CBA has promoted Curtis Riskey from executive director to president during a recent board meeting.

"The appointment is an affirmation by the board of Riskey's leadership, role in the industry and job performance in running the association these past three years," said CBA Board Chairman George Thomsen.

Riskey served as interim executive director after the unexpected resignation of longtime President and CEO Bill Anderson in October 2009. He was appointed as executive director in March 2010 with CBA adopting a new management model. Riskey has seen the sale of the organization's headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., and CBA has also eliminated all its debt and is now debt free, the association said.

Riskey, 45, said he was humbled and honored by the support of the CBA board. He added that CBA will be focusing on strategic direction and growth for the industry of Christian retailers and their trading partners who create Christian resources and materials.

"The work we do as an industry is part of the mission of the church as it supports faith-building, personal growth and cultural revitalization," Riskey said. "CBA is an advocate for the industry where individual ministry and excellence of industry businesses continue to make a difference in people's everyday faith."

Riskey joined CBA in September 2007 for the newly created position of strategic solutions executive, relocating with his wife, Barbara, and three children to Colorado Springs from Oshkosh, Wis., where he owned BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) Books and Café.

In July 2010, he shuttered the 10-year-old, 12,000-square-foot store, citing the difficulties in running the business from a distance four months after taking on the leadership of the retailers association.

Riskey, a former Christian Retailing editorial advisory board member, has a business degree from the University of Wisconsin.

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