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PEOPLE NEWS

NEW MEMBERS

DECEMBER 2015 •

PPB

• 73

their commitment to make their association and the industry as a

whole a better, stronger and more viable marketplace for us all.”

Ryan Small, CAS, president of Nashville, Tennessee distributor Blue

Dog Merch and incoming president of the Regional Association

Council, adds, “This week has been an outstanding showing of some of

our industry’s best leaders and volunteers getting together to network,

brainstorm and strategize to create an outstanding game plan for 2016.”

This year, LDW welcomed more than 160 attendees representing

27 regional associations, as well as PPAI board members and commit-

tee chairs. The comprehensive schedule featured 28 education sessions

with speakers and panelists from PPAI, and from within and outside

the promotional products industry.

“The keynote speaker this year was very relevant—he brought

everything into perspective,” says Larry Arntz, president of Hayes,

Virginia distributor Larry Arntz, Inc. and a volunteer with the

Virginia Promotional Products Association. “We are here to learn. All

the sessions have been fantastic and the new format is wonderful.”

At the Opening General Session & Dinner, psychologist and

humorist Bruce Christopher’s presentation “Leap! The Net Will

Appear,” tackled the fear of failure, one of the most prominent obstacles

between people and reaching their true potential. His masterful story-

telling style, laced with physical humor, led listeners through a short

series of exercises to help them learn why positive self-talk is important.

He also explained the two things optimists do that others don’t (leap

through their fears and find freedom in failure)—and why that makes a

difference in their uncanny ability to succeed against all odds.

The highlight at the Opening General Session & Dinner was a

presentation honoring Lori Bauer, vice president of sales-national

accounts at Tampa, Florida-based supplier BIC Graphic USA as the

2015 PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year Award recipient. Bauer was

formally recognized for her accomplishments working with the

Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) where she is

active on numerous levels, helping lead the regional association and

volunteering for its trade shows, committees and events. She has lent

her experience and expertise to PPAI on numerous occasions, partici-

pated in a number of committees and action groups, and joined the

PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference this year as a speaker on busi-

ness communication. She was also named a

PPB

Rising Star in 2010.

“LDW is a venue that provides a learning and sharing experience

with the regional association volunteer leadership from across the coun-

try,” says Jeff Shaw, president of Shaw Print & Promotion Powered By

HALO Branded Solutions and a member of the LDW work group.

“The exposure to ideas and critical thought from peers from other

regionals helps broaden the perspective of the issues our individual

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At LDW’s General Session & Dinner, psychologist and

humorist Bruce Christopher spoke on the role having the right atti-

tude plays in a successful life.

BOTTOM

2015 PPAI RAC Volunteer

of the Year Award recipient Lori Bauer (left) was nominated for

her work with PPAF by PPAF Executive Director Dana Geiger.