ComicsPRO made two announcements at the ComicsPRO Retailer Day at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24: The next annual meeting will be held on February 17-20, 2027, in Glendale, California, and Executive Director Marco Davanzo is stepping down from his post after a 12-year tenure.
“Our members told us Glendale was where they wanted to be, and we listened,” said Joe Murray, President of ComicsPRO, in a statement accompanying the announcement. “One more year at a favorite location allows us to experiment, innovate and expand the conference before we take it back on the road in 2028.”
The 2027 conference will expand to include a full day of programming on Wednesday, February 17, allowing for an additional day of panels and networking, and more programming on Saturday, February 20, the final day of the conference, as well. In addition, the main meeting room will be larger, so more people can attend the keynote programming and general sessions.
The location for the 2028 annual meeting will be announced at the 2027 meeting, so attendees will have more time to plan.
Davanzo, the owner of Alakazam Comics in Irvine, CA, was promoted to Executive Director in 2014 (see “ComicsPRO Meeting Up 21%“) and has been responsible for day-to-day operations. The Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) recently honored him with their Unsung Hero Award (see “Ex-President Endorses Binc“).
“It’s been my absolute pleasure to be Executive Director for ComicsPRO for these last 12 years, but it’s time for me to step back and let someone else lead the organization so that I can spend more time growing my store,” Davanzo said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “We’ve laid the groundwork for the February Annual Conference, and with the current board’s level of involvement, I feel comfortable passing the baton. There is a strength when retailers get together and ComicsPRO will always have a special place in my heart.”
“Marco has been a steady, guiding hand for ComicsPro through some incredibly challenging times,” added Murray. “In addition to his skilled leadership, Marco has turned the ComicsPRO Annual Conference into the must-attend industry event of the year!”
The Board of Directors will begin searching for a successor in coming weeks.
Source: ICv2
