The National Professional Anglers Association recently named businessman and tournament pro angler Pat Neu as their new executive director. Neu, from Forestville, Wisconsin, takes over a growing organization from Cody Roswick, who recently accepted the Pure Fishing district sales manager’s position for North and South Dakota.
Neu had been president of the NPAA board of directors. He pointed to Roswick’s great success in guiding the NPAA and exceeding the board’s expectations in membership recruitment and securing sponsoring partners. “Under Cody, the NPAA went from 14 to 21 supporting partners in 2009,” he said.
Immediate goals will be to build on the steady strides made over the past several years by creating validity, credibility and value for members. Neu said, “I want to continue conveying information to industry leaders, helping companies grow their businesses and teaching members to be more professional.”
Neu has been in the outdoor sporting goods business for 35 years, owning his own rep firm for nearly 20 years. He represented major lines like Winchester, Browning, Simmons and others. He currently performs promotional duties for many marine, fishing and non-endemic companies, and has been fishing competitively since 1994. He won the PWT Rookie of the Year title and a PWT tournament, was victorious on the FLW tour, and won the AYA tournament on Green Bay with his son. He has qualified for 19 major championships and racked up 25 top-10 place finishes.
Roswick lives in Valley City, ND, and will work with the NPAA board for a smooth transition as the office moves to Wisconsin. He was with the Lund Boats marketing department for nearly 10 years prior to his NPAA duties. He said, “I’m proud that we were able to maintain our individual membership numbers and increase the supporting partner ranks. I am really pleased at the great people I’ve met and the hard work of the board members.”
Supporting partners and individual members will gather at the NPAA annual meeting in the Twin Cities Jan.8-10. Many new products and services will be showcased here for the first time. The NPAA is focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its members. They include Northland Fishing Tackle, Navionics, Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, Off-Shore Tackle, Fin-Tech Tackle, Berkley, Walleye’s Inc., Masters Walleye Circuit, FLW Outdoors, AIM Walleye Series, Frabill, Liddle Marketing, US Forest Service, Do-it Corp, John Butts Outdoors, Pasha Lake Cabins, Optima Batteries, and Oahe Wings and Walleyes guide service. Anglers who want to attend the conference may do so at the Bloomington, Minnesota Holiday Inn & Suites.
