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INSIDE
PPAI
80 •
PPB
• AUGUST 2016
CONNECT
LEE STROM,
vice president
of marketing and CMO of sup-
plier SanMar, joined the PPAI
Board of Directors in June to fill
the seat vacated by Bruce
Perryman, MAS+, who stepped
down. He was appointed by
PPAI Board Chair Tom Goos,
MAS, and approved by the board
to fill the remainder of
Perryman’s term, which ends at
The PPAI Expo 2018.
“Lee brings unique expertise
to the board,” says Goos. “With
his vast industry
knowledge, previ-
ous board experi-
ence and market-
ing knowledge, he
will be a great
asset to the PPAI
Board, staff and
industry. His mar-
keting expertise
also comes at a
key time as we
roll out the indus-
try branding ini-
tiative.”
Following a
16-year career in
retail marketing,
Strom joined
SanMar in 2001.
As the supplier’s
head of marketing, he serves on
its leadership team and works to
help the Issaquah, Washington,
company engage the industry
and develop the marketing tools
necessary to grow its business
and that of its customers.
Strom’s first term on the
PPAI board began at Expo 2010
as a member of the Class of 2014.
An active industry volunteer,
alongside his role in the
Association’s leadership he has
served on its Suppliers
Committee and Government
Relations Action Group, and has
spoken frequently at PPAI events.
“I’m rejoining the board to
serve as a steward of the industry
during a time of increasing
change,” says Strom. “All of us are
consumers first, meaning that the
expectations in how we research
and buy products are highly
influenced by our personal shop-
ping habits. We need to evolve
and deliver marketing and prod-
ucts that respect those habits.
“Promotional products are
one of the best and sustaining
branding mediums that continue
to grow in a sea of change. I’m
especially excited to work on the
new branding initiative the board
has commissioned,” Strom adds.
“Promotional products lead to so
much good in building teams and
communities and we need to do
ever more to tell those stories.”
Outside the promotional
products industry, Strom has lent
his volunteer services to the
Seattle Direct Marketing
Association, sat on the Hazen
High School Community
Relations and Process
Improvement Committees and
the Newport Presbyterian
Church Mission Committee, and
served on the Columbia Rim
Homeowners Association board.
An avid outdoors enthusiast,
Strom is the founder of the
Newcastle Running Club and
has served on the Newcastle
Trails board.
Lee Strom Joins PPAI Board
work inspired and ready to take on the world.
I feel energized and empowered to keep
making a difference in my workplace and my
community—so much so that I’m going to use
this opportunity to thank my president, Mitch
Mounger, and ask if he would send me back
year after year.”
Sharon Benson, order processing supervi-
sor at distributor HALO Branded Solutions,
says, “As a first-time attendee, this week has
been a very invigorating experience. The
women attending this conference are very
motivating and welcome you like they have
known you forever. The speakers and sessions
have been phenomenal and have provided
me with a wealth of knowledge. I am very
grateful for the opportunity to be able to
attend and hope to be a repeat attendee.”
Her colleague, Mary Pat Stewart, cus-
tomer service supervisor at HALO says, “I feel
extremely fortunate and appreciate the
opportunity to network with like-minded
women of our industry over the past few days.
What a fabulous and dynamic community of
brilliant superheroes.”
Shelley Sake, vice president of marketing
at supplier Evans Manufacturing, Inc., was
another first-timer who quickly became a
devoted WLC fan. “As a first-time attendee, I
am so impressed with the powerful women
I’ve met at the Women’s Leadership
Conference and the willingness of them to
share their thoughts and ideas. It has been a
wonderful opportunity to meet new contacts,
connect with industry leaders and to see
industry friends. It’s good to see the spirit of
cooperation and the learning that happens at
every session. I’m excited to get back to the
office and put what I’ve learned to good use.
I understand now why it’s such a popular
event—I hope to be a repeat attendee.”
Next year’s WLC will be held in
Scottsdale, Arizona, June 26-28, 2017. Watch
the PPAI website for registration information.
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