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those I had the pleasure of
serving with is far too long to
mention. We also had a terrif-
ic staff, people I leaned on
through the years, including
more recently Paul Bellantone
and Bob McLean,” he adds.
“I was really blessed to have
so many very skilled and
competent professionals to
work with over my 16 years at
PPAI. Without a doubt I can
say that almost everything I
accomplished or was given
credit for was done in part-
nership with volunteers and
staff.”
Among the numerous
accomplishments that
occurred during his tenure,
he is particularly proud of
pursuing and establishing an
international outreach,
including founding and par-
ticipating in a federation of
international promotional
products associations starting
in 1999, visiting numerous
trade shows throughout the
world, and eventually visiting
factories, trade shows and
product testing labs in Hong
Kong and China in the mid-
2000s. “When product safety
became a major issue for
consumers and buyers of
promotional products just a
few years ago, PPAI was
ready to help its members,”
he says.
Slagle recognizes the
elite company he now keeps
as a member of the PPAI Hall
of Fame. “While I don’t per-
sonally know every individual
inducted into the Hall of
Fame, I was fortunate to
meet and work with a lot of
them. I have tremendous
respect for these men and
women, as they are incredi-
ble individuals who’ve made
incredible contributions to
PPAI and the industry,” he
says. “I’m really proud and
pleased to have been inducted
and to be considered
worthy of joining these
accomplished individuals in
the Hall of Fame.”
ABOVE
Steve Slagle
(third from top, center) joins members of the
2010 PPAI Board of Directors in capturing the moment.
“Without a doubt I can say that almost
everything I accomplished or was given
credit for was done in partnership with
volunteers and staff.”
Steve Slagle, CAE
2016 PPAI Hall Of Fame