About NPF

NPF Mission

The National Postal Forum (NPF) a not-for-profit educational corporation, was established in 1968 by a group of major postal customers/mailers who were committed to an ongoing partnership with the United States Postal Service. The Forum's goal then-as now has been to provide education to business mailers and communication/feed-back between the USPS and its business customers for a more responsive and efficient mail communications system.

NPF's mission is "To assist the United States Postal Service in building relationships with and educating mailers in the most effective and efficient use of the products and services offered by the United States Postal Service."

The Forum is the mailing industry's premier educational venue, trade show and networking event for industry professionals. It provides business mailers with ongoing training and education, and helps them keep pace with the mailing industry's rapid progress. Held once a year in the spring, the Forum is a combination educational conference/trade show offering a wide range of opportunities for attendees.

The Forum works as a partner with the US Postal Service with the ultimate goal of a more efficient Postal Service thereby benefiting the entire USPS customer universe. To accomplish this goal the NPF facilitates educational opportunities by bringing the USPS together with its customers, suppliers and business partners. The NPF is the only industry organization that works directly with Postal Service managers to provide the most comprehensive educational and networking platform possible for meeting the needs of mailing industry and postal customers.

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HISTORY

The National Postal Forum continues its commitment to an ongoing partnership with the US Postal Service as the industry now looks to the 21st century. NPF's goal will continue to be to provide communication and feedback for a more responsive and efficient mail communications system between the USPS and its customers.

Since the first meeting in 1968 the nature of the meeting/trade show has undergone several changes being held annually, biannually and as a regionally focused meeting up to five times per year.

The NPF and the US Postal Service work closely together as partners to provide the most comprehensive and best educational platform possible for meeting the needs of the mailing industry.

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Attendee Demographics

The National Postal Forum currently attracts, on average, in excess of 5,000 attendees per meeting and continues to grow steadily. The attendees represent a cross-section of the entire mailing industry. More than 95% of the attendees are from the United States, and there are a number of participants from Canada. The Forum will also attract attendees from Mexico, the U.K., France, and Argentina, and from as far away as Singapore and Australia.

Aside from US Postal Service attendees, speakers and exhibitors, the average mailing industry attendee is middle to upper management and is involved in the buying decisions for mailing-related products. These attendees represent a cross-section of companies from the smallest to the largest. Among the many US Postal Service customers and various industries represented are the following:

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NPF Board of Directors

		Robert J. O'Brien, Chairman Mr. O'Brien recently retired from Time Inc. where he served as Vice President/Direct Marketing List Services & Postal Distribution Policy at Time Customer Service, Inc. Mr. O'Brien has served as Chairman of the U.S. Postal Service Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC). He is the recipient of Postmaster General's Partnership for Progress Award as well as the IDEAlliance Donald A. Mumma Award.
		Susan E. Alvarado, Treasurer Ms. Alvarado is a principal in the Washington, DC government relations consulting firm of Alvarado & Bennett. Ms. Alvarado served as Vice President George Bush's assistant for legislative affairs and as floor assistant to Senator Ted Stevens. Ms. Alvarado was appointed to the USPS Board of Governors in 1988 by President Reagan. Ms. Alvarado has served as chairman of the National Postal Forum for three years.
		Michael S. Coughlin Mr. Coughlin most recently worked as a Senior Director with Accenture, a leading provider of management and technology consulting services, he worked with Accenture's Global Postal Industry Practice both in the US and internationally. Prior to joining Accenture, Mr. Coughlin spent 32 years with the U.S. Postal Service, serving from 1987 to 1999 as Deputy Postmaster General and member of the Board of Governors. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in issues affecting the postal industry and the customers who use the mail system.
		John G. Mulligan, Secretary Mr. Mulligan is retired from the U.S. Postal Service, where he held numerous management positions during his 25-year career, including Senior Assistant Postmaster General for Operations and Regional Postmaster General in both the Northeast and Central regions. He founded Postal Policy Consulting Services in 1992 and has over 15 years postal consulting experience in the domestic postal industry and some 13 foreign countries, where he focused on postal modernization and restructuring. Mr. Mulligan retired again in 2008.
		Joyce McGarvy Joyce McGarvy is the Vice President of Distribution at Crain Communications, Inc. McGarvy is involved in several professional organizations including serving as President of Red Tag News Association, National Industry Co-Chair of the Periodicals Focus Groups, Industry Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Periodicals Focus Group, Industry Co-Chair for the Periodicals Operations Advisory Committee, Past Industry Chairman of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), as well as the Industry Chairman of American Business Media (ABM) Postal Affairs Committee. Joyce was awarded the prestigious Tom Tully Award from the American Business Media in 2008.

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NPF Staff

Michael Genick
Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer
(703) 293-2310
mgenick@npf.org

Maureen Hite
Director, Finance & Administration
(703) 293-2316
mhite@npf.org

Mary Guthrie
Director, Marketing & Exhibits
(703) 293-2313
mguthrie@npf.org

Judy Clear
Registration and Housing Assistant
(703) 293-2317
jclear@npf.org

Lori Miller
Coordinator, Business Sessions
(703) 293-2318
lmiller@npf.org

Michael Foote
IT and Technical
(703) 293-2320
mfoote@npf.org

Alicia Perez-Arrietta
Meeting Planner
(703) 293-2314
apa@npf.org

Laurie Woodhams
Exhibits Assistant
(703) 293-2329
lwoodhams@npf.org

Marilyn Bishop
Administrative Assistant
(703) 218-5015
mbishop@npf.org

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