By David Wallach, IRTA President
Today the members of the Barter Hall of Fame announced that they
have selected Scott Whitmer to receive the 2010 Hall-of-Fame award.
Scott will receive his award during the closing ceremony on the
final evening of the annual IRTA convention that will be held
October 28-30 at the Hilton Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“Scott exemplifies the qualities we look for in a barter
Hall-of-Fame inductee,” offered Bob Meyer, a long time barter
Hall-of-Fame member and publisher of BarterNews. “He
represents the best our industry has to offer.”
The Hall-of-Fame is the highest honor the modern trade and barter
industry can bestow. This honor recognizes individuals of the
highest professional character and ethical conduct who are regarded
as indisputable leaders of the industry. An inductee must have a
minimum of ten years of continuous industry service and have made
recognizable and specific contributions to the industry as a whole.
Created in 1997, there are currently 17 members in the barter
industry’s Hall-of-Fame. Each year previously chosen members of that
highly regarded group select a qualified candidate to be inducted.
When Scott was notified that he had received the Hall-of-Fame award
he was surprised and delighted, “I am much honored to be recognized
by the Hall’s members. For the past 28 years IRTA has played an
instrumental part of my company’s growth and development. My
services to barter industry have been very rewarding. I have learned
so much from the IRTA family and have always tried to give back to
IRTA and the industry as a whole. This is the highest possible
honor."
In 1982 Scott founded Florida Barter in Orlando (FL). With three
offices in central Florida and under his able leadership, Florida
Barter has grown to over 2000 members making it one of the largest
exchanges on the Eastern Seaboard.
During the second of his two terms as President of the IRTA Global
Board of Directors, Scott exercised and demonstrated his exceptional
vision and clear leadership abilities by guiding that Board through
the complex process of creating and founding the IRTA Universal
Currency system.
For the first time, barter exchanges were able to use a truly
universal currency as a transparent credit-clearing system which
maintained high standards that allowed them to conduct business
among themselves with confidence as part of a worldwide network.
“Today Universal Currency is the world’s largest exchange to
exchange trading platform and stands as a monument to Scott’s vision
and leadership ability,” expressed IRTA Executive Director Ron
Whitney. He presently serves as the very active and effective
Chairperson of the Universal Currency Committee.
Scott has been a member of IRTA since 1982. He served on the IRTA
Global Board of Directors for more than 20 years, was IRTA President
for two terms, and held all other Board officer positions for a
least one term. On three occasions he’s been honored with the
highest award IRTA offers — the Paul St. Martin Distinguished
Service Award. And has also received several of IRTA’s Outstanding
Achievement and Ambassador Awards. He has also received numerous
awards from NATE (National Association of Trade Exchanges). Always
willing to share his expertise with others in the industry, Scott
has led numerous seminars and discussion groups during industry
conventions.
Scott graduated from Georgia Tech in 1977 where he attended on a
football scholarship and received his BA in Industrial Management.
He is a dedicated husband and father and is active in local affairs
and charities.
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