At its just-concluded meeting in Houston, Texas, the Board of Directors of The American Ceramic Society announced that it has selected one of the Society’s upper-level managers, Charles Spahr, to be the organization’s new executive director.
Spahr replaces Scott Steen, who is leaving in mid-November to lead forestry group American Forests in Washington, DC
Spahr is currently the president of ACerS’ ceramic arts publishing unit (Ceramic Publications Company), a branch of the Society that he took over five years ago when he first joined ACerS staff.
CPC publishes two world-leading magazines for the ceramic arts community, Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated. Both of these publications have grown in prestige and reach under his leadership.
Moreover, he has led the CPC group in bridging the gap between print and electronic platforms. As a result CPC has developed a huge online presence, new online tools and forums, and many new products for their audience.
Before coming to ACerS, Spahr spent most of his career with Reed Elsevier, a publishing entity well known to the science and business community. There, he worked on content related to construction, manufacturing, metalworking software development, architecture and engineering, and food science.
Spahr also has a wealth of international experience, having managed several international subsidiaries, including operations in Scandinavia, Brazil and Australia. Much of the online knowledge he brought to CPC he gained while working as Senior Vice President of Electronic Products for Reed Elsevier, a post that made him responsible for implementing a common platform serving over 120 publications in ten major-market sectors.
Outgoing ACerS President Edwin Fuller said that, “Besides what Spahr brings in management and publishing acumen, the selection of an existing Society staffer – someone who already worked extensively with many ACerS leaders, has participated in our retreats and understands our governance system – provides a great way to have a fast transition that is minimally disruptive to current staff and members.”
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