WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Museum Store Association (MSA) has selected SmithBucklin, the association management and services company more organizations turn to than any other, to provide full-service association management. Steve Antolick will serve as MSA’s executive director, and its headquarters will move to 2025 M St., N.W., Washington, D.C. on Aug. 1.
Founded in 1955, MSA is an international organization with the mission of advancing the nonprofit retail industry and the success of the professionals engaged in it. By encouraging high standards of knowledge and professionalism, MSA helps nonprofit retail professionals better serve their institutions and the public. In 2017, MSA and its partners launched Museum Store Sunday, an annual, international event, held the last Sunday of November for patrons to shop conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions worldwide. Museum Store Sunday offers a special shopping experience in one-of-a kind stores, showcasing broad assortments of highly curated, unique, mission-specific gifts.
In choosing SmithBucklin to provide association management, the MSA Board of Directors concluded that the company’s experience, knowledge, and skills will move MSA forward and create new initiatives while building upon the association’s recent successes. These include Museum Store Sunday; its rebranded conference, MSA FORWARD; its newly launched initiative with AmericasMart, The Museum Collective; and its publications, such as its recently updated Retail Industry Report.
“We are excited to work with SmithBucklin because they share our leadership’s commitment to increasing membership, enhancing our products and services, and strengthening our events and education,” said Ione Saroyan, MSA Board President. “We strongly believe that this partnership with SmithBucklin is the right answer for us, and will allow us to serve our current and future members at the highest level possible.”
“When the public visits museums, zoos, botanic gardens, libraries, or other nonprofit institutions, their engagement is extended beyond the visit, thanks to the stores that serve those institutions,” Antolick said. “MSA plays a critical role in educating and inspiring its members to deliver enjoyable, quality experiences for those visitors. I am honored to help this organization advance its mission and vision.”
Antolick has more than 25 years of association management experience and has been a SmithBucklin employee since 1992. During his tenure at SmithBucklin, he has served a variety of client organizations, including the Events Industry Council, the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores, and the Check Payment Systems Association. Previously, he served additional clients as part of SmithBucklin’s Event Services team. Antolick has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.
SmithBucklin will provide MSA with a complete management solution. Antolick will work with MSA’s Board of Directors to establish strategic objectives and will be accountable for developing and executing plans that achieve results. In addition, Antolick will oversee a team of SmithBucklin professionals who will be responsible for the association’s administration, including membership recruitment and retention, financial management, annual meeting management, marketing and branding, communications and publications, education administration, and technology.
“We are thrilled with this opportunity to serve MSA,” said Jim McNeil, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive, SmithBucklin’s Business + Trade Industry Practice. “Growth is an important component to MSA’s goals, and Steve and his team are in an excellent position to develop and implement strategies that will produce the outcomes that the board envisions.”
SmithBucklin's Business + Trade Industry Practice helps a wide range of trade and professional associations achieve their missions, create value for their stakeholders, and advance their industry professions. The practice's unmatched team of association professionals applies leading practices across a wide spectrum of association management services.
About SmithBucklin
SmithBucklin is the association management and services company more organizations turn to than any other. Our mission is to achieve the missions of the client organizations we serve and provide uncompromised stewardship for their long-term prosperity. SmithBucklin offers full-service management and outsourced services to trade associations, professional societies, technology user communities, industry consortia, charitable organizations, corporations, and government institutes. Founded in 1949, SmithBucklin has offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., Old Lyme, Conn., St. Louis, and San Ramon, Calif., and delivers seamless association and event management services worldwide. The company is 100 percent employee-owned. For more information, please visit www.smithbucklin.com or call 1-800-539-9740.
