Liberty, Missouri –Carol Kraft, CGCM, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for the International Publishing Management Association (IPMA). In her new role, she will enhance IPMA’s leadership position within the industry and corporate America, as well as develop programs/services that offer in-house professionals an inside edge. “Carol’s depth of familiarity with the in-plant community, her outstanding record of accomplishments, as well as 20 plus years as a member of this organization, make her the ideal choice for this important leadership post,” says IPMA President Craig Sedgwick, CGCM,. “Her national reputation for excellence and broad range of professional contacts make her a superb spokesperson for educating corporate decision-makers and upper management on the value and bottom-line savings that in-plants can deliver.” For over 32 years she has been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, just recently retiring from the position of Vice President of Technical Operations and Business Support. In her position, she held responsibility for the corporation's Printing and Mailing Operations, Data Center, Telecommunications, Engineering, Data Security, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Records Management, Document Management, Help Desk, Desktop Services and Service Management areas. An IPMA member since 1977, Kraft has held the positions of Chapter President, Membership Chairperson, Senior Vice President and most recently International President. During her two-term presidency, Kraft directed efforts to expand membership programs, establish IPMA’s Marketplace, redefine the association’s website presence, revamp the certification program, streamline the awards program and expand the organization’s professional reach. In addition to introducing virtual telephone seminars and an email newsletter, she led the association through two successful conferences in San Antonio and Portland. “This association is very fortunate to enlist the efforts of someone with such energy and passion for this industry,” explains President Sedgwick. “Rarely is an appointee so well matched to the responsibilities and challenges of their new position. She will surely work vigorously on behalf of IPMA’s members.” About IPMA IPMA is the professional association for managers of in-house/corporate graphics, publishing, printing, and mail departments for educational institutions, governments, and private industry. IPMA’s 1,500 members reside in the United States, Canada, and several other countries. Established in 1964, the Association is headquartered in Liberty, Missouri. For more information on IPMA, please call international headquarters at 816.781.1111; fax 816.781.2790; Email [email protected]; or via the World Wide Web at http://www.ipma.org.