The American Philatelic Society is reorganizing three major areas of its internal organization: Editorial, Membership and Expertizing. From left, Thomas R Loebig will head Membership, Ken Martin, Expertizing, and Gary Loew, Editorial.

Here’s the full text of the APS press release:

American Philatelic Society Announces Reorganization
New Services Create New Opportunities

The American Philatelic Society today announced a reorganization in three areas: Editorial, Membership, and Expertizing. The changes result from new and expanded services instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic to help members and collectors sheltered in place.

“Change has come quickly to the hobby. We’ve responded by offering new services and new traditions,” said APS Executive Director Scott English, “Content development has been critical to serving our fellow members and recruiting new ones. We have to realign to sustain and grow with the demand.”

Effective July 1, 2020, the following changes will occur:

Membership: Tom Loebig, Chief Content Officer, will become Director of Membership. Heidi Lauckhart-Rhoades, Content Marketing Specialist, will become Communities and Grassroots Specialist.

The office will manage Member Administration, Membership Marketing, Web Content, Social Media, Ambassadors Program, and Shows.

Expertizing: Ken Martin, Chief Membership Officer, will take over as Director of Expertizing.

The office manages the American Philatelic Expertizing Service, the Reference Collection, and the Estate Advisory Service.

Editorial: Gary Loew, Director of Expertizing, will serve as Editor-in-Chief, Susanna Mills, Content Manager, will become Associate Editor, and Chad Cowder, who joined the APS in April, will continue as Graphic Designer.

The office will produce The American Philatelist, the monthly journal of the APS, Philatelic Literature Review, the quarterly journal of the American Philatelic Research Library, and APS publications.

In response to questions from The Virtual Stamp Club, English says the reorganization has been in the works since February 2018, as part of a plan to reach more members and have more members, largely through better use of the website.

Other organizational groups within the APS staff include Administration, headed by Jeff Krantweiss (who succeeded Rick Banks in February, upon the latter’s retirement); Sales (Wendy Masorti, director); Education (Cathy Brachbil); and Information Services and Library (Scott Tiffney).

We asked whether Martin, who has long directed or at least supervised the production of APS shows (StampShow, AmeriStamp Expo and now or soon Great American Stamp Show), would still have input into show operations. Yes, replied English. ” More than half of the APS staff have a role in supporting the annual show,” he told The VSC. “Ken’s institutional knowledge will be critical while planning for Chicago 2021” and beyond.