80 / 116
“L.E.A.D. is a powerful way
to take our industry’s message to
Washington, D.C., and again this
year our group more than 80
strong made a compelling and
memorable impression on legisla-
tors,” says PPAI Chair Tom Goos,
MAS, president of Image Source,
Inc., who met with a number of
his legislators. “Our voices are
definitely being heard. I’m very
proud of what our members have
accomplished on behalf of the
industry. I came away inspired by
the passion our industry col-
leagues convey for the promo-
tional products industry.”
L.E.A.D. 2016 brought
together both experienced and
first-time “L.E.A.D.ers.” Mary Jo
Tomasini, MAS, CEO of distribu-
tor CE Competitive Edge, LLC in
Stevensville, Michigan, chair of
PPAI’s Government Relations
Advisory Committee and chair-
elect of the PPAI Board, joined
her colleagues on Capitol Hill this
year for the second time. “I par-
ticipate in L.E.A.D. because I
know I am making a difference,”
she says. “I am able to meet
face-to-face with legislators to
share the importance of our
industry and why ‘Promotional
Products Work!’ I am able to rep-
resent our profession and bring
awareness of the overall size and
impact our industry has in not
INSIDE
PPAI
78 •
PPB
• JULY 2016
CONNECT
PPAI TOOK THE INDUSTRY’S MESSAGE
to Capitol Hill on May
25 and 26 as part of the seventh annual Legislative
Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.). More than 80 mem-
ber volunteers and staff held nearly 250 visits over two
days with legislators and their aides from 30 states to dis-
cuss the industry’s interests. In addition to the hundreds
of personal visits, members from across the country par-
ticipated in the virtual fly-in, sending nearly 1,000 emails
to their legislators to voice their concerns about legisla-
tion that affects their businesses and the industry overall.
THE INDUSTRY’S VOICE IS HEARD ON CAPITOL HILL
By James Khattak
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
The
seventh annual L.E.A.D. drew
more than 80 participants from
across the promotional products
industry. • Mark Shinn, Incentives
West; Dan Reading, In The Bag
Promotions, Inc.; and PPAI Chair
Tom Goos, MAS, Image Source
(right), visit with Jim Risch (R-IA),
second from right. • Anne Stone,
PPAI director of public affairs;
Perry Werhle, PAW Marketing,
Inc.; Dale Denham, MAS+,
Geiger; Brian Porter, Pro Towels;
Scott Hareid, Hareid Marketing
and Mitch Rhodus, HALO
Branded Solutions.
Loud and
Clear