For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jamie Brant
MassMedia 775-322-075

Jamie@massmediacc.com

Andrew Darmohraj of the American Pet Products Association Named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New York Society of Association Executives

(Greenwich, Conn.) - American Pet Products Association (APPA) Senior Vice President Andrew Darmohraj has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE).

Founded in 1919, the NYSAE's mission is to advance and serve the profession of association and not-for-profit management. NYSAE is the "association of associations" that is headquartered in New York State. Its 1,600 members are full-time paid chief executives and middle managers of trade associations, professional societies, voluntary organizations and other not-for-profit organizations.

At APPA, Darmohraj leads the association’s trade show department, and oversees all aspects of APPA’s joint trade show with the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), Global Pet Expo. Under Darmohraj’s direction, Global Pet Expo was ranked #102 in the most recent Tradeshow Week 200 Show, and Tradeshow Week named Global Pet Expo one of its “Fastest 50,” an award for the top 50 fastest growing trade shows, for two consecutive years. In September, Global Pet Expo will be honored with Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Award, which recognizes the 100 trade shows that have had an economic impact on their host cities, and have set the gold standard for the exposition industry and the industries they serve, according to the magazine.

Since Darmohraj joined the APPA team in 1997, booth space at Global Pet Expo has more than doubled in size and show attendance is up 250%. As a result, Darmohraj has gained a lot of attention from the trade show industry and has been asked to conduct seminars for numerous organizations on the topics of association marketing and trade show-related issues.

Darmohraj also oversees APPA’s marketing communications and public relations department which promotes APPA, its members and the pet product industry.

Darmohraj, a Certified Association Executive (CAE), has more than 20 years experience in association management and trade show production. Prior to joining APPA, he worked in management positions for association-owned trade shows in the hospitality and gift industries. He earned an M.S. in secondary education from St. John’s University, and a B.A. in English from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Darmohraj is also and active member of the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is the leading not-for-profit trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry since 1958. APPA membership includes nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers representing both large corporations and growing business enterprises. APPA's mission is to promote, develop and advance pet ownership and the pet product industry and to provide the services necessary to help its members prosper. Visit www.americanpetproducts.org for more information.

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