APW is a full-service association management company with broad experience representing trade associations and professional societies in the media and communications world. We also provide public policy representation for small nonprofit organizations.
APW was founded in 1997 as American PressWorks, which reflects our origins representing journalism and newspaper groups. Longtime association executives Tonda Rush and Carol Pierce were the founders. Veteran association leader Richard Karpel joined them in 2015. Together we bring a wealth of experience in the worlds of media, education and public policy to benefit our clients.
We work with our clients to help them develop clear strategic objectives, and to efficiently manage their operations and shape public opinion to the serve their members’ interests.
Our core values are service, professionalism, inclusion and creativity. We believe it is the role of associations to help their members develop better businesses, sharper skills and stronger strategies for their futures. We are effective because we develop a comprehensive understanding of our clients’ needs and their members’ businesses.
Director of public policy and general counsel of the National Newspaper Association (NNA), and co-director of the Public Notice Resource Center. CEO of NNA for five years as a staff member, and for several more years after the association became an APW client. Formerly associate general counsel/vice president of industry relations for the organization now known as the Newspaper Association of America. Began career managing and editing a small newspaper in Kansas that she later came to own. Graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism and the University of Kansas School of Law.
Director of operations and meetings for APW. Formerly VP of the National Newspaper Association and COO of the National Newspaper Foundation. Later became NNA’s managing director after it joined APW as a client. Formerly director of operations and membership services for the National Association of Partners in Education and director of membership services for the National School Volunteer Program. Holds a master's degree in education.
Executive director of American Court and Commercial Newspapers, co-director of the Public Notice Resource Center and public policy counsel for the National Newspaper Association. Before joining APW, chief staff officer of Yoga Alliance and the American Society of News Editors. Founding executive director of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and executive vice president of the Video Software Dealers Association (now the Entertainment Merchants Association). Business degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
We brought APW in just when the time was right for an injection of new ideas, new life and new opportunities for effective policy leadership in our industry – an industry facing increasingly difficult market and technological challenges. APW did fabulous work, drawing out the best in our membership and creating an organizational structure that would allow us to thrive and lead our members and our industry to a new place for growth. I highly recommend APW and would welcome the opportunity to work with the team again.
APW melded our needs, their services and our cultures together. Their representation of our interests on Capitol Hill make it clear NNA’s voice is heard and respected. What any group wants is to express a vision and a mission — and have them carried out, on time, within budget and in a way that helps everyone recognize the professionalism your group offers. The folks at APW are masterful at this.
APW served APCE at a critical time of transition. They were enthusiastic and encouraging when we were a bit timid about our growth, especially into the digital world of communications. They moved us into a financial structure that not only worked, but was thoroughly clear to the governing board. Perhaps their greatest gift was advising us when it was no longer in our best interest financially to sustain our relationship with them, and helped us to smoothly transition to another model of administration.
NFPW hired APW to manage our organization when we were in urgent need of a management team to help turn our organization around. For 18 years, they organized our membership, helped organize and coordinate our yearly communications conference, assisted with our affiliate and national communications contest and served as the go-to team for our national organization. In addition to managing our organization, they became our friends.
Trade organization of daily and weekly newspapers reporting on local legal and business news.
Trade association for community newspapers in the U.S. Founded in 1885.
Charitable organization that promotes education in support of community newspaper journalism.
Non-profit organization promoting effective public notice and educating the public about its right to know.
200 Little Falls, Suite 405
Falls Church, VA 22046
Ph: 703-237-9802
Fax: 703-237-9808
P.O. Box 50301
Arlington, VA 22205