"There was no one more passionately dedicated to the association world and non-profit community."
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2020 – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the death of American Society of Association Executives President and CEO John H. Graham IV:
“Those of us in the retail industry are heartbroken at the loss of this great leader, who devoted his unparalleled expertise and decades of experience to causes ranging from diabetes to the Boy Scouts to charitable fundraising. I had the privilege of working with John, and he was a great friend, mentor and supporter. He was a constant cheerleader for me like he was for so many others. There was no one more passionately dedicated to the association world and non-profit community. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a service leader and will be deeply missed by all of us who knew him.”
Shay worked closely with Graham while chairman of the ASAE Board of Directors from 2017 to 2018 and also as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 42 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.