Executive Compensation at the National Confectioners Association (2020)
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is tax-exempt, non-profit trade association (501 (c) 6) that promotes chocolate, candy, gum, and mints along with the companies that make these treats. Based in Washington, DC, the NCA focuses on 7 key areas:
- Public Policy and Government Affairs
- Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
- Industry Affairs and the Sweets & Snacks Expo
- International Business Development
- Meetings and Membership
- Public Affairs and Communications
- Administration and Finance
A small trade association by numbers: the NCA raises about $20 million annually (primarily from the expo, membership dues, programs, trade shows, and conferences), spends about $19 million (primarily on compensation for employees and conferences, conventions, and meetings), and has $10 million in net assets. And, yet the NCA paid out $1.2 million to the President and CEO, John H Downs, Jr in 2020, 2019, and 2018.. In addition, a $100,000 payment was made to his retirement plan in 2020 ($75,000 in 2019). And, finally, NCA paid for first class and business class travel for Mr. Downs along with companion travel, and the “spousal expenses.”
32 employees received $6.5 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $200,000. However, only 13 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 8 most highly compensated listed below:
- $1,210,132: John H Downs Jr, President and CEO
- $ 390,471: Elise Fennig, Chief of Staff
- $ 361,324: Liz Clark, VP, Government Affairs
- $ 333,615: Chris Gindlesperger, VP, Public Affairs and Communications
- $ 304,764: Debra Miller, VP, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
- $ 303,693: Larry Wilson, VP, Industry Affairs
- $ 252,217: Libby Taylor, VP, Meetings and Membership
- $ 252,191: Tracy Thompson, VP, Finance
5 of the 8 most highly compensated employees are female while 3 are male. The most highly compensated employee was John Downs, who received $1.2 million in 2020; and $5.5 million in compensation over the past 5 years:
- 2020: $1,210,132
- 2019: $1,244,112
- 2018: $1,200,458
- 2017: $ 975,409
- 2016: $ 924,123
8 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five highest listed below:
- $628,814: GMMB, of Washington, DC for public relations
- $ 410,965: Hamilton Place Strategies, of Washington, DC for public affairs*
- $ 475,276: Propress, of Cleveland, OH for publishing
- $ 586,095: Convexx, of Las Vegas, NV for trade show management
- $ 255,695: Olson Frank and Weeda, of Washington, DC for legal/lobbying
“*” Hamilton Place Strategies received the exact same amount of compensation in the prior year.
To read the IRS Form 990 (2019 for the year ending March 30, 2020), click here.
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