NICA Update By: Michelle Card
One of the toughest challenges in the seasonal amusement industry is
NICA Selects New Executive Director Michelle Card
After an extensive search by the NICA Board of tors Search Committee, Paulette Keene, President,
Direc- is
proud to announce the hire of Michelle Card as the new NICA Executive Director. Keene stated, “Card is well- educated and experienced in the operations of nonprofit organizations.” Michelle Card earned a Bachelor’s of
Science in Psychology from Lynn University, attended University of Miami with a concentration in Communications, and is completing the Masters of Nonprofit Management degree offered by Florida Atlantic University, a program that immersed her in public policy and organiza- tional development, priorities central to NICA's continued progress. Rey O’Day, who led NICA as the Interim Executive Manager will continue to support NICA by staying on as Director
labor. One of our sister organizations, OABA, has taken the lead in the mobile amusement industry and has been crucial to the continued development, sustainability and growth of the H-2B, non agricultural visa program for the past 15 years. Many
ers continue
concessionaires, to
carnivals utilize and independent the H-2B ride nonimmigrant, legal
own- vi-
sa program that permits employers to temporarily hire foreign nation- als for some 8-10 months, under close scrutiny by the Federal Depart- ment of Labor. The employment must satisfy business needs, such as a one-time
occurrence, seasonal need, peak load need or intermittent need. Some 5,000 H-2B, foreign guest workers participate in this visa program. Our government caps this program at 66,000 visas, however
thanks to of NICA
West. Keene added, “on behalf of our Board of Directors and many members we thank O’Day for her dedication to the organization.” Dominic Palmieri, Chair of the Search Committee, commented, “I am
very pleased with the process and the final decision of the entire Board of Directors. Michelle's experience and past success will benefit all our members.” Card says of her new position. “NICA has and will continue to play a unique and vital role in the promotion of positive growth and practices in the concessionaire industry. I am honored to have the oppor- tunity to lead NICA in engaging our membership and critical partners to fully realize our shared vision for an emerging and prospering trade.” Keene added, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we WELCOME Michelle and her enthusiasm to NICA.”
OABA’s lobbying Congress, along with other seasonal industries participating in this industry, seasonal workers who had worked in any of the past three years, could return and not be counted towards the Cap. This is critical as our economy improves and there is more demand for this seasonal workforce and to grow our small, family owed, seasonal businesses, and serve our fairs. To answer
the existing labor challenge and lobby Congress to
continue the returning worker exemption, as NICA’s new Executive Director, I recently joined OABA’s President & CEO, Bob Johnson in Washington, DC as a guest at an OABA sponsored fundraiser for The House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, from Bakersfield, CA to support Leader McCarthy’s long standing championing of the H-2B program and lobby for the returning worker exemption, once again for the returning worker exemption as they deal will funding the federal government for fiscal 2017, beginning October 1.
NICA 2016 Election Results This year’s election has been a close race, with six
Nominees vying for the four open spots on next year’s Board of Directors and 320 ballots cast by Voting Members.
This year’s ballots were counted this morning, Tuesday,
October 11, 2016, at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA by NICA’s 2016 Election Committee: Michele Card, Executive Director, Paulette Keene, President, Joe Potillo, Jr., Immediate Past President, Norm Keene, Paulette’s Food Service, James La Fratta, Perfection Confections, and Tom Sattler, CCE, Sattler’s Leather & Hats.
The 2016 election winners are: Don Delahoyde, CCE, Five Star Catering Carmel Dyer-Pitroff, The Original Australian Battered Potatoes
Richard George, George’s Fun Foods Mike Pence, CCE, Pence’s Concessions
Each newly elected Board Member will start their term
beginning in February 2017. We thank all Voting Members and Board Nominees for
their participation in this year’s election. 40 FAIRCRACKER-FALL 2016
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