MMPI welcomes senior marketing and strategy director

MMPI recently announced Nancy Michael as senior marketing and strategy director for the Gift & Home Décor industry, effective January 3, 2011. In her new role, Michael will be based in Chicago working directly with Trisha Schultz, marketing director, and the entire Chicago team. She will also be coordinating and leveraging marketing activity across Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.


Michael will be working with the management teams for the California Gift Show, The Chicago Market and 7 W in the development, coordination, and implementation of all marketing efforts, which include advertising, special events, public relations, websites, and direct mail programs.

Michael brings with her an array of knowledge and experience in the gift and home industries through her recent marketing role with a major manufacturer. MMPI believes unique perspective will be beneficial to attendees, permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors.

“Nancy Michael has the rare ability to bridge left and right brain thinking,” said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president, MMPI. “She is hard-driving, analytical and results orientated all at the same time. She values building relationships, thinking creatively and pushing the envelope. She is a successful industry veteran and we are thrilled to welcome her to the MMPI team.”

“I am excited to be joining the MMPI team,” said Michael. “I have had the pleasure of working with MMPI’s great professionals throughout my career in the gift industry and have already developed a number of strong working relationships. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my strengths to the MMPI team and to the accomplishments we can achieve.”

Prior to joining MMPI, Michael served as the director of marketing for tag, ltd. In that role, Michael worked on every major tag initiative from launching new product categories to growing the tag brand. Prior to her role as director of marketing, Michael served as tag’s Eastern regional sales manager, where she managed all of the company’s independent manufacturer rep agencies east of the Mississippi, and was responsible for the relationships with independent retail accounts.