PPB January 2018

FEATURE | PPAI 2018 Award Winners and made it an institution. Driven by a quest for excellence, he did it all. While others ‘didn’t have the time,’ he set aside his business and personal needs to serve thousands of showgoers up and down the East Coast while raising needed funds for the SAAGNY Foundation.” After Lazarus moved to Florida, he became actively involved in the Gold Coast Promotional Products Association (GCPPA), holding various leadership positions, most recently as GCPPA board president in 2009. “He took his training, experience and relentless drive to the Gold Coast and made the GCPPA the strong association it is today,” says Schaffer. Lazarus’ volunteer service with PPAI has included leadership roles with the Conventions Advisory Council, the Distributors Advisory Council, the Education Advisory Council and the Distributors Advisory Council, as well as with the Association’s Distributors Committee, Leadership Committee, Conventions Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and the Chairman’s Committee of 100. He was inducted into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame in 1999, featured as one of PPB ’s Best Bosses in 2010 and received PPAI Fellows Recognition in 2016. “By volunteering, I developed friendships and business relationships over the past 35 years that otherwise I would not have had,” says Lazarus. “I learned that you can be friendly and develop mutually beneficial relationships with competitors. “It’s true that giving back to other organizations helps you grow your business, because the more contacts you have, the better off you will be in the long run. But more importantly, it helps you grow as a person. This industry has been so good to me and my family.” Lazarus has mentored a number of volunteers in the promotional products industry, teaching them his signature style of seeking out improvements, identifying the opportunity, then rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Most recently, he has inspired his son, Steven, to further his volunteer involvement at PPAI and step forward as president of GCPPA. Lazarus says, “My whole life, I have volunteered for a variety of different organizations. Steven was always by my side helping and seeing how rewarding it is to give back.” Lazarus will receive the Distinguished Service Award, PPAI’s highest honor for volunteerism, during The PPAI Expo 2018 in Las Vegas. He says, “When I received the call, I was totally shocked. To be honored by industry colleagues for this prestigious award and to be among the top volunteers in our industry means so much to me. I am someone who gets involved because I enjoy doing it, not for any recognition.” Schaffer is thrilled to see his long-time friend and industry role model receive the award. He says, “We as an industry need to have just a few more Bills, and the value added to association membership and benefits would be incalculable.” Terry Ramsay is associate editor of PPB. Lazarus enjoys family time with his daughter Allison, his son Steven and his two granddaughters, Maya and Leah. PPAI’s 2018Promotional Products Pioneers At the PPAI Chairman’s Leadership Dinner on January 15 during The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, the Association will also recognize three individuals as Promotional Products Pioneers for their vision, drive, innovation, character and leadership. Marty Lott, owner and president, SanMar — Honored for developing a new business model Bill Schmidt (deceased), previous CEO, Hit Promotional Products — Honored for developing a new business model S. Allen Dohan, chairman, The Allen Company — Honored for his decorating innovations Purchase tickets to the dinner at www.expo.ppai.org 42 | JANUARY 2018 |