6 / 124
PPAI is one of your strongest com-
petitive advantages because of the 80
professionals who comprise its manage-
ment and staff. Through their vision,
their skills and their collective efforts,
they have cemented PPAI’s stature
everywhere I have travelled—to confer-
ences and regionals all across this coun-
try, in Canada, Europe and China.
Everywhere I go in the promotional
products world, PPAI is considered the
gold standard. You may already know
this through the outstanding member
services and excellent programs PPAI
provides. And you certainly know our
exceptional senior leadership: Paul
Bellantone, CEO, who leads the
Association with his vision, intellect, pas-
sion and wisdom, and Bob McLean,
executive vice president, who works tire-
lessly behind the scenes to ensure that
the trains run on time and that the entire
team is working effectively. But you
might not know about the rest of the
people who make it happen. This month
I’d like to tell you some of their stories.
The
PPB
magazine you’re reading is
just one of the award-winning family of
publications produced by Tina Berres
Filipski and her team of James Khattak,
Jen Alexander and Julie Richie. Last sum-
mer Tina celebrated her 20th anniversary
at PPAI. During her two decades, Tina
has overseen the growth of PPAI publica-
tions from a single title,
PPB
, to the cur-
rent lineup which includes the twice
weekly
PPB Newslink
, daily
PCT
,
Expo
Daily
and
Expo East Daily
. This year in
PPB
alone, this team has delivered more
than 1,000 pages of editorial content and
generated more than 21,000 monthly
page views on its website.
We’re lucky to have Carol Gauger,
MAS, back at PPAI after a stint in the
industry as a supplier. Carol is a familiar
face to most of the industry through her
extensive work supporting our 27
regional associations. In addition, Carol
directs our member engagement initia-
tives which includes working with our
many volunteers and committees. Aside
from their stellar work,
longevity
is the
keyword on Carol’s team of accom-
plished professionals including Lisa
Beck, an avid NASCAR fan, at 29 years;
Valerie Schenewerk, a sci-fi expert, at
nine years and Melissa Weber, the girl
with a perpetual smile for everyone, at
seven years.
Keith Vincent and his team of pro-
fessionals are responsible for all PPAI
marketing, research, public relations and
In Praise Of An Extraordinary Team
PERSPECTIVES
4 •
PPB
• JANUARY 2016
F YOU EVER HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
of serving on the PPAI Board, you will begin your term
with a two-day orientation at PPAI headquarters in Dallas. For me it was a time to learn in-depth
about our Association and how it operates. But more than anything else, my most significant take-
away from those meetings four years ago was the quality of the 80 or so staff members who make the
magic that we call PPAI. “Very strong team,” I thought to myself, as one by one each PPAI director presented
to the four of us newbie directors the raison d’être of their department, their short- and long-term objec-
tives, their resources, their action plans, and an understanding of how each of their programs was tied to a
goal in PPAI’s overall strategic plan. I’ve been a CEO for more than 40 years—in companies with as many
as 1,600 employees—so I don’t impress easily when it comes to evaluating management. But this team was
special. And now, four years later, as I near the end of my term and complete my year as chair of this
great Association, I can confirm for you that my initial impressions were just the tip of the iceberg.
Rick Brenner, MAS+
PPAI Chair of the Board
PERSPECTIVES
I
Continued On Page 89