Message from the Chairman and CEO
M
ost will agree that the past year has been one of considerable change in the Education
Market. With a continued sluggish economy and much discussion about the future learning
environment and methods of delivering content, we need to continue to look for ways to be
relevant to this rapidly changing industry. At times like this it is best to remember why we all do
what we do: this industry changes student outcomes. We impact every student in the United
States, and throughout the world, and have done so for nearly 100 years!
The purpose of this Annual Review is to not only recap the highlights of the past 12 months, but
to help us focus on where we are heading. A strong and vibrant industry association is even
more necessary in uncertain times. It is easy to be successful when things are good; now is
when we need the collective knowledge and passion of our members to forge ahead so that
teachers and students everywhere have the facilities and resources to succeed. In no small way,
the future of the education system is relying on us to help them succeed.
Within this overview you will see the many different programs and resources available to
our members. As a volunteer, member-led organization, there are over 15 different boards,
committees, and councils available for members to participate on and give input into the
direction of our programs, new initiatives, and of course, our two annual tradeshows.
EDmarket needs our members to actively participate and our members need EDmarket to
succeed to advance their business interests in this transforming environment. Let’s band
together and create the future. Let’s explore the new teaching methods and how we play a part
in student success. Let’s understand the changing dynamics happening in all retail-oriented
industries and bring the best practices for success to our industry. Let’s not fear technology in the
classroom, but rather embrace this new opportunity to facilitate learning. Let’s incorporate the
supply chain partners, influencers, and users and create that value proposition that makes our
industry indispensable.
Most of all we need our members to be our ambassadors. Help us to grow the association. Tell
your vendors and dealers about the association and encourage participation in EDexpo and
EDspaces. We need to grow membership and participation so that we can in turn provide you
with the tools and knowledge to help you navigate the future. The marketplace is not going to get
easier, so let’s march into this uncertain future together.
Tom Green
John R. Green Company
2014 EDmarket Chair
Jim McGarry
Education Market Association
President/CEO
P.S. Don’t miss out on all the action, updates, and news about the latest industry trends. Be sure
to whitelist EDmarket today! Please check your spam filter and allow all email addresses that end
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2 | Education Market Association