8 PCA The Magazine | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG WITH all of the frenzy surrounding the CigarCon announcement at IPCPR 2019, some of the other changes we are implementing, including this very publication, may have been lost. So I just want to take aminute in the few lines here to reiterate howwe are evolving tomeet the challenges of today and tomorrow, and to be a 365-day resource for your retail business. Our mission focuses on protecting and growing the premium tobacco retailer industry, while supporting our manufacturing partners. With that focus inmind, we are homing in on services and programs that are going to help you as retailers grow your business. New live workshops focusing on inventory and financial management will launch Oct. 8 at PCA headquarters, with a second workshop on merchandising planned for February in Dallas. Our education and training initiatives will also include a new online training program in development with the aim to debut in April 2020. Our newwebsite, premiumcigars.org , will officially launch in September. The newwebsite will include all of our state and federal information, compliance information and contact information for you to get your questions answered as quickly and accurately as possible. A new, official PCA blog will provide retail industry information, product education for you and your sales team, insights on new retail trends and best practices to save youmoney and increase your bottom line. For networking and peer-to-peer learning, look for our newBuyer’s Guide for instant access to company and product information. We are also organizingmore events for you to learn fromother tobacconists. On the advocacy front, PCA is averagingmore than 30 visits a month on Capitol Hill to fight for the exemption of premiumcigars. And our new expanded advocacy platform includes relationships with SBA, Chambers of Commerce, Congressional Black Caucus, and working on other initiatives, likeminimumwage and employment laws. 512 Capital Court N.E. Washington, DC 20002-7709 Phone: 202.621.8064 www.premiumcigars.org Email:
[email protected] | PCA T H E M A G A Z I N E ILLUSTRATION BY : Joe DeLeon BY SCOTT PEARCE E D I T O R I A L EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Scott Pearce MANAGING EDITOR Greg Girard ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erin Holland ASSOCIATE EDITOR William C. Nelson ACCOUNT MANAGER David Wilson COPY EDITOR Rachel Dorrell DESIGN DeLeon Design; Omak Partners C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S Brian Ledtke, William C. Nelson, Vick Shah, Larry Wagner B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Scott Pearce Washington, DC PRESIDENT John Anderson Washington, DC FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Greg Zimmerman Lemoyne, PA TREASURER Scott Regina Virginia Beach, VA SECRETARY Todd Naifeh Oklahoma City, OK EX OFFICIO Ken Neumann Libertyville, IL D I R E C T O R S Steve Castro Frederick, MD Mike Condor Nashville, TN Paul Groh Germantown, WI Marvin Holthouser Destin, FL Jessica Hutson Springfield, MO Mame Kendall Bridgeville, PA Phil Ledbetter Chicago, IL Luz Normand Miami, FL Harris Saunders Birmingham, AL Randy Silverman New Castle, PA A D M I N I S T R AT I O N SENIOR DIRECTOR, MEETINGS & EVENTS Lisa Cox FEDERAL AFFAIRS & OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Tori Ellington DIRECTOR, FEDERAL AFFAIRS Josh Habursky SENIOR DIRECTOR, STATE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Rachel Hall LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, WEST Tyler Henson MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Erin Holland FINANCE & ACCOUNTING Susan Jacobs LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, MIDWEST Brett Mecum ASSOCIATE MEMBER & OPERATIONS MANAGER Christine Morgan RETAIL MEMBER SERVICES MANAGER Greg Vickers PREMIUM CIGAR ASSOCIATION PCA © Copyright 2019. PCA The Magazine is a trademark of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents of this magazine without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. PCA The Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content published. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found herein, and the publisher accepts no liability for the accuracy of the statements made by advertisers in advertising and promotional materials. The opinions expressed by contributing editors are not necessarily those of the PCA, its directors, officers or staff. The information included and items promoted in this magazine are intended for an adult audience. We are also changing our committee structure to open it to volunteers who are not on the board. This will have two immediate benefits: One, it will allow for moremembers to get involved in their organization and to share some of their experiences and expertise with the broader membership and industry. Two, PCAwill gainmuch-needed diversity of perspectives and voices. Our committees include education, communications, membership, trade show (with sub-committees on CigarCon and PCA-exclusive cigars and show deals), state affairs and federal affairs. Please visit our website for more information and to learn how you can apply to be a part of one of these committees. I am incredibly optimistic about our future. The passion, interest and willingness of somany in the membership to step up and get involved has been tremendous to see and experience. I know that as we work together and become ever more unified in our purpose, we will surmount our challenges and setbacks, and become a stronger organization and advocate for the premium tobacco industry. Scott Pearce
[email protected] Editor’s Note