The boards of directors of the Public Notice Resource Center (PNRC) and American Court and Commercial Newspapers (ACCN) announced last month that they have selected the Michigan Press Association (MPA) to manage the joint affairs of the two groups when the contract with their current management company ends on April 2.

PNRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes government and corporate transparency through research and education focused on how to provide effective official notice to the public. It is the only national organization that monitors and analyzes public notice legislation in all 50 states. ACCN is a trade association that represents local newspapers that report on and provide services to the legal and business communities in which they operate.

The organizations’ management company, Karpel Public Affairs (KPA), informed each board earlier this year that president and owner Richard Karpel planned to retire on April 2, and that KPA would be winding down operations as a result of his retirement. Karpel is the executive director of both PNRC and ACCN, positions he has held since his company signed its initial management contracts with the groups in 2017.

Both boards conducted a search for a new organization to provide management services for the nonprofit groups, which have been jointly managed since PNRC was founded in 2004. They ultimately selected MPA and signed management agreements with the press association last month.

MPA has advocated for open government and robust public notice laws on behalf of Michigan newspapers for more than 150 years. Executive Director James Tarrant and Public Affairs Manager Lisa McGraw said they look forward to using their knowledge about the importance of public notice and government transparency in working with ACCN and PNRC. “We appreciate the opportunity to continue the valuable work PNRC and ACCN have been doing across the country,” said Tarrant.

“The ACCN and PNRC Boards wish Richard Karpel all the best in retirement,” said PNRC President Brad Thompson and ACCN President Eric Barnes. “His dedication to both organizations has been exceptional. We’re confident MPA will continue the excellent work that has been done.”