Marcel Avargues has been executive director of the Electronic Retailing Association’s European bureau since 2001. His responsibilities include the development of tailored activities and services for the European members of the association. He also serves as the ERA’s institutional representative in Brussels, and manages relationships with national Direct Marketing and Interactive Television Associations. Additionally, Marcel is responsible for the coordination of ERA conference programming and membership development marketing in Europe. An internationally-recognized expert on electronic retailing and direct marketing issues, Marcel is a frequently-requested speaker at conferences around the globe sponsored by organizations including the European Institute for Direct Marketing, the Direct Marketing Association and the Institute for International Research, and more recently Conferences on Interactive Television in Sofia, Bucharest and Lisbon. Marcel’s marketing and management spans three decades. He began his career at Fingerhut France as vice president, marketing & product development, later holding the positions of vice president, international, and later vice president, marketing and finance for the Direct Marketing Association in New York. In 1987, he became the director of marketing & international for COREF (now Experian) France and later served as the managing director of Hachette Livre/Grolier Direct marketing division. Most recently Marcel was the marketing vice president of Correo Argentino, National Argentina Postal Services, in Buenos Aires.
Julie Coons is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electronic Retailing Association. ERA represents over 400 direct to consumer retailers that utilize, radio, television and online technologies to reach consumers across the globe. Ms Coons is the chief advocate for the ERA membership working with policy, legislative and media audiences. In addition she provides strategic leadership focused on delivering member benefits that grow the industry and the association. Prior to joining ERA, Ms. Coons served as president and CEO of the Tech Council of Maryland. During her four-year tenure at TCM, Ms. Coons was known for turning the association back to being a regional powerhouse of influence. She oversaw a merger and re-branding of the organization, as well as successfully led an up hill legislative battle credited with taking the association to new heights.
Christy Hopkins, a member of the ERA Meetings Department team, brings more than 10 years of experience in meetings support, customer service support, and management support in fast paced environments. Christy attended George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. 
Dave Martin is the Vice President of Marketing & Content at the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA). Dave has worked for ERA since early 2009. Before that Dave worked in global telecommunications marketing, product management, and product development both in the United States and Europe. Dave has a BA from SUNY Buffalo, a MIA from Columbia University, and a MA from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Leuven, Belgium. Dave is fluent in Spanish and enjoys photography, acoustic guitar, and coaching little league baseball in his spare time.
Cecilia D. Mason, a native to the Washington area, joined ERA as an accountant in August of 2005. Cecilia comes to ERA after serving 34 years in a major Washington area bank where she managed the Accounts Payable Department, the Fixed Asset Department and worked with the General Ledger Department in account reconciliations and daily financial statements.
Bill McClellan joined ERA in January 2003 as director of government affairs. Prior to joining the association, Bill worked as a lobbyist at the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, covering the state legislature and Georgia's congressional delegation. Before working for the GADA, Bill managed political campaigns at both the congressional and state constitutional levels. 
"Allstate Roadside Services has found immediate value as an active participant in the industry’s largest and most influential trade association. We appreciate the opportunity to network and learn from other industry participants, while offering to share our own multi-channel marketing success stories. Membership in the ERA is a must for any business that wants to be successful in direct response marketing."
Staff Bios
-Karen Burns
Senior Vice President – Marketing, Allstate Roadside Services
