AFFTA Hires Gary Berlin as New President

Berlin, who most recently was head of the International Hunter Education Association, has been tasked with establishing a new AFFTA headquarters in the Denver, Colorado area. “The process to hire a new president began over 4 months ago. More than 65 names were considered for the position with over 35 résumés reviewed to narrow down the list of candidates.” Berlin replaces Robert Ramsay, who resigned in March.
Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Denver, CO: The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) announced today that it has hired Gary Berlin as the trade association’s president. A former human resources manager and Area/District Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the recent head of the International Hunter Education Association, Berlin brings nearly thirty years of experience in the outdoor arena as well as proven non-profit association leadership skills. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Mesa College in Grand Junction, CO and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado in Denver. Berlin, a lifelong Colorado resident, will begin his tenure on July 1 and will be establishing a new permanent home for AFFTA in the greater Denver area.
“AFFTA is in the midst of many new and positive changes to bring better leadership and focus to the fly fishing industry and Gary was the perfect person to direct and implement that change,” commented Alan Gnann, AFFTA Board Chairman and President of REC Components. “At our January meeting, AFFTA’s board set a series of goals regarding what our organization needed in a new president and Gary fills all of these requirements. The board was overwhelmingly in favor of hiring Gary for this position at our April meeting in Washington, DC during the National Casting Call.”
The process to hire a new president began over 4 months ago. More than 65 names were considered for the position with over 35 résumés reviewed to narrow down the list of candidates. The board’s criteria for the new president included a proven leader with experience in the outdoor industry; particularly with non-profit and/or trade associations; someone with a long-term commitment to conservation and the outdoor industry; and someone with a Master’s level education in an outdoor related field and/or public administration. In addition, the board agreed that the new president must be able to establish a permanent new headquarters for AFFTA in the greater Denver area. In hiring Berlin, the board fulfilled all of these goals.
“It is an honor and privilege to be named the next President of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association,” Berlin said. “I have no doubt that with the guidance of the dedicated and professional Board of Directors, collectively we’ll achieve the strategic objectives to support the mission of AFFTA. I look forward to working with AFFTA’s constituents in manufacturing, retail, sales, and distribution to help facilitate the growth of the fly fishing industry.”
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
Alan Gnann
Chairman
(860) 749-3476 x 209
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
Mischa Jones
Administrator
(706) 355-3804