PCA Modifies Furlough, Two Staff Members to Remain Active

Today was set to be the first day of a staff-wide furlough at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), but that will not be the case for two staff members who will remain in their jobs while the rest of the staff is furloughed.

Scott Pearce, the PCA’s executive director, and Joshua Habursky, head of government affairs, will continue in their positions. The rest of the staff is furloughed as previously announced.

In an email, John Anderson, president of the PCA, indicated that the executive committee realized that it would be beneficial to have staff continuing to operate the organization on a day-to-day basis, working on lobbying and planning for the 2020 trade show.

“Over the past few weeks, the PCA board and executive committee has been considering the current state of the industry and the association,” said Anderson. “As we have had to make the difficult decisions with the furlough, we have examined and assessed the many priorities the organization has operationally as well as the many advocacy efforts the PCA engages in on behalf of the industry.”

Previously, the organization had planned to have its all-volunteer board operate the tasks.

No update has been given to the length of the furlough for the other staff members but the organization continues to stress that it is temporary.

This furlough was brought on by the organization’s financial situation, which was negatively impacted by the cancellation of the 2020 PCA Convention & Trade Show. In past years, the trade show has accounted for at least 70 percent of the organization’s revenue. There has not been any public announcement regarding the specifics of how much money the organization expects to lose because of the cancellation.