As the demand for experts in the card manufacturing and personalization/fulfillment sector continues to grow, it is critical for industry leaders to participate in frequent training to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and advances. The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) is keenly focused on keeping members at the top of their game by offering industry-leading training and educational opportunities.

ICMA members recognize that continued education is crucial in getting to the top of the industry and staying there. That is especially true in an industry like card manufacturing that involves a high-level of technology. That is why ICMA offers the Advanced Card Education (ACE) program, which includes specializations in manufacturing, personalization and advanced materials.

There are three ACE specializations, which are all stand-alone designations:

• ACE-M focuses on PVC/plastics, inks, adhesives, printing, collation, lamination, die-cutting and standards/testing
• ACE-P delves into printing and barcodes, magnetic stripe encoding, embossing, laser engraving, smart card encoding, financial transaction card data and fulfillment and standards/testing
• ACE-A reviews card technologies in advanced materials and card construction, security technologies and environmental initiatives

Six ICMA members have received their triple ACE designations:  Barry Mosteller of CPI Card Group, Tim Weatherill of Klöckner Pentaplast, Jim Colleran of CPI Card Group, Mark Ormiston of Anomatic Corporation, Dori Skelding of CompoSecure and Madeleine Raiford-Holland of Police & Sheriffs Press, Inc. Upcoming blogs will spotlight the ways ICMA members are using their specializations to “ACE” the card industry.

As vice president of supply chain and marketing at CompoSecure, Dori Skelding, has seen the benefits of the ACE program firsthand. With 20 years in the card manufacturing industry, as well as experience in print production, inventory management and marketing, Skelding pursued all three ACE designations because she wanted to expand her knowledge base.

“As an ICMA member, access to programs like ACE, are an absolute necessity to remain competitive. Not only do these designations make for better practices in the industry, but they also provide a level of prestige and reliability in the minds of customers, which is invaluable,” Skelding said.

The classes and exams cover a wide variety of topics, which Skelding credits with giving her more clarity in specific areas such as magstripe encoding. “Specifically, the ACE-A designation helped strengthen my understanding of security features on card products,” she said.

Skelding, who holds all three ACE designations said, “Earning the ACE designations was an opportunity to validate my experience as a subject matter expert in the industry. CompoSecure’s proprietary technology has made us a pioneer in the production of premium metal cards. As a leader within the company, I rely on ICMA’s educational opportunities and training to keep my skills at the cutting-edge, so that we can continue to elevate the cardholder’s experience, prioritize security and provide the highest level of service to our customers worldwide.”

ACE Eligibility
ACE applicants must work for an ICMA member company and have a minimum of two years of experience working in the card industry. Prior to the exam(s), ICMA Standards Representative, David Tushie, guides members through an interactive session to prepare for the exam. Testing is conducted at ICMA events, including the EXPO and CardTREX events. Members can also hold group exams at their locations. For more information on training and exams, contact ICMA Headquarters at info@icma.com or call 609-799-4900.

Want more industry insider insights or a glimpse into global card trends?
For three decades, ICMA has represented the interests of the card manufacturing industry—which includes manufacturers, personalizers, issuers and suppliers—as its leading global association.

ICMA offers regular educational opportunities, including the web-based Card Industry Training & Education program, which provides information on key areas of the industry, as well as online tutorials and webinars on specific topics from card industry experts and leading industry suppliers.  ICMA also provides reports on the card market and on personalization and fulfillment statistics to keep members informed of emerging trends and changing standards.

The organization hosts three conferences each year. The main event is the Annual Card Manufacturing & Personalization EXPO and the other two conferences are CardTREX North America and CardTREX Europe.

To learn more about the benefits of ICMA membership, click here.