The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) has announced the hiring of Mark Mann as the organization’s new exhibit and sponsorship account manager, a role where he will be responsible for the day-to-day sales and servicing of exhibitors and sponsors participating in the annual IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.

Mark Pursell, ceo of IPCPR said that “we are thrilled to have a professional of Mark’s caliber joining the staff team that serves the premium cigar and pipe industry,” via a press release. Pursell noted that Mann brings fifteen years of experience in producing trade shows and events across the country, adding that he has “a customer-centric approach and a desire to be part of a team dedicated to a great industry.”

Mann will be taking over for Jeff Moran, who will be retiring at the end of October after serving as the IPCPR’s member services manager and booth sales coordinator. “Jeff has served IPCPR and the industry with integrity and diligence for nearly ten years,” noted Scott Regina of Emerson’s Cigars in Virginia Beach, Va., who is also the IPCPR membership & trade show committee chairman.

Mann will be based out of the IPCPR’s soon-to-open new headquarters in Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill area and will report to Dawn Conger, Senior Director of Associate Member Relations.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.