Lee Martin has recently joined the IHS staff as its Manager of Marketing, Membership and Communications.
A Michigan native, Martin comes to the Society with a wealth of experience in not-for-profit and membership-based organizations, where he became known for highly effective publication overhauls and online innovations.
“I’m delighted with this opportunity,” he says. “My role at IHS will give me a chance to utilize a variety of skills in a challenging context. It’s an honor to join this team and I’m looking forward to a great collaboration.”
According to IHS Executive Director Cindy Helms, Martin’s role is a critical one in that he will manage the Society’s marketing campaigns, membership recruitment and benefits, and public relations. “Lee has the talent and initiative to excel in his position. He will be a tremendous asset to our operations and we are very pleased to welcome him on board,” she said.
An alumnus of such organizations as the Detroit Medical Center, The Engineering Society of Detroit, and Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit, Martin often distinguished himself as a resource capable of boosting constituent response and buy-in, sometimes with dazzling results.
“I enjoyed breaking new ground, and shaking up targeted consumers with a radically altered approach,” he says. “Sometimes, of course, simple solutions are the most effective. Discretion is crucial to the marketing effort. You have to listen to your peers, the experts, and of course, your audience–all while considering the bottom line.”
One of Martin’s strengths lies in his ability to “brand,” either broadly or within an existing theme. In recent years, some of his concepts proved so successful, they were borrowed by competing businesses. “I don’t mind,” he laughs. “It’s the sincerest form of flattery.”
