Paid administrative leave has turned into unemployment for American Numismatic Association executive director Larry Shepherd.

ANA President Tom Hallenbeck made the news public in a telephone conference call to the numismatic press Sept. 28.

Hallenbeck said he would attend an ANA staff meeting later that afternoon to tell the organization's employees of the decision of the ANA board of governors.

In the words of the official press release, "The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors today announced that it has ended its employment relationship with Larry Shepherd as executive director."

To read the complete article, see:No Return for Shepherd(www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article
&ArticleId=24156&et_mid=520645&rid=2226673)

Scott Barman, in his September 28, 2011 Coin Collector's Blog writes:

To read the complete article, see:ANA Fires Shepherd(coinsblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/ana-fires-shepherd.html)

Former American Numismatic Association executive director Larry Shepherd was hired by Harlan J. Berk Ltd.

Berk made the announcement less than 24 hours after ANA announced it had parted ways with Shepherd.

Berk told Numismatic News Sept. 29 that Shepherd was hired "for his honesty and integrity and his numismatic ability."

To read the complete article, see:Berk Hires Shepherd(www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=
article&ArticleId=24158&et_mid=520645&rid=2226673)

The American Numismatic Association last week terminated Larry Shepherd, the group's executive director since 2008, for unspecified reasons.

Shepherd had been placed on administrative leave Aug. 20. In a news release, the group said its board voted unanimously to end Shepherd's employment effective Sept. 20, although the move was announced Wednesday.

Tom Hallenbeck, president of the association's board and owner of Hallenbeck Coin Gallery in Colorado Springs, said he couldn't say much more about Shepherd's departure.

"We just can't talk about personnel issues," he said. "It's no fun to change executive directors. In my two-year term, it's not what I wanted."

After placing Shepherd on administrative leave, the coin collector's association hired a human resources consulting firm to review the group's management and employment policies, the release said, and the association has formed governance and strategic planning committees. One goal of the new committees, Hallenbeck said, will be to try to provide more stability in its leadership.

The association has 35 employees in Colorado Springs and a $6 million annual budget; it was founded in 1891 and has been based in the Springs since 1967.

Shepherd replaced Christopher Cipoletti, who was fired in 2007 and was then sued by the ANA for malpractice and other professional misconduct. That lawsuit was resolved earlier this year in an out-of-court settlement that required Cipoletti to pay an undisclosed amount to the association.

The ANA ran deficits from 2002 to 2008, which required dipping into its endowment funds, but Hallenbeck said the ANA is now in good financial shape.

To read the complete article, see:Numismatic association ousts executive director(www.gazette.com/articles/association-125832-director-shepherd.html)