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DECEMBER 2016
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CONNECT
Board members and
executive directors from regional
associations throughout the
U.S. and Puerto Rico traveled
to Grapevine, Texas, in October
for the 17th annual Leadership
Development Workshop (LDW).
Hosted by PPAI and the
Regional Association Council
(RAC), the week-long event
featured a PPAI Board of
Directors meeting, a full-day
training and planning session
for PPAI committee and
advisory group chairs, and an
extensive, multi-day curriculum
designed to provide regional
association leadership with
numerous learning opportunities
through general sessions,
breakout discussions and
sharing activities.
SanMar’s Mike Knapick,
incoming chair of the PPAI
Technology Committee, was
one of the incoming committee
chairs who participated. “The
committee chair training was a
valuable opportunity to share
ideas with other committee
chairs and PPAI Liaisons
to address challenges and
facilitate meaningful committee
meetings,” he says.
The next day, more than 190
regional volunteers representing
27 regional associations
attended LDW to participate in
their choice of 25 education
sessions with speakers and
panelists from PPAI staff and
from within and outside the
promotional products industry.
Shelley Row, a professional
engineer and former senior
executive, delivered a keynote
breakfast presentation on
October 19 exploring cognition,
intuition and striking the right
balance in the modern business
environment. Row also taught
two education sessions later
that afternoon.
“I look forward to LDW
each year because it brings
together the country’s best and
brightest volunteers to learn,
collaborate and strategize for
what’s ahead,” says Ryan Small,
CAS, RAC board president.
“These folks make great things
happen on the local level in
their own communities and
work to educate and grow our
industry. PPAI does this on the
national level, and the regional
associations are the grassroots
teams giving their time and
energy to make us all better.”
Bill Petrie, District 2’s
RAC board representative
and PPAMS incoming board
president, calls the event a
great way to learn from each
other. “As an incoming board
president, the ability to truly
engage with both the executive
director and fellow board
members on a granular level
to create the best possible
experience for our members has
been invaluable.”
In reflecting on the regional
event, Bob McLean, PPAI
executive vice president,
adds, “The new session
format delivered a new level of
interactivity. This event’s vital
peer-to-peer involvement also
really upped the game.”
The associated Regional
Boot Camp brought together
regional association leaders
for an intensive, hands-on
training session designed
for their specific needs. It
featured two separate tracks—
one for executive directors
and one for incoming and
current presidents—as well as
opportunities for the two groups
to work together.
LDW attendees also
honored some of the
regional community’s most
accomplished members during
2016 LDWDraws Nearly 200 Volunteers
For Annual Training And Idea Sharing
2016 PPAI RAC Volunteers of the Year Ted Dennison, MAS (second from left), with RAC Board President Ryan Small, CAS, and George Jackson (second from right), with his
nominator, TRASA Executive Director Patti Ward, were recognized at a dinner reception.
LDW’s education lineup included a
breakfast session with Shelley Row,
professional engineer and former
senior executive.