PPB July 2015

78 •

PPB

• JULY 2015

CONNECT

industry and it was a pleasure to partici-

pate is such an impactful event.”

Andrew Nisenshal, MAS, vice presi-

dent of sales and marketing at Carmel,

Indiana, distributor of Jazz It Up, LLC,

was making his second trip to D.C. as

part of L.E.A.D. this year. He says, “Last

year, I was a little overwhelmed with

everything, from scheduling the meet-

ings, to learning the issues and then

meeting with various aides and staff

members to discuss our concerns. It was

quite a bit to digest. With a year under

my belt, 2015’s trip was great. The

knowledge I acquired from the previous

year helped to make me feel like a more

confident voice for the industry.”

L.E.A.D. participants held 260 meet-

ings on Capitol Hill, sharing the value of

promotional products and the industry’s

impact on their constituents and commu-

nities. Conversations focused on impor-

tant national and local issues, including

tax reform and the industry’s place with-

in potential tax reform. L.E.A.D. pressed

for the advertising deduction to remain

unchanged and delivered independent

contractor language that amends the tax

code to add promotional consultants to

the category of direct sellers.

“I was one member of a team of three

that represented Indiana and Kentucky,”

says Nisenshal. “This year, we were able

to meet with several members of

Congress: Indiana Reps. Susan Brooks,

Luke Messer and Todd Young, and

Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie. What was

great, was that each of these individuals

took the time to meet and speak with us

on the issues we brought up. Several even

brought up issues that we didn’t plan on

discussing. Susan Brooks asked us ques-

tions regarding product importing and the

use of American made products. Several

members we met with showed an interest

in learning more and possibly visiting

some of our supplier’s for factory tours.”

Speaking on her experience on

Capitol Hill, Floyd adds, “I also had

some positive discussions on TSCA

[Toxic Substances Control Act]. This act

affects industries across the nation and

hopefully new legislation will address the

chemical data gap and allow federal reg-

ulations to harmonize with state regula-

tions. And GSP [Generalized System of

Preferences] was recently passed in the

Senate and from the discussions I had it

seems hopeful that it will also pass in the

House. Overall, it was a wonderful expe-

rience and I am thankful to have been a

part of such a great industry of hard

working professionals.”

As part of L.E.A.D., the Association

and participating industry professionals

presented Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) with

the 2015 PPAI Legislator of the Year

Award at a breakfast reception. The

PPAI Legislator of the Year Award recog-

nizes members of Congress who have

shown a commitment to the interests

and success of small businesses, a will-

ingness to meet with industry profession-

als and support of issues critical to the

promotional products industry. Johnson

was recognized for his history of serving

the needs of the promotional products

industry by encouraging economic stabil-

ity and growth through advocating for

small business, promoting manufacturing

and preserving jobs.

Many who didn’t travel to D.C. par-

ticipated in L.E.A.D. through PPAI’s virtu-

al fly-in program. Promotional products

professionals from around the U.S. advo-

cated on pending legislation and issues

relevant to the industry, sending 750

individual messages to members of

Congress during the week and posting

hundreds of tweets to Congress about

the power of promotional products.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Allison Schaffer, CAS (left) and Jeff Schmitt, MAS (right) met with Doug Thomas, deputy chief of staff to

Illinois Congressman Randy Hultgren, in D.C., one of the more than 250 meetings industry members held during PPAI L.E.A.D. 2015 • Sen.

Ron Johnson (left), here with PPAI Board Chair Rick Brenner, MAS+, was presented with the 2015 PPAI Legislator of the Year Award during

a breakfast reception during L.E.A.D. • Industry outreach during L.E.A.D. wasn’t just in the halls of Congress. Brian Porter (left) and Tiffany

Tarr, CAS, had an impromptu meeting with Rep. Paul Ryan at the airport. • L.E.A.D. participants (from right) Michele Jennrich, MAS; Mike

Schenker, MAS, and Rich Corvalan met with Jayson Schimmenti from Congressman MacArthur's office during their time on Capitol Hill.