Retailer Joe Field, a key co-founder of ComicsPRO, is retiring from the comic retaielr trade association’s board of directors, the organization announced today.  Field plans to continue to be active in the organization but is bringing his participation in the board of directors to an end.  Field served as the organization’s president for its first eight years after its founding in 2005 (see "A New Direct Market Comic Retailer Organization").  His role as an officer ended in 2013 (see "ComicsPRO Elects New Officers").

"I’ve remained on the board under subsequent ComicsPRO presidents Thomas Gaul and Peter Dolan and I’ve been impressed with their leadership," Field wrote in a post announcing his retirement from the board.  "The org is in good shape with Marco [Davanzo] as ED, Pete [Dolan] as president and the current remaining board members.  We’re doing a lot of good with ComicsPRO, including ten years of the industry’s only trade event for retailers run by retailers, the founding and excellent second year growth of Local Comic Shop Day® and our various advocacies with industry partners that have been beneficial for all comic specialty retailers."

In a statement, Dolan praised Field’s contributions.  "I know I speak for the membership and for the Board of Directors when I say how much we appreciate ALL that he’s done for ComicsPRO," he said.  "Joe’s contributions to the organization are countless. I’ll miss his input to the Board, but I’m happy he’s going to remain active within the org."

Field had roles with a number of previous retailer organizations, including the Direct Line Group, the Northern California Comic Dealers' Association (NCCDA), Bay Area Comic Retailers (BACR) and Comic Book Retailers' International (CBRI) before getting it right with ComicsPRO.  He continues to operate his store, Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California.