Craft & Hobby Association announces CEO departure

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) board of directors has announced the departure of Steve Berger as president and CEO of CHA. The board of directors will immediately begin a search for a new chief executive. No timetable has been set for securing a replacement. In the interim, Tony Lee, VP meetings and expositions, will serve as acting president and CEO.

Berger was hired in 2003 as the excutive director of the Hobby Industry Association (HIA) and played an instrumental role in the organizational merger between HIA and the Association of Crafts & Creative Industries that formed CHA and actively led the Association since 2004.

Larry Olliges, CHA board chairman said, "We are saddened to see Steve leave. He has provided strong leadership to the association and spearheaded many important initiatives within the industry. We have three highly experienced vice presidents on staff at CHA who will keep the association moving ahead. We don't foresee any issues ensuring that key programs will stay on track."