The National Association of Presort Mailers (NAPM) at its recent 2022 Annual Conference recognized Richard Gebbie, CEO, Midwest Direct, Cleveland, OH, with the prestigious NAPM Sue Foster Award.
“Rich has supported the NAPM for over 30 years and helped the association become what it is today,” said NAPM Executive Director Bob Galaher, “Rich’s company, Midwest Direct, was one of the founding members of NAPM back in 1984, and he has personally guided our association over many years and through good times and hard times for our members,” he said. “When the pandemic began and the impact on our industry ensued, Rich immediately thought about how NAPM could help and along with the NAPM Board developed support initiatives – not only for NAPM members but for all in the mailing industry,” Bob said. “Rich is also one of our more strategic thinkers,” he said, “often looking into the future and helping the association establish directions and initiatives that benefit all members.”
Richard Gebbie serves as elected President on the NAPM Board and also chairs the association’s Governance Committee. He is active on NAPM’s Strategic Planning Committee and the Finance & Operations Committee. Richard co-founded Midwest Presort Mailing Services, Inc. with his brother James Gebbie in 1982 and is now Chief Executive Officer. Midwest Direct is a marketing and communications company focused on helping marketers deliver engaging messages, delivering over 2 million messages every day that land in mailboxes, inboxes, and in online ads. Richard has led the technical, logistical, and digital innovation efforts internally and consistently strives to elevate the entire industry to learn and adapt modernization techniques. Throughout his career, Richard has held positions of increasing responsibility in sales, production, and executive management. He has managed operations with multimillion-dollar budgets, in multiple states. Midwest Direct is now one of the largest mailing service providers in Ohio.
Richard is industry co-chair of the USPS Central Area AIM, a past member of the U.S. Postal Service Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), past co-chair of the Cleveland Postal Customer Council and has been an active member for 35 years, and also serves as director on one of the boards for fundraising of the City Mission in Cleveland Ohio. As a hobby, Rich designs and builds “one-off” custom cars. Rich lives in Mentor Ohio, and has 3 children, and 6 grandchildren.
The Sue Foster Award was created by NAPM as its highest award of distinction, named in memory of Sue Foster who worked for the NAPM for many years. Sue was the stalwart matriarch of the NAPM who often kept the Association functioning in the earlier years of its growing pains. She demonstrated complete dedication, passion, and commitment to the organization and its members. Sue had unparalleled loyalty and passion for the NAPM and her contributions to the organization helped make it what it is today. In developing the Sue Foster Award, nominees are individuals who have made significant contributions in support of the NAPM and should exemplify the dedication and loyalty to the association exhibited by Sue Foster.
The NAPM Awards Committee and Board of Directors selected Richard Gebbie as the 2022 Sue Foster award recipient, and the award was presented at the association’s Annual Conference.
