| American Paint Horse Association announces
appointment of new Executive Director
After a three-month national search that reviewed more than 40
candidates, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has
named longtime equine association executive Billy Smith as its
new Executive Director to lead APHA into its second 50 years of
operation.
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 Hirez
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APHA hired MJM Global Search from Colorado to conduct
the nationwide search. MJM Global Search came highly
recommended as an executive search firm with extensive
experience in Equine Association leadership recruiting.
"Billy's direct, confident answers to the Search Committee
and the Executive Committee proved to be the deciding factor for
all of us," says APHA President Scot Jackson. “After listening
to his deep experience with leading efficient operations,
directing marketing, and improving member service, the Executive
Committee voted unanimously to select him as our next Executive
Director."
Smith, 50, spent the last 13 years with the American Quarter
Horse Association in both marketing and information technology
positions, ending as Executive Director of Information
Technology. Prior to that, Smith was a journalism/advertising
professor at West Texas A&M University and freelance writer for
various news and corporate publications.
“The whole interview process was refreshing and opened my
eyes to the possibilities for APHA’s future,” Smith said. "I'm
inspired by the history of the Paint Horse breed and can't wait
for a chance to help craft the Paint Horse story across the
globe. I felt a kindness and warmth from the APHA Executive
Committee that truly energized me.”
“I am excited to welcome such a consummate professional to
APHA,” Jackson said. “Together we will continue to strive to
make APHA a progressive and successful breed organization. I
look forward to working with Billy, and putting his expertise in
member services, marketing, communications and information
technology to work for APHA.”
In his role as Executive Director of Information Technology,
Smith redesigned the technology arm of the world’s largest breed
registry by automating a paperless registration system and
architecting a redesign of AQHA’s computing system. Prior to
moving into information technology, Smith also initiated various
marketing and database mining initiatives.
“I’ve been fortunate to have worked alongside some of the
brightest minds in the horse industry,” said Smith. “And I know
I’ll have the opportunity to work with similarly talented staff
at APHA.”
Smith received a Doctor of Education degree from Texas Tech
in 1999 along with a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and business from the
University of North Texas in 1984.
He will begin his duties at APHA in February.
About APHA
The American Paint Horse
Association (APHA), the international breed registry for the
American Paint Horse headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas,
celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its
mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed,
APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international
clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and
creates and maintains programs that increase the value of
American Paint Horses and enriches members' experiences with
their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in
59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves
over 64,000 active youth and adult members around the world.
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