elect Hillary Clinton by a wide margin even though many suspect Senator may not be her ultimate career goal.)

Tongue in cheek, I might suggest that since there appears to be some confusion what exactly a "specialized publisher" is, Stackpole is not starting off as far behind as he might be.