The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) announced that Director of Public Affairs Larry Weindruch, CAE is retiring effective March 1, 2019. He also serves as president of the National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA).
Weindruch has served in his current role since 2012, and has led the association’s advocacy efforts at the state and national levels. Having served as director of the association’s Team Dealer Division, he worked with national rule-making organizations on regulations affecting uniforms and equipment sold to school and recreational sports teams. He has served as NSSRA President since 2010.
“Larry has contributed immensely over 33 years of service to NSGA and its members, and his achievements will not be forgotten,” said NSGA President and CEO Matt Carlson. “His work ethic, command of complex issues, and devotion to NSGA member issues have been exemplary. A mentor to many, his influence has made an indelible impact on NSGA’s success.”
During Weindruch’s tenure at NSGA, he played a critical role in leading a source tagging initiative, improving loss prevention across the sporting goods industry. He served as a champion for establishing partnerships with organizations such as the Marketplace Fairness Coalition, which addresses remote sales tax fairness, the PHIT Coalition and National Health Through Fitness Day, promoting physical activity, and Americans for Free Trade, in opposition of tariffs. He was key in forging alliances within the National Retail Federation, and Partnership for a Healthier America, advocating for physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.
He also served as NSGA’s director of communications, as a media spokesperson with several national television news appearances, representing the sporting goods industry. During the span of 33 years at NSGA, he drew on his sports journalism background, fulfilling the roles of publisher, editor, and publications manager, overseeing the association’s member magazine and newsletters.
Weindruch’s award-winning sports journalism career includes seven years as a daily newspaper reporter and columnist in Davenport, Iowa, two years as associate editor of Inside Sports magazine, and 28 years as a sports correspondent for the Daily Herald, Chicagoland’s third-largest newspaper. He earned recognition as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2008 from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
Gwen Biasi, CAE has joined NSGA as its director of marketing and communications. Biasi, with 17 years’ experience working in associations, will serve NSGA in an advocacy role and as liaison to the NSSRA.
