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Photo above: Mary Kay’s Michael Lunceford receives the DSA Hall of Fame award with the support of his family.
As the rich cream rises to the top of a barrel of milk and is valued for its delightful taste, so too do the valuable and outstanding leaders of an industry rise to be recognized as prized and appreciated contributors. Over 50 years ago, the U.S. Direct Selling Association (DSA) began awarding these individuals by inducting them into the DSA Hall of Fame. This collection of people represents those who have been judged as outstanding contributors and have advanced the cause and mission of our particular channel of distribution and its business opportunity.
To be considered worthy of admittance into the DSA Hall of Fame, an individual must have devoted years of service to the industry, as well as made “considerable contributions” to the DSA and to the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) in time, effort and advancement of the cause.
The 2015 inductee, Michael Lunceford, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc., demonstrates all of the attributes of a “Hall of Famer.” DSA President Joseph Mariano says, “Michael Lunceford understands better than anyone how to build and leverage lasting relationships that support direct sellers’ advocacy objectives over many years. I’ve been privileged to work alongside Michael in the trenches, in the states and nationally, over more than three decades. In typical Michael fashion, he credited everyone around him during his acceptance speech except himself. His dedication to our sales channel, humility, leadership and most of all, his abilities in the areas of government relations and public affairs are truly exceptional. No one is more deserving of this honor, and I’m pleased it was bestowed upon my great mentor and friend.”
Already a member of the DSEF Circle of Honor (2003), Lunceford is actually the fourth executive from Mary Kay to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Past inductees include Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Inc., in 1976; Monty Barber in 1988; and former Mary Kay Vice Chairman Richard Bartlett in 1994.
Lunceford has served the industry throughout his career, spanning more than 30 years, and has held numerous leadership positions on the boards of directors and executive committees at DSA and DSEF. He is currently President of the Board for The Mary Kay FoundationSM, leading the Foundation’s two-fold mission to end cancers affecting women and domestic abuse.
Through a video shared at the award ceremony, Lunceford’s accomplishments and contributions were lauded by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Marc Veasey, Ambassador Ron Kirk, former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and Mary Kay President and CEO David Holl, who all commended Lunceford on his tenacious and passionate work.
“The Direct Selling Association has humbled me with this recognition,” says Lunceford. “I share this honor with all of my colleagues, both at Mary Kay and throughout the industry, who together, have supported, collaborated and advocated to advance the interests of the millions of people involved in direct selling around the world.”
Lunceford received his BBA in finance and economics from Texas A&M University-Commerce and has a master’s in public administration from Southern Methodist University. A noted civic leader and political advisor to local and national-elected officials, he resides in Dallas with his wife and two daughters.
