LANSING, MI--(Marketwire - Sep 6, 2012) - Tom Ungrodt, president and CEO of Ideation in Ann Arbor, has been elected chair of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) Board of Directors for 2012-13.
Ideation is a leading producer of marketing solutions for independent gift retailers across the nation. Ungrodt also oversees two Michigan gift stores, Crown House of Gifts in Ann Arbor and Dayspring Gifts in Chelsea. He was first elected to the MRA board in 2007 and served as vice chair the past two years.
He is among new officers and board members elected at the organization's Annual Meeting and board meeting on August 21.
Elected vice chair for 2012-13 was Dan Marshall, president of Marshall Music Company, Lansing. The company is one of the largest full-line music retailers in the country and operates stores in Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Troy, West Bloomfield, Allen Park and Traverse City.
Elected to the MRA board for the first time was Brian Ducharme, vice president and general manager of the Mobility Division of AT&T for Michigan and Indiana. He had served on the board of Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of MRA, since 2008. He oversees AT&T's 101 company-owned retail stores and 120 indirect retail locations in the two states. He was elected to a three-year term.
Re-elected to the MRA board for three-year terms were:
- Joe McCurry, an executive with Credit Card Group and retired Detroit district general manager for Sears. He has served on the board since 1997 and is a former board chair;
- Larry Mullins, owner of Brandon Tire & Battery in Ortonville. He is a former board chair and was first elected to the board in 1996;
- Peter Sobelton, owner-partner in several retail property companies and former owner of two retail businesses in Birmingham. In addition, he will continue to serve as board treasurer for 2012-13. He was first elected to the board in 1998 and is a former board chair.
In addition, Bill Golden co-president of Golden Shoes in downtown Traverse City, was named to the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., Board of Directors by the MRA board. The wholly owned subsidiary provides a wide range of membership services to MRA.
Michigan Retailers Association represents nearly 5,000 members and their more than 15,000 stores and websites in Michigan. Retail is responsible for nearly one in five jobs in Michigan's economy: 405,000 direct jobs in retail stores and more than 385,000 jobs in related and supporting industries.
Note: Digital photos of any of the officers and board members are available by emailing MRA's Laura Schilling at lschilling@retailers.com.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Tom Scott
517.372.5656