DEMA announced that on Friday, August 23rd, the DEMA Board of Directors and Regina Franklin, Executive Director, reached an agreement to transition to new management for the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association.?? Ms. Franklin will continue to work with the association through the upcoming DEMA show and will resign effective November 1, 2002.
"We are pleased to have arranged a managed transition, which will for the first time in DEMA’s history, allow for continuity of leadership and knowledge transfer from the departing Executive Director," said Werner Kurn, DEMA President. "The Board of Directors would like to thank Ms. Franklin for the guidance and enthusiasm she has demonstrated throughout her four years of dedicated service.?? We are proud of the many accomplishments we’ve achieved together during this period."??
"I have enjoyed my tenure with DEMA and will always appreciate the experience of working within this industry", said Ms. Franklin. "I look forward to witnessing the continued growth of DEMA and the industry as a whole.?? I feel I’ve accomplished what I set out to do for this association and now, after fifteen years in the scuba diving industry I am anxious to apply my skills in some new arenas."
The DEMA Board of Directors has decided to put the show management contract out for bid to several successful major show management firms for shows beginning in October 2003.?? For 7 out of the last 9 years the DEMA shows were successfully and profitably managed by professional show contractors.
In lieu of the fact that the show will now be managed separately, DEMA will be able to reorganize it’s managing structure, consolidate its operations, and reduce expenses while concentrating on the major goals and objectives of the organization.?? The position of Executive Director will be abolished and a new General Manager will be hired.?? Interested parties should email Werner Kurn at Werner@oceanenterprises.com.
