THE CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS Association for Marketing (CTAM) plans to cut staff by nearly 25% by year’s end (eight positions) as part of “evolutionary changes” that will end its CTAM Summit and Insights Conference to be replaced by a “series of topical business meetings.” The staff cuts were reported by Multichannel News.
In a YouTube video announcing the changes, Char Beales president and CEO CTAM said the association will move away from individual memberships to one that is corporately supported. The changes will not impact CTAM’s mission but are designed to “align CTAM’s programs more closely with the change in their own companies,” she explained. Beales later informed Cartt.ca that the cuts to staff would not have any impact on CTAM Canada. "They are doing a great job at delivering quality education," she added.
The change is being led by CTAM’s executive committee and board of directors, and the association is at an “inflection point in a three-year evolution to align with the changing needs of our members by sharpening our focus on the highest-impact programs in three areas: Cooperative Marketing, Strategic Collaboration and Executive Education,” wrote Beales in an e-mail to the membership.
“You will continue to receive all of your current benefits, allowing access to ctam.com, the member directory, consumer research, marketplace of industry resources, daily SmartBrief, and events such as Unplugged and Wired.”
One of the events planned to replace the CTAM Summit and Insights Conference will be an invitation-only Executive Forum for MSO and content marketers, a one-day event targeted to mid-level executives, and working group business meetings where members engage in problem-solving dialog.
By the end of 2013 CTAM plans to complete the change in priorities by moving from a current mix of individual and corporate memberships to a corporate-centric business model. Corporate member MSOs, content providers and suppliers will designate employees to participate in our programs and have access to all CTAM benefits without paying incremental individual dues. Individuals who are not employed by corporate members may continue to join CTAM at 2012 rates in 2013 to get full advantage of the educational opportunities and resources.
It's not clear yet if these changes may affect the popular and active CTAM Canada chapter, which is hosting a pair of events over the next two weeks.
