Chuck Jacoby, President
A2Z Balloon Company, Livonia, MI
734-266-3456 ext. 11
Chuck@A2Zballoons.com
Chuck Jacoby is the owner of A2Z Balloon Company which is located in the suburban Detroit community of Livonia, Michigan. He has been an IBA member since 2005 which was the year he purchased Zakoor Novelty and merged it with the helium and balloon portion of his other business, Advance Novelty Company. A2Z is a full service wholesale distributor of balloons and helium carrying all major balloon lines from Anagram, Pioneer, ConverUSA, Betallic, CTI and Classic as well as a full line of balloon accessories, inflation equipment and party supplies. Advance Novelty operates out of the same 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse as A2Z and its primary product lines are bingo supplies, imprinted merchandise, casino rental equipment, carnival toys, novelties and other fund raising merchandise. Chuck resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he is happily married to Rochelle. He enjoys golf, travel and walking his two dogs Louie and Rocco.
Ted J Vlamis, 1st Vice President
Pioneer Balloon Co., Wichita, KS
Photo and bio to come
Kathi Leiden, 2nd Vice-President
Zephyr Solutions, Avon Lake, OH
404-409-6374
kathi@askzephyr.com
Kathi Leiden is President of Zephyr Solutions an international wholesaler of balloon inflation equipment and retail merchandising tools. Zephyr Solutions is the master distributor for Cramer Decker Industries helium products. Her growth plan for the company includes continual new product development, expansion into untapped markets and building a team of positive, pro-active, happy people. She currently serves as the chairperson for the IBA marketing committee.
Kathi was formerly the Business Unit Manager for the Westwinds division of Western Enterprises and prior to that worked as a Director of Sales and Marketing for Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
She and her husband have 3 children and live in Avon Lake, OH.
Jeff Manke, Treasurer
MSR Wholesale, Seattle, WA
206-523-1010
Jeff@msrballoons.com
Jeff Manke is the owner/janitor of MSR Wholesale Balloons located in Seattle, Washington. He has been an IBA member since 2008, the year he purchased MSR. MSR has been in the balloon business since 1978, starting out in 1978 as JM Business Enterprises before adopting their current name in 1996. Prior to purchasing MSR, Jeff was employed as a financial analyst with The Boeing Company for over 20 years.
Jeff holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of North Dakota then went on to earn his Masters Degree in business from City University in Seattle.
Jeff resides in Des Moines, WA, with his wife Laura and daughter Alyssa. His son Tyler is currently playing baseball for Hawaii Pacific University when not basking on the beach.
Keith Burchette, Director
Hi-Float, Inc., Louisville, KY
502-396-3232
Keith@hi-float.com
Keith began attending balloon industry seminars when he was only ten years old. Growing up he traveled throughout the United States with his parents, Donald and Marjorie Burchette, the founders of HI-FLOAT Company.
Keith began his professional career working for a balloon delivery and decorating company in Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1995 he joined HI-FLOAT’s sales and marketing department. Since that time Keith has lead the company in expansive growth throughout Europe and Asia, and he has conducted classes at international balloon events from Russia to Japan. Keith believes that education and networking is the key to our future success and growth as an industry.
HI-FLOAT™ is a treatment that makes latex balloons float several times longer. The newest formula, ULTRA HI-FLOAT™ can increase the float life by up to 25 times!
Joe Abelovitz, Regional Director
Mayflower Distributing, Mendota Heights, MN
651-452-4892
Joe@partysupplier.com
Bio to come
Bob Buzby, Regional Director
Anagram International, Minneapolis, MN
800-525-1860
buzbyb@anagramintl.com
Photo and bio to come
Amanda Armstrong, CBA, Associate Member Director
Top Hat Balloon Werks, Mission Viejo, CA
949-370-1355
tophatballoonwerks@netzero.com
Amanda Armstrong, CBA is owner of Top Hat Balloon Werks, established in 1998. She received her BA in Behavioral Psychology and Human Resources Management and has also received a Certificate in Corporate Event Planning from Cal State Fullerton. She has promoted the balloon industry by presenting instructional classes, both nationally and internationally, in balloon décor and business and is the Executive Producer of West Coast Event & Balloon Arts Convention. Amanda has instructed for JoAnn’s Fabrics & Craft Store, All-American Balloon Supply, Conwin, Western/Westwinds, Balloon Camp (2008, 2007) and last year at the World Balloon Convention in Dallas. Along with her commitment to education, she is a multi-award winning designer. She has won competitions for both large sculpture and centerpiece at the IBA Convention in Chicago (2006, 2007) and Balloon Camp, Las Vegas (2006, 2005). Amanda is a long standing member and activist of both the IBA and SoCal QBN Chapter. Amanda formerly had a 16 year career with Southern California Edison and San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station as an Electrical Operator and Nuclear Procedure Writer.
She and her husband have three girls and live in Mission Viejo, CA.
Tim Vlamis, Past President
Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS
316-685-2266
timv@pioneerballoon.com
Tim has held a variety of key positions within Pioneer since 1985 including management and direction of New Product Development, International, Education, Domestic Markets, Brand Management, and Retail Development. Tim received the "Crystal" award in 1995 given annually to the individual with the greatest career impact on the professional balloon industry for the conception and development of the Qualatex Balloon Network and its CBA certification program. Prior to joining Pioneer he worked in Chicago for Foote, Cone, & Belding Advertising in account management and as a consultant to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in New York. One of the first 1000 to earn the Professional Certified Marketer designation (PCM) from the American Marketing Association, Tim is a passionate student of complexity theory, history of mathematics, and the principles and elements of design. Tim earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in Economics from Yale University.
Marty Fish, Executive Director
IBA, Wichita, KS
866-413-7358
Marty@ibaonline.net
Marty began working in the balloon industry in 1986 when she joined the staff of Balloon World, Inc., as Director of Marketing and Sales.
Elected to the IBA Board of Directors as Secretary/Treasurer in 1997, Marty has served as Executive Director since 2000. Marty sees to the general administration and management of the affairs of the IBA acting as liaison for the corporation to the balloon industry. Marty is married with three children ages 20, 21, and 23.
Please see the Constitution and Bylaws to learn more about serving on the IBA Board of Directors.
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