School Photographers of America (SPOA) announced the election new officers to two-year positions on Nov. 30, in Las Vegas, NV. at SPOA Leadership Summit. These elections are held every other year.
SPOA Governing Board
Members of the Governing Board help guide the overall direction of our trade organization. The board's seats have two-year terms, with a two-term maximum per person unless elected by their peers to become an officer.
Cindy Gallien of Photo Texas Photography is the new Chairman of the association’s Governing Board.
“My main objective for SPOA is help all photo companies understand the present day needs such as special insurance coverage and knowledge of AI,” says Gallien. “As an organization, we must do everything possible to keep all children across this country safe. Data and images of our students must be protected!”
Aric Snyder Jr. of Inter-state Studios & Publishing Co. advances from treasurer-elect to treasurer.
Lou Esposito of Nationwide & Legacy Studios was elected Treasurer Elect.
Governing board members with Founder Seats are:
Josh Cady, Cady Studios
Claudia Dencer, Leonard’s
Rodney Halterman, HR Imaging Partners
Courtney Lutz, Visual Image Photography
Jake Mark, Dorian Studio
Mike Strawbridge, Strawbridge Studios
Gregg Vander Zwaag, Geskus Photography
Chip Wagner, Wagner Portrait Group
David Crandall, executive director, SPOA.
At Large Members of the Governing Board are:
Doyce Crandall, Focused School Photography
Robert Ste-Marie, Green Apple Studios
Steve Miller, Irvin Simon Photographers
SPOA Executive Board
Members of the Executive Board do the practical work of implementing SPOA's mission, often as the head of committees related to their chairs. The board's seats have two-year terms, with a two-term maximum per person, unless elected by their peers to become an officer.
Advancing to president from vice president is Bill Freeman of Freeman Photography.
Mark Hommerding of SchoolPictures.com, advances to vice president.
Chris Garcia of GSP Studio was elected vice-president elect.
Executive board members and their roles are:
Secretary of the Board:
Dave McMeekin, Images Inc.
Advocacy Chair:
Rob Locke, Upstate Images
Business Partners Chair:
Rebecca Jensen, HR Imaging Partners Inc.
Elementary Yearbooks Chair:
Matt Baltes, Studio Source Yearbooks
Event Management Chair:
Jenn Volcko, Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co.
Historian Chair:
Chastity Mata, Photo Texas Photography
Industry Technical Standards & Guidelines Chair:
David Lake, Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co.
International Chair:
Matt Scoggin, Got Photo
Membership Chair:
Lindsay Walters, Black Iron Photography
Secondary Yearbooks Chair:
Steve Kent, Pictavo
Standards Chair:
Eric Miller, Miller Foto
Student Data Privacy/SafetyChair:
Orren Welch, Barksdale School Portraits
ABOUT SPOA
School Photographers of America (SPOA) was formed in 2020 on behalf of school portrait studios to advocate for and to protect their copyrights, as well as establish and govern healthy standards and best practices for the school photography industry. This will ensure school photography remains a rich tradition in schools across North America.
To learn more about SPOA, visit www.schoolphotographersofamerica.com or email David Crandall at DavidC@schoolphotographersofamerica.com.